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Graduate Paralegal Jobs (NOW HIRING)

As a Paralegal Specialist, you will perform legal and factual research and other closely related ... Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total ...

PARALEGAL SPECIALST

Washington, DC ยท On-site

$70K/yr

The Antitrust Division has an opening for a PARALEGAL SPECIALST to join its dedicated team and gain ... OR Combination of graduate education and specialized experience: Combinations of successfully ...

Paralegal

Columbia, SC ยท On-site

Graduate from an accredited paralegal program, college or university, or the equivalent education and experience, and work-related experience in the areas of property, law, or community services.

Family Law Paralegal

Scottsdale, AZ ยท On-site

$22 - $26/hr

High School Diploma or GED required, college graduate with bachelor's degree preferred; 2+ years of Paralegal experience (Family Law knowledge preferred). Must have excellent verbal and written ...

Graduate from an accredited paralegal program, college or university, or the equivalent education and experience, and work-related experience in the areas of property, law, or community services.

High School Diploma or GED required, college graduate with bachelor's degree preferred; 2+ years of Paralegal experience (Family Law knowledge preferred). Must have excellent verbal and written ...

Paralegal Specialist - Investments

Columbus, OH ยท Hybrid

$55K - $75K/yr

Undergraduate or post-graduate studies in business administration, insurance or other related area preferred. License/Certification/Designation: Certification in paralegal studies preferred.

As a Paralegal, you will play a crucial role in supporting our legal professionals and ensuring the ... graduate in any other field will be considered provided you can demonstrate an ambition to pursue ...

Showing results 41-60

Graduate Paralegal information

See salary details

$33.5K

$71.4K

$108.5K

How much do graduate paralegal jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for graduate paralegal in the United States is $71,376.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54,500.00 and $89,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Graduate Paralegals?

Graduate Paralegals are individuals who have recently completed their undergraduate degree, often with a focus on law or a related field, and are starting their careers by providing legal support within law firms, corporations, or government agencies. They assist lawyers by conducting research, drafting documents, organizing files, and handling administrative tasks. This entry-level role offers valuable practical experience and exposure to legal procedures, which can be beneficial for those considering law school or a long-term legal career. Graduate Paralegals play a crucial role in helping legal teams operate efficiently and effectively.

What types of legal tasks and responsibilities can a Graduate Paralegal expect to handle on a daily basis?

As a Graduate Paralegal, you can expect to support attorneys by conducting legal research, drafting and proofreading documents, organizing case files, and managing deadlines. You may also assist with client communication, prepare court forms, and help coordinate filings or discovery processes. The role often involves working closely with both legal and administrative teams, providing hands-on exposure to various areas of law and courtroom procedures. This variety helps build foundational skills and can lead to further advancement within the field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Graduate Paralegal, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Graduate Paralegal, you need a solid understanding of legal principles, research skills, and typically a law degree or paralegal qualification. Familiarity with legal research databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis, as well as document management systems, is commonly required. Attention to detail, strong organization, and effective communication are vital soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure accurate legal support, efficient case management, and valuable contributions to the legal team.

What is the difference between Graduate Paralegal vs Paralegal?

AspectGraduate Paralegal
Required CredentialsTypically a recent law or paralegal studies graduate, sometimes with a certificate
Work EnvironmentEntry-level, supervised legal support roles in law firms, corporate legal departments, or government agencies
Employer & Industry UsageOften used for individuals starting their legal careers, seeking experience before becoming a full paralegal
Common Search & ComparisonCompared to Paralegal for understanding entry-level roles and career progression

The main difference is that a Graduate Paralegal is an entry-level position for recent graduates, focusing on gaining practical experience, while a Paralegal typically requires more experience and handles more complex legal tasks. Both roles are common in legal settings, but the Graduate Paralegal is often a stepping stone toward becoming a fully qualified Paralegal.

More about Graduate Paralegal jobs
What cities are hiring for Graduate Paralegal jobs? Cities with the most Graduate Paralegal job openings:
What states have the most Graduate Paralegal jobs? States with the most job openings for Graduate Paralegal jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Graduate Paralegal jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Graduate Paralegal jobs are:
Infographic showing various Graduate Paralegal job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $71,376 per year, or $34.3 per hour.
Paralegal Specialist

Paralegal Specialist

Department of Justice

Washington, DC โ€ข On-site

$70K/yr

Other

Posted 24 days ago


Job description

This position is located in the Civil Rights Division. As a Paralegal Specialist, you will perform legal and factual research and other closely related duties in support of attorneys engaged in civil rights cases and matters.Qualifications:To be eligible at the GS-09 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below:
Specialized Experience:
For the GS-09, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service, public or other private sectors that is directly related to the position as listed above and which has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience for this position includes ALL of the following:
  • Take notes during attorney proffers and witness interviews and prepare memoranda from those notes: AND
  • Perform legal research to supply information for inclusion in memoranda, briefs, and similar documents.
OR
Education: Successful completion of a Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., if related.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of one full year.
To be eligible at the GS-11 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below:
Specialized Experience: For the GS-11, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, public or other private sectors that is directly related to the position as listed above and which has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience for this position includes ALL of the following:
  • Take notes during attorney proffers and witness interviews and prepare memoranda from those notes; AND
  • Perform legal research to supply information for inclusion in memoranda, briefs, and similar documents; AND
  • Provide guidance and advice to junior paralegals and/or distribute assignments to junior paralegals on behalf of attorneys.
OR
Education: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M., if related.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of two full years.
In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - please be sure to include this information in your resume. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
All qualifications and education requirements (if applicable) must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.
YOUR RESUME MUST support your responses to the online questionnaire and provide specific details as to how your experience meets the specialized experience as described in the vacancy announcement. If you are using experience to meet all or part of the qualification requirements, please ensure that your resume includes the month and year that you began and ended each position held or that position will not be credited toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. Part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience. Failure to provide details will result in an ineligible rating. Your latest resume submitted for this vacancy announcement will be used to determine qualifications and supersedes previous submissions.
During the eligibility review process, the Human Resources Specialist will only review the latest document uploaded to USA Jobs. Therefore, if you submit duplicate documents, ensure the last version uploaded to USA Jobs is the necessary document required to meet the criteria/qualifications described in this job announcement.
Note: Applicants are required to have completed their degree prior to submitting an application.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)- The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)-The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.Education:If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements, please see the statements below.
You will need to submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and/or semester hours earned, degree earned and confer dates. Failure to provide this documentation will result in objection to your qualifications, and removal from consideration. You will be required to submit your official college transcript if you are selected.
All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Click here to check accreditation.
Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For more information about this requirement, please visit the U.S. Department of Education website for Foreign Education Evaluation.
All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.Employment Type: OTHER