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California Paralegal Career and Salary Guide

California is the only state that directly regulates the paralegal profession by requiring anyone using the title of “paralegal” and “legal assistant” to meet specific education and work experience standards. This page provides details on becoming a paralegal in California, including certification requirements, career outlook, salary information, and professional resources.

Table of Contents

How to Become a Paralegal in California

California requires paralegals to have a combination of education and experience before they can begin to work as legal assistants. Voluntary state certification is available, but not required. You can find more information about how to become a paralegal, including national certification programs, on the Paralegal411 guide Steps to Become a Paralegal. Below are the basic steps to become a paralegal in California:

1. Earn a degree or certificate in paralegal studies.

The first step for most prospective paralegals in California is to seek a paralegal certificate, paralegal associate’s degree, or paralegal bachelor’s degree from one of the state’s numerous paralegal schools. There are currently 32 American Bar Association (ABA)-approved programs in California.1 The required education level depends on the type of program and your legal experience. California paralegals must meet one of these education and experience combinations:

  • Hold a certificate of completion of a paralegal program approved by the ABA
  • Hold a certificate of completion of a paralegal program or a degree from a non-ABA-approved school including at least 24 semester units of law-related courses. The certificate or degree must be from a postsecondary institution that has either been accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency or approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE).
  • Hold a baccalaureate or advanced degree in any subject with at least one year of law-related training under the supervision of an attorney who has been practicing for at least three years and can vouch for the candidate
  • Hold a high school diploma or the equivalent with at least three years of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney who has been practicing for at least three years and can vouch for the candidate

2. Gain experience.

Most paralegals in California who attend paralegal programs will receive some real-world experience through internships offered as part of the program. If you hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than paralegal studies, you must gain one year of law-related experience under an attorney’s supervision for certification. For prospective paralegals with a high school diploma or the equivalent, at least three years of law-related experience under an attorney’s supervision must be obtained.

3. Seek certification, if desired.

While California does not require certification to work in the field, it does offer voluntary state certification through the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) in addition to national options. Voluntary certification demonstrates a commitment to excellence and can expand your networking opportunities, potentially leading to more job prospects. Read more about California certification below.

Once the above qualifications have been met, practicing California paralegals must complete Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) every two years. At least four hours in legal ethics and four hours in either general law or a specialized area of law must be completed every two years. The MCLE hours must be certified by the paralegal’s supervising attorney and a record of certifications must be kept by the paralegal.


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Paralegal Certification in California

Many paralegals choose to pursue state and national certification to enhance their credentials and improve their career prospects. National organizations such as the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA, the Paralegal Association); the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA); and the American Alliance of Paralegals Inc. (AAPI) offer voluntary certifications that demonstrate to potential employers that paralegals have met a professional standard of excellence.

California Certified Paralegal

In addition to these national credentials, the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) offers a certification program leading to the California Certified Paralegal (CCP) credential to paralegals who pass the CCP Exam. To be eligible to take the CCP Exam, paralegals must be compliant with California regulations (including MCLE compliance) and meet one of the following requirements:

  • Hold a certificate of completion in paralegal studies from an ABA-approved paralegal program
  • Hold a certificate of completion in paralegal studies or an associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited school requiring at least 24 credits of law-related courses
  • Hold a bachelor’s or advanced degree in any subject from an accredited school and have at least four years of substantive paralegal experience

Eligible paralegals must apply to take the CCP Exam on CAPA’s website. The exam consists of 200 multiple-choice and true or false questions covering core paralegal skills; ethics and California rules; and substantive law. A score of 75% or higher must be achieved to receive the CCP credential, and a certification fee must be paid. To maintain the credential, CCPs must pay renewal fees and accumulate 40 hours of MCLE every five years, comprising at least 30 hours of general credit and 10 hours of legal ethics credit. CCPs must track all MCLE credits and submit proof of attendance.

California Paralegal Career and Salary Outlook

Projected Job Growth

12.2%

Paralegals in California from 2022-20322

According to recent reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), California employed the second-largest number of paralegals and legal assistants among all states.3 The average annual salary for paralegals and legal assistants in California was $79,210, making it the second top-paying state for this profession.3 In addition, four California metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz, are reported as the top-paying metropolitan areas for paralegals.3 Projections Central forecasts a 12% employment growth for paralegals in California, significantly higher than the national growth rate of 4.2%.2

California Paralegal Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaNumber Employed4Average Annual Salary4
Statewide39,220$79,210
Bakersfield290$64,460
Fresno770$62,040
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim16,560$78,720
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura490$73,820
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario1,810$66,140
Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade2,770$75,060
San Diego-Carlsbad4,500$72,260
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward6,720$92,860
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara1,850$103,850

Paralegal Employers in California

Paralegals in California can find opportunities to work for corporate legal departments, government agencies, and private law firms. Paralegals can also find opportunities at corporations, smaller businesses, and state and local government agencies. LinkedIn is a good research resource where you can search by geography (California or city-level) for “paralegal” to find networking opportunities, job postings, and companies most associated with users identifying as paralegals. Companies in California with the most LinkedIn users as paralegals include:

  • Cooley LLP
  • Fragomen
  • Google
  • Latham & Watkins
  • Morrison Foerster
  • Netflix
  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

For more information about paralegal careers, take a look at our paralegal careers page.

Paralegal Resources

Paralegal Associations in California

These are volunteer organizations, typically with elected boards, that focus on professional development and networking for a specific geographical location and/or area of law.

  • California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPARA): Promotes the advancement of the paralegal profession through networking, the sharing of resources from member organizations.
  • Central Coast Paralegal Association (CCPASLO): Provides resources to support educational and networking opportunities for San Luis Obispo County paralegals, including a scholarship for future paralegals and extensive networking events.
  • Commission for Certification of California Paralegals (CCCP): Provides a uniform voluntary certification (California Advanced Specialist or CAS) to California paralegals who can demonstrate advanced understanding of California law.
  • Inland Counties Association of Paralegals (ICAP): Provides educational resources and opportunities for personal growth for those in the paralegal profession in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
  • Kern County Paralegal Association (KCPA): Seeks to help paralegals in Kern County maintain the high standards of the paralegal profession by providing continuing legal education opportunities and networking events, as well as cultivating the exchange of information among paralegals.
  • Los Angeles Paralegal Association (LAPA): Works to advance the paralegal profession in Los Angeles through an online career center that allows job seekers to search current job opportunities, post their resumes, and sign up for job alerts.
  • Orange County Paralegal Association (OCPA): Strives to maintain a high level of professionalism for those in the paralegal field in and around Orange County through educational events and access to a job bank.
  • Sacramento Valley Paralegal Association (SVPA): Provides professional and educational resources to paralegals, including information regarding state laws, continuing education opportunities, several annual meetings, an informative newsletter, and a job bank for members only.
  • San Diego Paralegal Association (SDPA): Works to improve the paralegal profession in San Diego through educational activities, a mentorship program, involvement in pro bono clinics, and overall increased awareness of this profession.
  • San Francisco Paralegal Association (SFPA): Empowers paralegals to enhance their professional development through annual conferences, leadership opportunities, quarterly socials, and scholarship opportunities.
  • Santa Barbara County Bar Association (SBCBA): Seeks to preserve and advance the paralegal profession in Santa Barbara, offering general membership meetings for paralegals, discounts to local businesses, and extensive networking opportunities.

Additional Resources

References:
1. American Bar Association Directory of ABA Approved Paralegal Education Programs: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/paralegals/paralegal-resource-directory/
2. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections, 2022-2032: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wages, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes232011.htm
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm