Georgia Paralegal Career and Salary Guide

There are no state-level legal requirements for paralegals in Georgia. Most enter the field through a combination of education and on-the-job training, as well as internships. This page provides state-specific paralegal salary and job outlook information, career resources, and guidance on how to become a paralegal in Georgia.

Table of Contents

• How to Become a Paralegal in Georgia
• Paralegal Certification
• Paralegal Career and Salary Outlook
• Paralegal Resources

How to Become a Paralegal in Georgia

Certification is optional for paralegals in Georgia, so you can take many different paths to start your career. Most commonly, paralegals start with a combination of education and on-the-job experience. Below are the basic steps to become a paralegal in Georgia:

1. Earn a degree or certificate in paralegal studies.

Prospective paralegals may choose to build their skills (and improve their ability to be hired) by attending one of the paralegal programs in Georgia. Several schools in Georgia offer paralegal certificates, associate’s degrees in legal studies, and bachelor’s degrees in legal studies; currently six of these programs are recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as upholding the highest standard of excellence.¹

2. Gain experience.

To improve your chances of a successful career, consider working directly in a legal firm or office to gain real-world experience. As firms increasingly rely on paralegal assistance to reduce attorney costs, more opportunities may become available. Some firms start paralegals in assistant or secretary roles and later promote them to higher roles. Whether through an internship or formal on-the-job training, legal experience can make you stand out among potential hires and help you build your network for your future career.

3. Seek certification, if desired.

While formal certification is optional in Georgia, it can demonstrate mastery of legal assistant skills that are highly valued by employers. Consider a voluntary certification like those below.

Paralegal Certification in Georgia

Paralegals and legal assistants in Georgia are recognized as legal “paraprofessionals” or non-lawyer assistants. Under this designation, paralegals and legal assistants are permitted to perform certain legal tasks under the direct supervision of an attorney. The state of Georgia has not issued any education or training requirements for paralegal employment.

Though there is no statewide Georgia paralegal certification program, the Georgia Association of Paralegals (GAP) highly recommends that prospective paralegals seek voluntary national certification through an association such as the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA, the Paralegal Association), the American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc. (AAPI), or the National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS). Voluntary certification can increase candidates’ job prospects by showing they meet national standards. For more information regarding paralegal certification, refer to the GAP and the South Eastern Association of Legal Assistants (SEALA). You can also find more information about how to become a paralegal, including national certification programs, on the Paralegal411 guide Steps to Become a Paralegal.

Georgia Paralegal Career and Salary Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently reported 12,440 paralegals and legal assistants employed in the state of Georgia.³ The Atlanta metropolitan area had the seventh-highest employment level for the profession of metro areas nationwide.³ Paralegals in Georgia reportedly earned an annual mean salary of $61,210.³ Georgia paralegal jobs are projected to grow by 8% over the next decade, resulting in an average of 1,380 annual job openings.³ These statistics compare favorably to national trends as the employment growth for paralegals and legal assistants across the country is projected at 4.2% over the same period.²

Georgia Paralegal Salary by Metro Area

Paralegal Employers in Georgia

Most paralegal jobs in Georgia are found in law firms, but government offices, private businesses, and other institutions also frequently hire paralegal support. Georgia government offices and agencies may also offer opportunities for public service paralegal careers. LinkedIn is a good research resource where you can search on geography (Georgia or city-level) for “paralegal” to find networking opportunities, job postings, and companies most associated with users identifying as paralegals; companies in Georgia with the most LinkedIn users as paralegals include:

• Aldridge Pite, LLP
• Alston & Bird
• Greenberg Traurig, LLP
• The Home Depot
• King & Spalding
• Morgan & Morgan, P.A.
• Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers

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

Paralegal Resources

Here are some resources to help paralegals in Georgia with professional development, networking, and career growth.

Paralegal Associations in Georgia

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.

• Atlanta Bar Association: Serves members who are lawyers, students, legal assistants, and others by offering innovative programs and services to support them.
• Atlanta Paralegal Association (APA) : Hosts regular meetings, lunch-and-learn seminars, continuing education events, and other networking opportunities.
• Gate City Bar Association – Paralegal Section (GCBA): Aims to promote fellowship in the legal community, legal ethics, and professionalism, by holding quarterly membership meetings, periodic socials, and awards luncheons.
• Georgia Association of Paralegals (GAP): Provides a publicly accessible statewide jobs board specific to paralegals and legal assistants, emphasizes professional networking, and encourages all legal professionals to contribute pro bono service to the community.
• Southeastern Association of Legal Assistants (SEALA): Serves legal support professionals across southeast Georgia with legal education workshops, guest speakers, professional support groups, and other career-oriented events held throughout the year.

Additional Resources

• Emory University Hugh F. MacMillan Law Library: Holds over 300,000 volumes as well as hundreds of thousands of microform and electronic items, accessible to paralegals working for members of the Atlanta Bar Association or those who have contacted the library to make access arrangements.
• Georgia Superior Courts: Handles civil and criminal law actions across the state offers information on local courts as well as news stemming from court cases and rules changes.
• Judicial Council of Georgia: Indexes court rules, forms, and case search functions for all classes of courts, and provides links to certification and licensing for different court functions, which can be useful for keeping personnel credentials up to date.
• Office of the Attorney General of Georgia:
  Recruits continuously for paralegals and legal administrative assistants.
• Paralegal411 Jobs Board: To search for paralegal openings in Georgia, visit our jobs board.
• University of Georgia Alexander Campbell King Law Library: Houses over 500,000 volumes and offers checkout privileges for university affiliates and attorneys.

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