Buffalo 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 Buffalo, New York
Most people will think of tangy sauce slathered over chicken wings when they envision Buffalo, but the second-largest city in the state of New York has lots more going for it. Some quick, fun facts: It has the first and oldest coordinated urban parks system in the country; the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library features a Rare Book Room with the original manuscript for Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; and the area boasts no less than five Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, including the phenomenal Martin House (a designated National Historic Landmark).
Buffalo jobs were originally supported by shipments arriving down the Erie Canal, and have now branched out into various sectors, including logistics, banking, healthcare, and tourism. Viticulture is becoming popular too, and Buffalo's cost of living is 20.5% lower than the U.S. average. Winters may be harsh and snowy, but spring, summer, and early fall climates are usually very accommodating—and you're just 20 miles away from the magnificent Niagara Falls. Also, consider looking around Rochester, Albany, and New York City for additional job opportunities.
Update Your Buffalo 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 Buffalo, New York?
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 Buffalo, New York, 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 Buffalo is $41,397 per year, which is 9% lower than the national average.
Find Your Next Buffalo 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 Buffalo, how to nail your job interview, and more.