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Government Paralegal Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Paralegal Employment Type: Full-Time, Entry Level Department: Legal As a CGS Paralegal, you will ... CGS brings motivated, highly skilled, and creative people together to solve the government's most ...

Paralegal

Fairfax, VA

$50K - $60K/yr

Paralegal Employment Type: Full-Time, Entry Level Department: Legal As a CGS Paralegal, you will ... CGS brings motivated, highly skilled, and creative people together to solve the government's most ...

Showing results 21-40

Government Paralegal information

See Reston, VA salary details

$34.9K

$74.3K

$112.9K

How much do government paralegal jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for government paralegal in Reston, VA is $74,257.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $56,700.00 and $93,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a government paralegal?

Government paralegals are legal professionals who assist attorneys working for federal, state, or local government agencies. Their responsibilities often include conducting legal research, preparing documents, organizing case files, and helping lawyers with court cases or administrative proceedings. Government paralegals play a key role in ensuring that legal processes run smoothly and efficiently within public sector organizations. They may work in areas such as criminal justice, regulatory compliance, social services, or environmental law.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a government paralegal?

To thrive as a Government Paralegal, you need a strong understanding of legal research, case management, and compliance with government regulations, typically supported by a paralegal certificate or associate's degree in paralegal studies. Familiarity with legal databases (such as Westlaw or LexisNexis), document management systems, and government filing procedures is often required. Attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with attorneys and public officials are standout soft skills. These qualifications ensure accurate legal support, timely case processing, and effective collaboration within government legal teams.

What are some common challenges faced by government paralegals in managing caseloads, and how can they be effectively addressed?

Government paralegals often handle a high volume of cases that involve strict deadlines and complex regulatory requirements. One common challenge is balancing multiple priorities while ensuring accuracy and compliance with legal procedures. Effective time management, strong organizational skills, and clear communication with attorneys and team members are crucial to staying on top of assignments. Many agencies provide training on case management systems and encourage collaboration among staff to share best practices and support each other during peak periods.

What is the difference between Government Paralegal vs Legal Assistant?

AspectGovernment ParalegalLegal Assistant
CredentialsParalegal certification often preferredHigh school diploma or associate degree, certification optional
Work EnvironmentGovernment agencies, courts, public sectorLaw firms, corporate legal departments, public sector
Employer & IndustryFederal, state, or local governmentLaw firms, corporations, government offices
Job FocusLegal research, document preparation, case managementAdministrative support, document handling, client communication

While both roles support legal teams, Government Paralegals typically work within government agencies handling legal research and case management, often requiring certification. Legal Assistants usually work in law firms or corporate settings, focusing on administrative tasks. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

Do government paralegals work for the government?

Yes, government paralegals work for federal, state, or local government agencies, providing legal support in areas such as litigation, regulatory compliance, and legislative research. They often assist attorneys by preparing documents, conducting legal research, and managing case files within government offices. These roles typically require knowledge of government procedures and legal processes.

What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Government Paralegal jobs?

Cities near Reston, VA with the most Government Paralegal job openings:

Infographic showing various Government Paralegal job openings in Reston, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $74,257 per year, or $35.7 per hour.

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 7 days ago


Job description

FOIA Paralegal

Employment Type: Full Time, Mid-Level

Department: Legal

CGS is seeking a FOIA Paralegal to join our team supporting the legal mission of a large federal agency. This position will allow candidates to demonstrate expertise in performing legal review and FOIA request processing, amongst other litigation support tasks.

CGS brings motivated, highly skilled, and creative people together to solve the government's most dynamic problems with cutting-edge technology. To carry out our mission, we are seeking candidates who are excited to contribute to government innovation, appreciate collaboration, and can anticipate the needs of others. Here at CGS, we offer an environment in which our employees feel supported, and we encourage professional growth through various learning opportunities.

Skills and attributes for success:

  • Paralegals will work conducting searches and analyzing result sets to separate non-responsive documents from responsive documents and screen responsive documents for privilege or FOIA exemptions.
  • Redact and code responsive documents.
  • Perform legal research.
  • Draft legal documents.

Qualifications:

  • Requires paralegal certificate, or JD, or currently attending an ABA-accredited law school, having completed at least one year of study.
  • At least one year of litigation paralegal experience is required; trial experience is very helpful.
  • Experience with Nuix Investigate, Relativity, and/or other eDiscovery and document review tools strongly desired.
  • Experience processing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
  • Demonstrated experience and knowledge of FOIA rules and regulations; applying exemptions
  • Must have basic legal knowledge, including knowledge of standard legal citation to cite check legal motions, and memorandum, and must have sufficient experience with legal research tools such as LEXIS and Westlaw to perform basic legal research.
  • Requires excellent written and oral communication skills, thorough knowledge, and hands-on familiarity with a variety of computer applications, including word processing, databases (such as document review and file management systems), spreadsheets, imaging, and hardware systems.
  • The role also requires basic familiarity with ESI tools and knowledge of eDiscovery procedures and resources.
  • The ability to consistently deliver the highest quality work under extreme pressure will be very important.
  • Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.
  • Ability to work independently
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Ability to obtain a government security clearance.

Ideally, you will also have:

  • Two years experience using Nuix Investigate for document review and tagging preferred.
  • Two years experience in processing FOIA requests for Federal agencies is preferred.
  • Fluency in the statutory and regulatory guidelines to FOIA responses is preferred.

Our Commitment:

Contact Government Services (CGS) strives to simplify and enhance government bureaucracy through the optimization of human, technical, and financial resources. We combine cutting-edge technology with world-class personnel to deliver customized solutions that fit our client's specific needs. We are committed to solving the most challenging and dynamic problems.

For the past seven years, we've been growing our government contracting portfolio, and along the way, we've created valuable partnerships by demonstrating a commitment to honesty, professionalism, and quality work.

Here at CGS we value honesty through hard work and self-awareness, professionalism in all we do, and to deliver the best quality to our consumers mending those relations for years to come.

We care about our employees. Therefore, we offer a comprehensive benefits package.

  • Health, Dental, and Vision
  • Life Insurance
  • 401k
  • Flexible Spending Account (Health, Dependent Care, and Commuter)
  • Paid Time Off and Observance of State/Federal Holidays

Contact Government Services, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants will be considered without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Join our team and become part of government innovation!