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Student Legal Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Student Legal Assistant information

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$27K

$48.2K

$74K

How much do student legal assistant jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for student legal assistant in the United States is $48,215.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,000.00 and $55,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges Student Legal Assistants face when balancing academic commitments and work responsibilities?

Student Legal Assistants often juggle coursework, exams, and extracurricular activities alongside their legal assistant duties. One common challenge is managing multiple deadlines since legal tasks such as drafting documents, conducting research, and assisting with case preparation often require attention outside regular class hours. Effective time management and clear communication with supervising attorneys are crucial to ensure responsibilities are met without compromising academic performance. Many legal offices understand these demands and offer flexible scheduling to support students' success in both areas.

What is the difference between Student Legal Assistant vs Paralegal?

AspectStudent Legal AssistantParalegal
Required CredentialsTypically enrolled in law school or related programPost-secondary education, often a paralegal certificate or degree
Work EnvironmentLaw firms, legal clinics, or government offices, often part-time or internshipLaw firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, full-time
Employer & Industry UsageLegal education settings, internships, entry-level rolesEstablished legal support roles in various legal sectors
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level legal support roles for studentsClarifying professional legal support roles beyond internships

Student Legal Assistants are typically law students gaining practical experience, often in internships or part-time roles, while Paralegals are trained legal support professionals with formal education, working full-time in various legal settings. Both roles support legal work but differ mainly in experience, credentials, and employment status.

What are Student Legal Assistants?

Student Legal Assistants are typically law students or undergraduates who assist attorneys or legal professionals with a variety of tasks, such as legal research, drafting documents, organizing case files, and preparing for court proceedings. They gain practical experience and exposure to the legal field while supporting legal teams in law firms, government agencies, or university legal clinics. The role provides valuable hands-on training and helps students develop skills necessary for a future legal career.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Student Legal Assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Student Legal Assistant, you need strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a foundational understanding of legal concepts, typically gained through coursework in law or paralegal studies. Familiarity with legal research databases, document management systems, and Microsoft Office Suite is commonly required. Excellent written and verbal communication, discretion, and the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently are standout soft skills in this role. These skills are crucial for supporting attorneys, managing sensitive information, and ensuring smooth legal operations.
More about Student Legal Assistant jobs
What cities are hiring for Student Legal Assistant jobs? Cities with the most Student Legal Assistant job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Student Legal jobs? The most popular types of Student Legal jobs are:
What states have the most Student Legal Assistant jobs? States with the most job openings for Student Legal Assistant jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Student Legal Assistant jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Student Legal Assistant jobs are:
Infographic showing various Student Legal Assistant job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 62% Full Time, 34% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $48,215 per year, or $23.2 per hour.

$40K/yr

Other

Posted 2 days ago


Job description

With nearly 1,700 attorneys, IRS Chief Counsel is the largest tax law firm nationwide. Our attorneys are among top tax law practitioners and some of the very best legal minds found anywhere. Together with the IRS, we serve the public by applying the tax code with fairness and integrity. After pausing hiring in 2025, we are seeking administrative professionals to support our legal work.
Click to learn more:
IRS Office of Chief Counsel
Careers Site
Meet Our People
Learn about our Legal DivisionsQualifications:In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.
To qualify for this position of Legal Assistant (OA)Assistant you must meet the qualification requirements listed below by the closing of this announcement:
Basic Requirement for Legal Assistant (OA):
Typing Requirement: This position requires a typing proficiency of at least 40 word per minute (WPM) based on a 5 minute sample with 3 or fewer errors. Applicants may meet this requirement by passing the appropriate performance test, presenting a certificate of proficiency from a school or other organization authorized to issue such certificates by the Office of Personnel Management local office, or by self-certifying their proficiency. Performance test results and certificates of proficiency are acceptable for 3 years.

For GS-05:Specialized Experience: Your resume must detail at least one year of specialized experience which includes: 1) performing administrative and clerical processes to include preparing and/or reviewing documents with legal implications (e.g., court documents, real estate documents, contracts, insurance or benefits claims, mortgage or loan applications, tax forms, or other types of legal documents); 2) maintaining file systems; and obtaining needed information from files or general reference sources. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04).
OR

Education: Four years of education above the high school level obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university.
OR

Combination of Education and Experience: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Options for qualifying based on a combination are identified in the online questions.

For GS-06:Specialized Experience: Your resume must detail at least one year of specialized experience which includes: 1) preparing, receiving, reviewing, and/or verifying legal documents; 2) maintaining legal office records and systems; and 3) locating and compiling data or information from legal files and other data sources. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05)
OR

Education: A half year (i.e., 9 semester hours) of graduate level education directly related to the work of the position.
OR

Combination of Education and Experience: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Options for qualifying based on a combination are identified in the online questions.

GS-07:Specialized Experience: Your resume must detail at least one year of specialized experience which includes: 1) analyzing & reviewing information and preparing a variety of legal documents; 2) reviewing documents for regulatory requirements and inputting into case tracking systems; 3) using automated software to produce legal related reports, documents, correspondence or related materials; and 4) assisting with trial preparation needs. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-06).
OR

Education: One full year of graduate level education directly related to the work of the position.
OR

Combination of Education and Experience: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Options for qualifying based on a combination are identified in the online questions.


NOTE: If qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application package.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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.
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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.Education:For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.
A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.htmlEmployment Type: OTHER