Legal Assistants


Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security > Legal Assistants > Employment & Outlook
Occupation is in demand.
111200
100146
Legal Assistants

Legal Assistants - Employment & Outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

Employment

Major employers:

  • Private law firms
  • Local, state, and federal government agencies

Outlook

Demand for this career will grow much faster than average. Law firms are trying to meet customers' needs and lower their costs. Hiring additional paralegals instead of lawyers lowers the amount a firm pays in wages. Legal aid, which works with low income and elderly people, may also hire paralegals to continue to offer legal services at a low cost.

Competition will be strong as there are many applicants for jobs. Job prospects will be best for those who are fully trained and have experience with computers and databases.

Paralegals (CIS 100146)

Location Employment & Growth >>>> Annual openings



This occupation
All occupations


Illinois
13,540
Large
&
14.4%
8.2%
>>>>
1,737
High
  Champaign Area
135
Small
&
8.9%
-0.9%
>>>>
16
Very few
  Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area
121
Small
&
9.9%
1.2%
>>>>
14
Very few
  Cook County
9,218
Very large
&
7.3%
0.6%
>>>>
1,079
Very High
  Decatur Area
77
Small
&
10.4%
5.5%
>>>>
10
Very few
  DeKalb-Elgin-Aurora Area
335
Medium
&
8.1%
2.5%
>>>>
40
Few
  Du Page County
919
Large
&
9.0%
3.3%
>>>>
110
Moderate
  Edwardsville Area
286
Large
&
11.5%
5.5%
>>>>
35
Few
  Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area
47
Small
&
-4.3%
-2.1%
>>>>
5
Very few
  Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area
73
Small
&
8.2%
5.8%
>>>>
9
Very few
  Lake County
447
Medium
&
13.6%
1.9%
>>>>
57
Few
  McHenry County
133
Small
&
9.8%
2.9%
>>>>
16
Very few
  Mt Vernon-Marion-Carbondale Area
139
Medium
&
7.9%
1.0%
>>>>
16
Very few
  Northwest Illinois Area
137
Medium
&
13.1%
2.6%
>>>>
18
Very few
  Peoria-Bloomington Area
487
Large
&
7.8%
-1.9%
>>>>
58
Few
  Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area
94
Small
&
4.3%
-1.1%
>>>>
10
Very few
  Rock Island-Moline Area
184
Medium
&
2.7%
-1.8%
>>>>
20
Few
  Rockford Area
191
Medium
&
7.3%
0.9%
>>>>
22
Very few
  Shawnee National Forest Area
43
Small
&
2.3%
-2.3%
>>>>
5
Very few
  Springfield Area
235
Medium
&
9.4%
0.0%
>>>>
28
Few
  St Louis-Belleville Area
320
Large
&
2.5%
-1.7%
>>>>
36
Few
  Vermilion County
29
Very small
&
6.9%
-3.0%
>>>>
3
Very few
  Will County
213
Medium
&
5.6%
4.1%
>>>>
24
Very few
United States
352,800
Large
&
14.1%
5.3%
>>>>
45,800
High
Source: Illinois Career Information System (CIS) brought to you by Illinois Department of Employment Security.