Columbia 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 Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is centrally located in South Carolina and is known as the "Soda City." But, contrary to what you might think, that doesn’t mean the city produces a ton of pop—it’s just a reference to the city’s abbreviated name—Cola. So, what does Soda City have to offer to people looking for Columbia jobs? The city has a thriving arts and culture scene where you can catch a live performance or art film just about every day of the year. Columbia also has more than its fair share of museum, including the Columbia Museum of Art and South Carolina State Museum.
The downtown area is packed with art galleries, antique shops, boutiques, live music venues, coffee shops, and restaurants. The soul food here is a must-try if you're looking for a real Columbia dining experience, but the city also offers brunch, desserts, and vegan cuisine.
When compared with similarly sized cities, Columbia has a healthy job market index score. Additionally, Columbia's unemployment rate and cost of living fall below the national average. If you can't find the job you're looking for here, don't worry. There are more opportunities in Florence, Charleston, and Greenville.
Update Your Columbia 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 Columbia, South Carolina?
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 Columbia, South Carolina, 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 Columbia is $40,405 per year, which is 12% lower than the national average.
Find Your Next Columbia 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 Columbia, how to nail your job interview, and more.