Paralegal job description template

What a paralegal does

Paralegals do much of the substantive legal work that keeps cases and deals moving, from drafting documents to managing discovery and filings. Firms and in-house teams should say which practice area the role supports, because a litigation paralegal and a corporate paralegal do very different work. Overtime is also a common mistake here: most paralegals are nonexempt, even experienced ones paid a good salary.

Paralegal job description template

Copy the description, replace everything in [brackets], and cut any line that isn't true for your job. The duties and requirements are a starting point written by HR practitioners, not a legal standard, so edit them to match the real work.

Paralegal

Details
- Department: [Department]
- Reports to: [Manager title]
- Location: [City, State, or remote]
- Employment type: [Full-time, part-time, or seasonal]
- FLSA status: Nonexempt
- Pay range: [$X to $Y per hour]

About [Company]
[Two or three sentences about what your company does, who it serves, and why people like working here.]

Job summary
We're hiring a paralegal to support our [practice area or legal team] with research, drafting, case management, and filings.

What you'll do
- Draft and proofread pleadings, contracts, correspondence, and other legal documents.
- Conduct legal and factual research under attorney supervision.
- Manage case files, deadlines, and docket calendars.
- Organize discovery, exhibits, and trial materials.
- Prepare and file court documents and regulatory filings.
- Communicate with clients, courts, and opposing counsel's staff as directed.
- Maintain contract records and track key dates.
- Protect confidential and privileged information.

What you'll need
- Paralegal certificate or associate or bachelor's degree.
- [Two] or more years of paralegal experience in [practice area].
- Strong writing and research skills.
- Experience with [document management and e-filing systems].

Nice to have
- Certified Paralegal (NALA) or similar credential.
- E-discovery software experience.
- Bilingual skills.

Skills
Legal research, Drafting, Deadline management, Organization, Confidentiality, Attention to detail.

Physical demands and work environment
Law office or in-house legal department, with extended hours during trials or deal closings.

Pay and benefits
[$X to $Y per hour], based on experience and location. [List benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plan match, paid time off, and training.]

Equal opportunity
[Company] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview, contact [name] at [email or phone].

How to customize it for your job

• Name the practice area or legal function.
• Say how many attorneys the paralegal supports.
• List the systems you use for documents and e-filing.
• Clarify overtime pay during busy periods.

Then check it against the HRTally job description standard, our 10-point checklist, and run it through the inclusive language swap list. Both take about five minutes.

How much to pay a paralegal

Half of US paralegals and legal assistants earned more than $30.24 an hour in May 2025, and half earned less, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That national figure is a starting point, not a pay range. Pay for the same job can differ by 30 percent or more between metro areas, so check the BLS occupation profile for state and metro data before you set your range.

For hourly roles, the legal floor matters as much as the market rate. Check the current rate where the job is based in our minimum wage by state table, and the state's overtime and break rules in our state labor law library.

To convert between hourly and annual pay, use our salary to hourly calculator. If you hire in a state or city with a pay transparency law, the range must appear in the posting itself. Our pay transparency laws guide lists where, and our guide to salary bands explains how to set ranges you can defend.

Exempt status, licenses, and legal notes

FLSA status: Nonexempt (overtime eligible). Job titles don't decide overtime eligibility. Duties and pay do. Our guide to exempt vs non-exempt employees walks through each test, and the overtime calculator shows what a nonexempt employee is owed.

The DOL's Fact Sheet 17D says paralegals and legal assistants generally don't qualify for the learned professional exemption, because an advanced specialized degree isn't a standard requirement for the job. Pay them overtime unless their duties clearly meet another exemption. Paralegals can't give legal advice or represent clients, and California requires paralegals to meet education requirements and complete continuing education.

This is general information for US employers, not legal advice. Laws change and vary by state and city, so confirm the current rules or talk to employment counsel before you rely on them.

Interview questions to ask

Ask every candidate the same core questions and score answers against the same criteria. Structured interviews are fairer and predict job performance better than open conversation.

1. Walk me through how you track court deadlines.
2. Tell me about a document you drafted that an attorney used with few changes.
3. How do you organize a large document production?
4. What would you do if you noticed a missed deadline on a file?

When you're ready to schedule, use our interview invitation email template. For a full hiring process, read the recruitment process guide.

Frequently asked questions