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 at an average pace. 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
130
Small
&
6.9%
5.2%
>>>>
15
Very few
  Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area
118
Small
&
9.3%
2.9%
>>>>
14
Very few
  Cook County
8,957
Very large
&
15.2%
9.2%
>>>>
1,159
Very High
  Decatur Area
72
Small
&
5.6%
3.8%
>>>>
8
Very few
  DeKalb-Elgin-Aurora Area
308
Medium
&
16.2%
10.3%
>>>>
40
Few
  Du Page County
928
Large
&
15.4%
8.8%
>>>>
121
Moderate
  Edwardsville Area
273
Large
&
13.9%
12.4%
>>>>
35
Few
  Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area
45
Small
&
8.9%
-0.2%
>>>>
5
Very few
  Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area
68
Small
&
11.8%
6.0%
>>>>
9
Very few
  Lake County
453
Medium
&
28.5%
11.7%
>>>>
68
Few
  McHenry County
125
Medium
&
14.4%
7.6%
>>>>
16
Very few
  Mt Vernon-Marion-Carbondale Area
128
Medium
&
7.0%
4.4%
>>>>
15
Very few
  Northwest Illinois Area
123
Small
&
17.9%
4.3%
>>>>
16
Very few
  Peoria-Bloomington Area
484
Large
&
10.7%
4.5%
>>>>
59
Few
  Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area
89
Small
&
12.4%
3.5%
>>>>
11
Very few
  Rock Island-Moline Area
197
Medium
&
6.1%
5.6%
>>>>
23
Few
  Rockford Area
180
Medium
&
10.6%
6.6%
>>>>
22
Very few
  Shawnee National Forest Area
45
Small
&
6.7%
1.1%
>>>>
5
Very few
  Springfield Area
226
Medium
&
6.2%
4.6%
>>>>
26
Few
  St Louis-Belleville Area
307
Medium
&
4.6%
0.9%
>>>>
34
Few
  Vermilion County
27
Very small
&
-3.7%
-0.5%
>>>>
3
Very few
  Will County
204
Small
&
18.6%
14.9%
>>>>
28
Very few
United States
366,200
Large
&
1.2%
4.0%
>>>>
37,300
High
Source: Illinois Career Information System (CIS) brought to you by Illinois Department of Employment Security.