What kind of trends could be shaping the paralegal profession in 2025? This article will cover two categories: Specialty Areas (to work in) and General Paralegal Trends for 2025.
You can listen to the podcast episode or read the blog article below.
Paralegal Trends for 2025
These top three trends come from my hundreds of conversations in 2024 with paralegals, paralegal managers, firm administrators, managing partners, and legal recruiters.
Are there other trends? Yes. But the other blog articles all discuss those types of trends. I chose the three that stuck out to me more than anything else mentioned.
1 – Work from home is almost non-existent.
Well, we had a good run for a while, but it’s pretty much over now.
While a few firms still use a hybrid model that allows paralegals to work from home one or two days per week, those are becoming more of the exception than the norm.
This is a shame because if we learned anything during the pandemic, it was that paralegals could be just as productive (sometimes more so) from home as they were in the office. That is – the paralegals who didn’t need to be supervised in the office.
There will always be the outliers who will take advantage of the system. But they’re doing that when they’re in the office, too.
One thing I am seeing regarding this trend is that the firms that still allow a hybrid model are able to use that as part of their recruitment efforts, and they are getting candidates who might otherwise go for the higher salary at the bigger firm—but the bigger firm wants them in the office every day.
Which leads me to my paralegal trend for 2025…
2 – The benefits package is more important than ever.
I’m not even talking about the benefit of being able to work remotely one or two days a week. I’m talking about all of the other benefits that an employer has to offer.
The paralegals I speak to are looking beyond just the salary because they understand that those benefits can add up to real dollars in their pocket. Things like:
💰 401K match
💰 Profit sharing bonus into their 401K
💰 Paid maternity/paternity leave
💰 Bonuses based on performance instead of tenure
💰 Quality health insurance options at affordable prices
💰 HSAs/FSAs
💰 A formal process for annual performance reviews and annual salary increases
💰 Paid time off that doesn’t expire
💰 Paid continued learning opportunities
💰 Paid gym memberships or apps that encourage things like better sleep, meditation for stress, etc.
I was talking to a friend of mine who has been a paralegal for 20 years. She was considering a job offer from a smaller firm for $135k. The firm didn’t have the same benefit package as her current firm where she was making $120k.
When we added up all of the benefits she would not be getting at the new job (benefits she actually used!), she was not making $20k more in salary. She was only making $3,000 more in salary.
It wasn’t a $15k bump in salary when she was losing $12k in benefits. Benefits that she actually used and would otherwise have to take money out of her pocket to buy. Sure, that’s a little increase in salary, but is it worth it to leave for an additional $3,000 when you don’t know what you’re walking into?
While this is something I’m hearing about as a trend, if it’s not something you’re thinking about – it should be. Pay more attention to the benefit package.
3 – The people you spend the most time with.
The third most popular thing I’m hearing from paralegals is that people matter more than ever before. This makes sense because you spend a lot of time with the people you work with, and they contribute to your mental state.
No one wants to work with a jerk. And you might be thinking, well, of course, no one does.
The thing is, it used to be tolerated. My generation (GenX) and the one before me (Boomers) tolerated workplace behavior that would have GenZ gasping for air and walking out immediately.
It’s more than just not wanting to work with bullies and jerks. Now, people actively seek out attorneys who will be good bosses.
I think social media has something to do with it, because people now join online communities, and they hear stories of what it’s like to work with certain attorneys.
People hear stories like paralegals who work with attorneys who:
👍 show them respect
👍 compliment them on a job well done
👍 praise them in front of clients
👍 willingly support the paralegal’s continued learning
👍 are patient with new paralegals during the learning process
Before social media, one might just assume that ALL attorneys behaved the way theirs did. They didn’t know there was a whole other world of attorneys who were enjoyable to work for.
I had someone tell me just last month: my goal for 2025 is to find an attorney to work for who is like this person (and they showed me a social media post from a paralegal describing how great it is to work for their attorney).
She literally said, “I don’t care if I have to take a huge pay cut, this is the type of person I want to work for in 2025, so I’m on a mission to find them.”
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Specialty Areas Trending in 2025
Now, let’s talk about the trending specialty areas. These are the fields where paralegals will see increasing demand:
1. Cybersecurity
With the rise of data breaches and cybercrime, firms need paralegals who understand cybersecurity laws and regulations. If you are technology-inclined, this could be a very interesting specialty area for you.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
This is not just about using AI tools in your own work. Instead, it involves working on cases disputing some aspect of AI—from intellectual property disputes to liability issues.
3. Intellectual Property (IP)
The growing digital economy means more companies need help protecting their innovations and creations. This specialty area could also be combined with the AI area above as many of the early AI cases involved intellectual property disputes from AI tools using a creator’s data to train the AI tools.
4. Cannabis Law
As legalization expands, the need for paralegals with expertise in cannabis regulations is skyrocketing.
5. Regulatory and Compliance
From healthcare to financial services, industries are under increasing scrutiny, and paralegals play a critical role in ensuring compliance. You may recall an earlier episode where I interviewed a paralegal who became a compliance officer for a healthcare provider. I’ll put a link to my interview for you to listen to it.
6. Litigation
I am somewhat partial to this practice area, but that’s not why I’m listing it as a trend for 2025. I’m listing it because litigation has always been the top practice area for the last four decades. You’re always safe being in litigation because there will always be lawsuits. That being said, if you are in litigation, you’re going to want to keep up with all of the emerging technologies in litigation if you want to enjoy a successful career as a litigation paralegal.
7. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
As the legal industry continues to seek cost-effective and efficient solutions, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods like mediation and arbitration are gaining popularity. Paralegals with expertise in ADR can assist in preparing for and facilitating these processes, making them valuable assets to their firms. Understanding the nuances of ADR can also help paralegals provide better support to attorneys and clients seeking amicable resolutions outside of traditional courtroom settings.
Here’s to a successful 2025—let’s make it a year of growth, resilience, and impact!
Meet the Author
Ann Pearson is the Founder of the Paralegal Boot Camp, and host of the Paralegals on Fire! Podcast Show, and passionate about promoting the paralegal profession.
Ann spent 20 years working as a paralegal manager and a litigation paralegal before opening the Paralegal Boot Camp in 2010.
Ann’s training programs focus on adding immediate value to a paralegal’s career and bridging the gap between what a paralegal learns in school and what they actually do on the job.
Visit the About Us Page to learn more about why Ann started the Paralegal Boot Camp.
