Paralegal Jobs in New York, NY

Comprehensive Guide to Paralegal Jobs in New York, NY

New York, NY, paralegal careers provide challenging and rewarding prospects for those interested in the field of law but do not wish to be lawyers. New York City, a center for global law, finance, and business, has a dynamic paralegal market with opportunities in a wide range of practice areas including litigation, corporate law, real estate, immigration, and personal injury. This guide delves into the world of paralegal employment in New York, NY, such as types of jobs, qualifications, salary ranges, where to look for vacancies, and advice on getting hired.

What Are Paralegal Jobs in New York, NY?

A paralegal or legal assistant assists lawyers by doing substantive legal work, including research, document preparation, case file management, and helping with trials. In New York, NY, there are plentiful paralegal positions because of the city’s focus of law firms, corporate legal divisions, government agencies, and not-for-profits. These positions range from beginning jobs to specialized senior positions, accommodating various levels of experience and interests.

Paralegal Job Types in New York, NY

Litigation Paralegal

Description: Litigation paralegals support lawyers when preparing for depositions, hearings, and trials. Responsibilities encompass drafting pleadings, preparing evidence, maintaining case files, and e-filing papers with courts such as PACER and NYSCEF.

Key Employers: Law firms such as Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo P.C., Morgan & Morgan, and Mayer Brown LLP employ litigation paralegals in New York, NY.

Skills: Strong organizational abilities, attention to detail, and Microsoft Office, Relativity, and Concordance proficiency are required.

Corporate Paralegal

Description: Corporate paralegals assist with business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), private equity, and capital markets. They prepare contracts, help with entity formation, and coordinate closing documents.

Key Employers: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, Jackson Lewis P.C., and Madison Energy Infrastructure hire corporate paralegals in New York, NY.

Skills: Corporate law knowledge, commercial real estate experience, and strong Microsoft Office skills (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) are appreciated.

Personal Injury Paralegal

Description: These paralegals handle plaintiff or defense matters, intakes, writing demand letters, filing no-fault applications, and preparing clients for examinations under oath (EUOs) or depositions.

Key Employers: The Law Office of Eli Babaev, P.C. in Forest Hills, NY, and various plaintiff firms in New York, NY, often employ.

Skills: 3+ years of personal injury experience, bilingual abilities (e.g., Spanish), and case management software knowledge are desirable.

Immigration Paralegal

Description: Immigration paralegals support asylum petitions, family-based immigration, and removal defense. They gather client materials, prepare documents, and track case updates.

Key Employers: Bretz & Coven, LLP, The Door, and BAL employ immigration paralegals in New York, NY, at $25-$28.50/hour to $74,600-$79,300 per year.

Skills: Bilingual proficiency (e.g., Spanish, Mandarin), immigration law knowledge, and organizational skills are essential.

Estate and Trusts Paralegal

Description: Paralegals prepare estate planning documents, aid in retitling assets, and prepare fiduciary income tax returns. They work closely with clients, beneficiaries, and financial institutions.

Key Employers: Top-level firms and boutique law firms in New York, NY, such as those posted on Glassdoor and Justia Legal Jobs, hire estate paralegals.

Skills: Legal drafting, tax background, and familiarity with New York estate administration (NJ experience a plus) are necessary.

Government and Nonprofit Paralegal

Description: Paralegals in agencies such as the New York County District Attorney’s Office (DANY), the NYC Law Department, and the ACLU assist with criminal prosecution, special federal litigation, or public interest initiatives.

Key Employers: DANY, the City of New York, and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office (KCDA) provide positions in New York, NY.

Skills: Research, writing memoranda, and managing large discovery (e.g., body camera footage, 911 calls) are central activities.

Qualifications for Paralegal Positions in New York, NY

To obtain paralegal positions in New York, NY, applicants usually require an appropriate combination of education, experience, and qualifications:

Education:

• Typically, a bachelor’s degree from an approved college (e.g., legal studies, criminal justice, or business administration).

• An associate degree or 60 semester credits with 2-4 years of paralegal experience can be adequate.

• A Paralegal Certification from an ABA-approved program can be substituted for 12 months of experience.

• A high school diploma and 4 years of experience is occasionally acceptable.

Experience:

Typical requirements based on level of experience:

• Entry-level: 0-2 years, best suited for new graduates or new entrants to the profession.

• Mid-level: 3-5 years, usually needed for specialist positions such as personal injury or corporate paralegal roles.

• Senior-level: 7+ years, required for sophisticated litigation or estate planning positions.

Skills:

• Microsoft Office proficiency (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), Adobe Acrobat, and legal software such as NYSCEF, PACER, and LawManager.

• Written and verbal communication proficiency, organizational ability, and detail orientation.

• Bilingual proficiency (e.g., Spanish, Mandarin) is highly desirable, particularly for immigration or personal injury positions.

Certifications:

Notary public certification or paralegal certificate is usually preferred but not necessarily needed.

Salary Expectations for Paralegal Jobs in New York, NY

Wages for paralegal positions in New York, NY, differ by experience, specialty, and company:

• Entry-Level: $25-$30/hour or $42,000-$65,000 per year, according to ZipRecruiter and Glassdoor, for junior paralegals or legal assistants.

• Mid-Level: $65,000-$85,000 per year, typical for litigation or personal injury paralegals at firms such as Morgan & Morgan.

• Senior-Level: $80,000-$180,000 per year, for specialist positions such as IP prosecution at McCarter & English, LLP, or estate planning paralegals.

• Government Positions: $44,253-$53,544 at DANY or $47,203-$66,052 at NYC Department of Investigation, according to cityjobs.nyc.gov.

Benefits: Several jobs provide medical, dental, vision, 401k, PTO, and hybrid schedules. City workers are qualified for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Where to Find Paralegal Jobs in New York, NY

Job searchers looking “paralegal jobs in New York, NY” can look here:

• Cityjobs.nyc.gov: Posts opportunities at the NYC Law Department, DANY, and KCDA, with positions in special federal litigation, trial divisions, and others.

• Indeed.com: Offers 327+ entry-level and 303+ paralegal positions in New York, NY, from companies such as Cullen and Dykman LLP and Exoticapedia LLC.

• Glassdoor.com: Provides 343 entry-level and 632 paralegal positions, with salaries and feedback for companies such as Haworth Barber & Gerstman.

• ZipRecruiter.com: Posts 435+ entry-level and 516+ no-experience paralegal jobs in New York, NY, with 1-click apply capabilities.

• SimplyHired.com: Posts 374 paralegal jobs and 59 entry-level jobs, such as the Law Office of Eli Babaev, P.C.

• LinkedIn.com: Publishes 2,000+ paralegal jobs and 864+ entry-level jobs, with new postings daily and job alerts.

• Justia.jobs: Posts jobs such as ECAB Paralegal at the City of New York ($50,000-$60,000) and litigation paralegals at Morgan & Morgan ($65,000-$85,000).

• RobertHalf.com: Updated daily with full-time, freelance, and temporary paralegal positions in New York, NY.

• Craigslist (newyork.craigslist.org): Features listings for paralegals in personal injury, immigration, and corporate law in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and more.

• Monster.com: One of the top resources for paralegal positions in New York City, NY, with diverse opportunities.

Conclusion

Paralegal positions in New York, NY, present a path to a fulfilling career in one of the world’s legal hubs. From entry-level to experienced candidates, prospects are plentiful in litigation, corporate, personal injury, immigration, and beyond. Utilize sites such as Indeed, Glassdoor, and cityjobs.nyc.gov to discover opportunities, customize your application, and take advantage of skills such as organization, legal drafting, and e-filing. With competitive pay, room for advancement, and an active setting, seeking paralegal positions in New York, NY, is a wise decision for law lovers. Begin your search today!