Baltimore Paralegal Jobs Overview
Attorneys—especially those at bigger firms—can’t do it all on their own. Essential members of their teams often include paralegals. However, these roles should not be confused with legal secretaries, who only handle day-to-day admin duties and customer-service tasks.
As defined by the American Bar Association (ABA), a paralegal is a professional “who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.” Hence, paralegal jobs encompass a variety of work that’s more directly involved with supervising attorneys or lawyers, such as preparing affidavits and legal correspondence, filing pleadings, responding to discovery requests, researching case-related information, and recapping depositions and trial transcripts.
And now’s a great time to pursue this career. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is forecasting a 12% growth outlook over the next decade for paralegal jobs, which is faster than the average for all occupations, as law firms and other companies keep hiring more paralegals to increase productivity and cost-effectiveness.
You can expand your search for legal jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Baltimore, Maryland
Mix it up in Baltimore, where you can ease off the big-city ruckus with various historic neighborhoods that exude a charming small-town feel. It's an East Coast mainstay characterized by diverse communities, friendly locals, music/nightlife havens, and, yes—great seafood (blue crab cakes, anyone?). Museums and attractions are also abundant, making Baltimore an engaging metropolis to live and work in. And did you know that Old Bay—that tried-and-true American seasoning—was invented here too? Longstanding hallmarks in the largest city in Maryland include its waterfronts, harbors, and seaport located on the estuary of the Patapsco River, which have fueled Baltimore jobs in the transportation, shipping, and manufacturing industries.
Hence, Baltimore remains the state's economic center, where top employers run the gamut from government and freight/logistics services to healthcare facilities and educational institutions. Plus, there's a predicted future job growth rate of 25.1% over the next 10 years, with an overall cost of living at 11.8% below the national average. But if you're not finding what you need directly in the city, consider also looking around Bowie, Annapolis, and Gaithersburg.
Update Your Baltimore Paralegal Resume
Your paralegal resume should open with a compact, hard-hitting objective. When writing this, think of it as arguing your case—a compelling opening statement, so to speak. You can also opt for a career summary instead, if you’d prefer. After that, it’s important that you give specific examples of your accomplishments and quantify your achievements (e.g., how big were your previous caseloads and how fast were you able to finish respective tasks?). Take a look at our paralegal resume sample for more pointers.
Additionally, try sending a persuasive cover letter with your application, as it will help your candidacy if you do it right. Need some guidance? Then review our example of a well-written cover letter for paralegals.
How Much Do Paralegal Jobs Pay in Baltimore, Maryland?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in paralegal jobs in Baltimore, Maryland, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median paralegal pay in Baltimore is $42,287 per year, which is 7% lower than the national average.
Find Your Next Baltimore Paralegal Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in paralegal? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those paralegal jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in Baltimore, how to nail your job interview, and more.