Go to Page Section:
- What Is a Personal Injury Paralegal?
- What Skills Do Personal Injury Paralegals Need for Success?
- Steps to Become a Personal Injury Paralegal
- Licensing Requirements to Become a Personal Injury Paralegal
- Online Training Programs for Personal Injury Paralegals
- 1 Liberty University Online
- 2 University of California at Irvine
- 3 University of Cincinnati
- Schools Summary Table
- Personal Injury Paralegal Salary – US
- U.S. Average Salary: $66,460
- Salary Information by State
If you have a passion for helping personal injury victims get justice and fair compensation for injuries sustained in automobile accidents, dog bites, medical malpractice, and similar accidents, becoming a Personal Injury Paralegal could be the right career path for you.
Personal Injury Paralegals are well-paid administrative legal professionals who support practicing attorneys in their region.
Learn how to become a Personal Injury Paralegal in the information-packed guide below!
What Is a Personal Injury Paralegal?
Personal Injury Paralegals are specially trained administrative legal assistants.
Specialized legal admins have met the minimum education and experience requirements for working with local personal injury attorneys who fight for client rights and fair compensation in accident claims and personal injury cases.
Personal injury paralegals support specialists work side-by-side with personal attorneys who take on cases involving personal injuries sustained through car accidents, negligence, slip and fall accidents, medical malpractice, and on-the-job injuries.
The duties of a Personal Injury Paralegal can include screening new clients, preparing legal drafts, documents, and motions, filing legal cases in person, and using e-file systems.
Accident case Paralegal specialists can also provide hands-on courtroom support for attorneys during depositions and trials.
What Skills Do Personal Injury Paralegals Need for Success?
If you’re thinking about becoming a Personal Injury Paralegal, it is important to have the skills required to function in the role.
Working legal support agents should be well versed in foundational legal knowledge including court rules, procedures, and investigative skills.
A day in the life of a Personal Injury Paralegal requires keen attention to detail and the ability to switch gears in support of attorneys.
Paralegals must also have excellent communication skills for interviewing clients and conducting legal research.
Administrative and technology skills are required for drafting legal documents, including pleadings, settlement demands, and motions.
Steps to Become a Personal Injury Paralegal
Becoming a legal support specialist for practicing personal injury attorneys in your area requires a commitment to achieving educational milestones and immersive on-the-job training.
While the exact steps may vary for aspiring Personal Injury Paralegals in different states or regions across the United States, the following steps are typical of incoming PIPs.
Step One – Earn a High School Diploma or Equivalent
Most Paralegals who specialize in helping attorneys resolve personal injury cases in favor of their clients begin their careers by meeting minimum education requirements.
A high school diploma or GED is typically required for aspiring candidates who are at least 18 years old.
Step Two – Get Paralegal Education
The next step on your journey to becoming a specialized Paralegal is to get legal education.
Potential Paralegals can get training from local colleges, universities, and workforce development centers offering diplomas, degrees, and certificates in the field. ABA-approved paralegal programs have been formally reviewed and accepted by the American Bar Association as meeting their educational standards for incoming Lawyers and Paralegals.
Step Three – Specialize in Personal Injury Law
Paralegals seeking to specialize in personal injury law must gain hands-on or education-based experience to prove competency and readiness to provide services for attorneys according to the rules and laws of their current state.
Step Four – Get Paralegal Certification Through a National Agency
Although not officially required, career-oriented Paralegals seeking to demonstrate competency take their education one step further by earning national Paralegal certification credentials issued by top, well-respected legal associations.
US-based Paralegals seeking to boost their credentials and hireability can get certified through one of three national paralegal organizations.
The following organizations offer nationally recognized and accepted certification credentials preferred by legal hiring authorities across the United States.
- National Association of Legal Assistants: The National Association of Legal Assistants -Offers the Certified Paralegal CP certification as a nationally recognized credential.
- NFPA: The NFPA administers the Registered Paralegal Certification RP
- NALS: The National Association for Legal Support Professionals offers the Professional Paralegal PP certification
Licensing Requirements to Become a Personal Injury Paralegal
General licensing requirements for Paralegals working in the US don’t require paralegals to have an occupational license.
Most Paralegals gain entry into the field through a combination of education and hands-on experience.
While some states like California, Washington, and Utah have their own specific requirements, most legal employers prefer to hire candidates who meet basic age, education, and certification standards and competency requirements.
Online Training Programs for Personal Injury Paralegals
1 Liberty University Online
About the Program
Aspiring legal eagles seeking to make a quick entry into the field can earn a Paralegal Studies Certificate via Liberty University’s nationally accredited eight-week online program.
Their web-based Paralegal training program teaches enrollees the foundations of the legal field while preparing them to take on advanced legal education and entry-level roles as practicing paralegals.
Liberty students seeking to further their legal education can transfer almost all of their certificate credits to the university’s Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies program.
Their BS in Paralegal Studies program is also offered fully online and prepares Paralegals to provide administrative legal support to a variety of practicing attorneys within their regions.
Courses Offered
- Contemporary Law
- Foundations of Law
- Legal Research
- Legal Writing
- The Paralegal Profession
Contact Information
- Address: 1971 University Blvd., Lynchburg, Virginia - 24515
- Phone: 800-424-9595
- Website: Visit School Website
2 University of California at Irvine
About the Program
The University of California at Irvine offers an ABA-approved Paralegal Studies certificate program.
Their top-rated Paralegal Studies program is headed by well-respected local legal professionals and top legal educators.
Their unique program is designed to help students choose their own legal pathways by selecting their desired courses from a series of 300 hours of available legal classes, which include foundational legal knowledge and legal specialties like, family law, contracts, torts, and legal technology.
Students can also opt to enroll in the complete certificate program to take all of the recommended courses and earn a certificate of completion from the U of C at Irvine.
Courses Offered
- Contracts
- Civil Litigation I and II
- Ethics for Paralegals
- Fundamentals of the Legal Profession
- Legal Research and Analysis
- Legal Writing
Contact Information
- Address: 510 E Peltason Drive, Irvine, California - 92697
- Phone: 946-824-1010
- Website: Visit School Website
3 University of Cincinnati
About the Program
The University of Cincinnati provides another ABA-approved route to gaining Paralegal education.
They offer a regionally accredited 2-year program leading to an Associate of Applied Business Law and Paralegal Studies degree that can be completed online.
Enrollees are required to complete 60 credit hours of legal education, which includes an option to transfer a percentage of associate-level credits to the Bachelor of Science in Law and Paralegal Studies degree also offered by the university.
Courses Offered
- Civil Litigation
- Family Law
- Introduction to Legal Studies
- Law Office Technology
- Legal Research and Writing
- Real Estate Law
Contact Information
- Address: Cincinnati, Ohio - 45221
- Phone: 833-556-7900
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Liberty University Online |
| #2 | University of California at Irvine |
| #3 | University of Cincinnati |
Personal Injury Paralegal Salary – US
Online salary data reports show that US paralegals earn an average salary of around $78,628.00 per year.
This salary includes base payments, benefits, and compensation packages.
Higher-earning paralegals can earn as much as $87,308.00 each year.
Paralegals on the lower end of the salary scale make about 56,192.00 annually.
Incoming paralegals should note that factors including years of experience on the job, paralegal education, employer size, employer type, and geographical location can all have significant impacts on your annual earnings.
U.S. Average Salary: $66,460
Salary Information by State
| State | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4,000 | $53,450 | $25.70 | $74,820 | $35,210 |
| Alaska | 760 | $63,180 | $30.38 | $92,640 | $45,850 |
| Arizona | 7,550 | $65,400 | $31.44 | $93,640 | $38,030 |
| Arkansas | 1,460 | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - |
| California | 39,220 | $79,210 | $38.08 | $117,120 | $48,320 |
| Colorado | 5,400 | $72,220 | $34.72 | $101,830 | $47,180 |
| Connecticut | 4,850 | $71,140 | $34.20 | $96,530 | $48,030 |
| Delaware | 1,590 | $71,360 | $34.31 | $102,510 | $47,760 |
| D.C. | 5,340 | $94,290 | $45.33 | $126,940 | $58,080 |
| Florida | 35,020 | $61,830 | $29.72 | $86,030 | $38,600 |
| Georgia | 12,440 | $61,210 | $29.43 | $90,810 | $35,880 |
| Hawaii | 1,170 | $64,250 | $30.89 | $86,240 | $43,760 |
| Idaho | 1,720 | $52,980 | $25.47 | $77,540 | $30,240 |
| Illinois | 15,780 | $63,340 | $30.45 | $96,030 | $45,540 |
| Indiana | 5,550 | $56,480 | $27.15 | $81,850 | $37,440 |
| Iowa | 2,520 | $59,610 | $28.66 | $83,700 | $38,180 |
| Kansas | 3,050 | $53,310 | $25.63 | $81,380 | $36,210 |
| Kentucky | 2,590 | $53,910 | $25.92 | $74,490 | $37,690 |
| Louisiana | 4,860 | $53,980 | $25.95 | $79,930 | $35,580 |
| Maine | 1,260 | $59,800 | $28.75 | $77,280 | $45,010 |
| Maryland | 6,190 | $68,070 | $32.73 | $94,100 | $43,480 |
| Massachusetts | 7,520 | $74,710 | $35.92 | $102,520 | $47,690 |
| Michigan | 7,580 | $63,460 | $30.51 | $85,750 | $40,450 |
| Minnesota | 5,650 | $68,410 | $32.89 | $97,230 | $39,790 |
| Mississippi | 1,980 | $46,620 | $22.41 | $67,020 | $35,290 |
| Missouri | 5,640 | $61,100 | $29.38 | $80,660 | $37,950 |
| Montana | 1,130 | $58,310 | $28.03 | $79,800 | $45,720 |
| Nebraska | 1,420 | $60,580 | $29.12 | $84,050 | $42,020 |
| Nevada | 3,360 | $61,200 | $29.43 | $81,500 | $33,810 |
| New Hampshire | 1,460 | $59,810 | $28.76 | $81,700 | $38,240 |
| New Jersey | 11,440 | $70,380 | $33.84 | $99,210 | $42,920 |
| New Mexico | 1,850 | $56,840 | $27.33 | $74,480 | $42,010 |
| New York | 30,930 | $78,850 | $37.91 | $128,400 | $50,010 |
| North Carolina | 12,160 | $57,860 | $27.82 | $83,880 | $37,650 |
| North Dakota | 690 | $55,940 | $26.89 | $73,680 | $40,260 |
| Ohio | 8,910 | $57,360 | $27.58 | $81,220 | $36,030 |
| Oklahoma | 2,790 | $56,430 | $27.13 | $79,000 | $37,340 |
| Oregon | 5,010 | $69,100 | $33.22 | $95,190 | $47,650 |
| Pennsylvania | 12,530 | $65,940 | $31.70 | $95,260 | $42,570 |
| Rhode Island | 1,450 | $70,220 | $33.76 | $94,450 | $49,980 |
| South Carolina | 7,050 | $50,820 | $24.43 | $68,540 | $35,560 |
| South Dakota | 470 | $59,560 | $28.64 | $75,840 | $44,550 |
| Tennessee | 5,360 | $56,440 | $27.14 | $83,430 | $35,360 |
| Texas | 28,140 | $63,720 | $30.64 | $97,280 | $37,690 |
| Utah | 3,190 | $57,440 | $27.61 | $80,620 | $39,750 |
| Vermont | 620 | $61,990 | $29.80 | $77,190 | $48,420 |
| Virginia | 9,460 | $63,820 | $30.68 | $93,670 | $38,170 |
| Washington | 7,960 | $75,560 | $36.33 | $107,500 | $47,840 |
| West Virginia | 1,780 | $56,870 | $27.34 | $83,200 | $32,610 |
| Wisconsin | 4,640 | $57,750 | $27.77 | $79,370 | $40,670 |
| Wyoming | 400 | $56,870 | $27.34 | $82,400 | $39,000 |
| Guam | 60 | $43,360 | $20.85 | $72,950 | $24,560 |
| Puerto Rico | ** | $39,350 | $18.92 | $58,720 | $23,420 |
| Virgin Islands | 80 | $53,080 | $25.52 | $64,670 | $40,000 |
Annual Average Salary: Top 10 States
District of Columbia tops the list in this field, with an average salary of $94,290.
These are the leading 10 states in terms of earnings in the field:
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Paralegals and Legal Assistants, OCC Code 23-2011, BLS.* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Leave a Reply