In our final “Paralegal Focus”, we look at Washington DC outlining what information might be of interest if you are considering pursuing a paralegal career.

The Important Numbers:
· Paralegals in Washington, D.C.: 6,350*
· Median Paralegal Salary: $61,960*
· Length of Paralegal Study: 1 to 4 years
· Almost 75 percent of paralegals work for law firms*
· Largest Law Firms in D.C.: Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr(1,180 attorneys) and Hogan & Hartson (1,175 attorneys)**

Paralegal Schools in Washington DC:
Each year an average of 96 students in Washington DC graduate with a paralegal qualification. There are three paralegal schools to choose from and tuition fees are approximately €37, 527 per year for a paralegal degree.

The three paralegal schools in DC are:
Georgetown University (ABA Approved)
George Washington University
Catholic University of America

Washington DC Paralegals – Salary Information:
The median paralegal salary in DC is $57,130, but the top 10% earn over $94,000.
There are many common practice areas for DC paralegals, including litigation, immigration and trademarks (don’t forget that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is located in Alexandria). With many foreign diplomats living in DC, paralegals that speak foreign languages such as French and Spanish are in demand.

Check in with www.recruitlegal.com regularly to see what paralegal opportunities are available in Washington DC.

*www.bls.gov/ (2010)
**National Law Journal