South Dakota Paralegal Career and Salary Guide

South Dakota is one of the few states with mandatory education and experience requirements for legal assistants and paralegals. On this page, you will find answers to the most common questions about how to become a paralegal in South Dakota, including certification options, salary information, job outlook, and career resources.

Table of Contents

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

How to Become a Paralegal in South Dakota

South Dakota has set mandatory minimum requirements for paralegals and legal assistants. According to the South Dakota Supreme Court, paralegals and legal assistants must hold a high school diploma or equivalent and meet one the following requirements:

• Have passed the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) exam from the National Associations of Legal Assistants (NALA)
• Be a graduate of an ABA-approved legal assistant program
• Be a graduate of a legal assistant program that is institutionally accredited, requires at least 60 semester hours of classroom study, but is not ABA-approved.
• Be a graduate of any legal assistant program and have completed at least six months of in-house training as a legal assistant
• Hold a bachelor’s degree in any field and have completed at least six months of in-house training as a legal assistant
• Have at least three years of supervised, law-related experience, including at least six months of in-house training as a legal assistant
• Have at least two years of in-house training as a legal assistant

Following are the basic steps to becoming a paralegal in South Dakota:

1. Earn a degree or certificate in paralegal studies.

One way paralegals in South Dakota can meet the mandatory requirements listed above is to obtain a formal education in legal studies. Completing a legal assistant program can qualify candidates to become paralegals if it is ABA-approved or requires at least 60 semester hours of classroom study. There are a couple of paralegal schools in South Dakota offering bachelor’s degrees in paralegal studies, and numerous others, including certificates in legal studies and paralegal associate degrees, in neighboring states. One South Dakota paralegal program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).¹

2. Gain experience.

Through degree or certificate programs, paralegal candidates are typically offered on-the-job experience through internships or job shadowing opportunities. This real-world experience can help paralegals meet the requirements set by the State Supreme Court. Paralegals may qualify through experience alone by completing three years of supervised, law-related experience including six months of in-house training or by completing two years of in-house training as a legal assistant.

3. Seek certification, if desired.

While national certification is voluntary, obtaining it demonstrates dedication and commitment to the profession, which can appeal to potential employers. One way South Dakota paralegals can meet the state’s mandatory requirements is to pass the CLA exam from NALA. You can read more about NALA and other national certification options below.

Paralegal Certification in South Dakota

In South Dakota, paralegals are classified as legal paraprofessionals and are permitted to perform substantive legal tasks under a supervising attorney. Currently, South Dakota paralegal certification is not required, but the state does regulate the education and training of paralegals. Many paralegals pursue certification through a national organization such as NALA, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), or the National Association for Legal Professionals (NALS). All of these organizations offer voluntary certification programs including examinations designed to raise the national level of competency and professionalism in the paralegal occupation. These certification exams have various education and work experience prerequisites that should be consulted before applying. Passing the CLA exam from NALA is one way paralegals can meet the state’s minimum requirements.

Prospective paralegals are also encouraged to seek guidance from the South Dakota paralegal associations listed below. For more information on national certification options, take a look at our guide Steps to Become a Paralegal.

South Dakota Paralegal Career and Salary Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently reported 470 paralegals and legal assistants employed throughout South Dakota, earning a minimum annual salary of $59,560.³ Projections Central projects 9.6% growth for paralegal jobs in South Dakota, faster than the 4.2% projection for paralegal jobs nationwide for the same period.² This amounts to 60 average annual openings for paralegal jobs in the state.²

South Dakota Paralegal Salary by Metro Area

Paralegal Employers in South Dakota

Paralegals and legal assistants can find employment in many legal settings, including large and small law firms, corporations, government agencies, banks, and insurance groups.

LinkedIn is a good research resource where you can search on geography (South Dakota or city-level) for “paralegal” to find networking opportunities, job postings, and companies most associated with users identifying as paralegals; companies in South Dakota with the most LinkedIn users as paralegals include:

• Bangs McCullen Law Firm
• Black Hills Energy
• Boyce Law Firm, LLP
• Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith Law Firm
• Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson & Ashmore, LLP
• Lynn, Jackson, Shultz & Lebrun, P.C.
• State of South Dakota
• United States Air Force

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

Paralegal Resources

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

Paralegal Associations in South Dakota

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.

• Black Hills Legal Professional Association (BHLPA): Serves legal professionals throughout western South Dakota with regular monthly meetings, job postings, networking opportunities, continuing education opportunities, and social events.
• Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association (RMPA): Promotes the paralegal profession through job postings, professional seminars, and networking events in the Rocky Mountain States including Colorado, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
• South Dakota Paralegal Association (SDPA): Seeks to promote the paralegal profession in South Dakota through networking opportunities, professional development, and regular membership meetings.

Additional Resources

• Paralegal411 Jobs Board: To search for paralegal openings in South Dakota, visit our jobs board.
• South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Provides access to all courts within the state with links to court rules, forms, legal research sources, and legal news, as well as e-filing systems.
• University of South Dakota Law Library: Serves as the legal resource center for the University of South Dakota Law School, the judiciary, and the State Bar, hosting over 200,000 print volumes and allowing registered state attorneys to borrow circulating materials.

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