Overview of Legal Assistant Jobs in Tucson, AZ

What Does a Legal Assistant Do?

Legal assistants are broadly employed in nearly every aspect of law and service a remarkable array of legal specialties – from family law to business to criminal to real estate to estates and trusts, and much more. They spend a considerable amount of time on information-gathering and administrative tasks for their employers, gathering information pertinent to cases, researching applicable laws and regulations and drafting legal documents.
While the legal assistant typically begins any given task, it is the attorney who is ultimately responsible for meeting the client’s needs . Legal assistants are commonly required to possess both technical skills including familiarity with pertinent legal software programs and "soft" skills including the ability to relate to clients and their concerns and to work effectively as part of a legal team.
Legal assistant duties commonly include:
While job descriptions and often academic course work and competencies have historically included some level of computer skills, today’s requirements are frequently more specific. When they post job listings, Tucson-area attorneys often list the following required IT competencies:
Many attributes of the legal assistant position are amenable to "on the job" learning by the right candidate. Others, however, are associated with prerequisite skills and abilities that form the basis for the current legal assistant job market.

Legal Assistant Employment Trends in Tucson, AZ

The job market for legal assistants in Tucson, AZ has been steadily improving over recent years, aligning with broader national trends favoring the growth of the profession. In Arizona as a whole, the number of legal support personnel is expected to rise by 12.59 percent through 2026. The anticipated growth rate for the region is in line with previous decades, and Tucson specifically is at the center of this upward trend. A large population, plentiful businesses, and a vibrant economy all combine to create opportunities for legal professionals.
Frequently sought by law firms, insurance companies and businesses, many of the legal assistants in Tucson, AZ work in offices, in government agencies, or within hospitals and other institutions. With the University of Arizona located in the city, there is also an opportunity to provide legal support for faculty, staff and students, particularly in the areas of health and education law.
Statewide, the average salary for legal assistants in Arizona is $56,861 per year. Within Tucson, salaries are in line with the state, at $56,472 on average. Local salaries are competitive with other cities and towns, including more prosperous metropolitan areas, such as Phoenix and Scottsdale. Given that the cost of living is below average in Tucson, salaries are expected to increase as employers compete to attract the best talent and as colleges continue turning out qualified new professionals.

Major Employers and Law Firms in Tucson

Major Employers and Legal Firms in Tucson, AZ
In addition to the superior law schools, the Tucson area is also considered to possess a dynamic and growing legal job outlook. Because there are so many legal job firms and opportunities in the area, this leaves those seeking employment as a legal assistant in good standing. A variety of employers and law firms are always looking for qualified legal assistants and paralegals. These organizations offer a full range of legal assistant jobs, from entry-level positions to more advanced placements. Some of the more prominent employers for legal assistants in the Tucson area include:
U.S. Federal Courts
Pima Community College
Pima County
The University of Arizona
University Physicians Healthcare
Target Corporation
Baker & Hostetler
Law Office of Amy A. Conners
Gingery & Gingery
Baker, Baker, Sirus & McGee
Kriss, Kriss & Kreiss
While the previous list contains an abundance of essential employers to consider when looking for a legal assistant job, they are by no means the only legal employers to consider. Large law firms and legal companies are not the only sources of legal jobs. Whether an individual is seeking a position with a large firm or a small firm, Tucson legal employers are plentiful and often competitive.

Qualifying as a Legal Assistant

To become a legal assistant in Tucson, Arizona or elsewhere throughout the United States, an individual typically must possess at least a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree. Many legal assistant positions require an associate’s degree and some employers look for applicants with a bachelor’s degree. It is also possible to find legal assistant programs that offer certificates for recent high school graduates and current college students. These programs exist both in-person and online and cover topics such as business writing, legal research and commercial law.
Associated degrees in the field of paralegal studies are offered by many community colleges and universities in Arizona, Texas, California and other states. Also, more than 23 paralegal certification programs exist among national and local organizations. Certification is not required, but it can enhance one’s employability. Currently, certification is available from the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, the National Association of Legal Secretaries, and the National Association of Legal Assistants.
In addition to a post-secondary education, a legal assistant should be skilled in all of the main office administration tasks and functions. These include answering telephones, operating fax and copy machines, using electronic calendars, scheduling appointments and meetings, and handling general correspondence and emails. Legal assistants should also possess strong communication skills, impeccable spelling, grammar and proofreading abilities, and excellent organizational capabilities. Opportunity for advancement in the legal assistant field in Tucson and other parts of the nation is typically with law offices.

Legal Assistant Salaries in Tucson, AZ

The average salary for legal assistants in Tucson, Arizona is typically in the range of $42,000 to $46,000 per year, which compares favorably to both the state and national averages for this profession. In Arizona as a whole, legal assistants earn an average of around $44,000 annually, slightly higher than the Tucson area. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a mean annual wage for legal assistants of $52,000, as of May 2016. According to the BLS, the top-paying metropolitan areas for this job title are Washington, DC ($76,490), Long Island, NY ($71,870), and San Jose, CA ($66,140). Among Arizona metropolitan areas, the highest salaries can be found in Phoenix ($49,590), Flagstaff ($48,720), and Prescott ($47,500) .
Tucson entry-level legal assistant salaries vary by level of qualifications, skills, and experience. According to Salary.com data from January 2017, legal assistants with less than three years of experience in Tucson earn an average annual salary of $38,068. Those with seven-to-10 years of experience earn an average of $49,434. Legal assistants with well over 10 years of experience earn an average annual salary of $54,310. Candidates with experience in areas such as litigation and experience in the private sector will find the highest-paying legal assistant jobs in Tucson. Employment opportunities are also highest with firms in larger cities. Those candidates with top-tier skills and experience will often be eligible for pay commensurate or above the national average.

Legal Assistant Career Progression

Career advancement as a legal assistant in Tucson is about staying on top of current legal trends and gaining an understanding of how law firms operate on a business level. Savvy legal assistants are always looking for ways to diversify their skills. This is especially true when it comes to technology, with many firms demanding that legal assistants have a working knowledge of e-filing systems and a familiarity with current in-office computer programs. In particular, mastering speedwriting and dictation skills are invaluable assets to any legal assistant, allowing even more legal work to be delegated to them. While it’s not always required, legal assistants often find it beneficial to have a degree or certificate program in legal assisting, especially when applying to larger firms. In fact, there are currently several legal assistant programs in the Tucson area worth looking into. Law firms are also more likely to promote experienced legal assistants to paralegal positions, especially those who don’t already have a college degree. Whether they have a degree or not, legal assistants should continue to pursue professional development on an ongoing basis in order to stay competitive in the legal field.

How to Locate Legal Assistant Jobs in Tucson

When it comes to finding a legal assistant job in Tucson, the Internet is a good place to start your search. There are a number of websites specifically dedicated to helping job seekers find legal jobs. While many of the job opportunities may be for law firms in the larger cities in Arizona, some will be for openings locally in Tucson. Other job boards that list legal assistant positions are general in nature. However, they often have employment ads from companies looking to hire legal assistants. One advantage of these general job boards is that you can establish alerts and receive emails when new ads are placed in your area. When you see one that looks promising, apply right away by attaching your resume and a cover letter.
Networking is another means to determining who is hiring legal assistants in Tucson. You can join networking organizations that cater to your field or simply attend seminars and other events that discuss legal issues. By talking with other members of the legal community , you can often find out about legal assistant openings before they even hit the Internet. Of course, you can network on the job boards as well. There, you can talk to other job seekers and find out about opportunities. Members of legal networks will invariably encourage you to speak with giving legal assistants in Tucson as to their experiences and the recruiters they have used before in the past.
Legal recruiters are another source that you can tap. The Arizona state bar can direct you to legal recruiters familiar with job openings around Tucson. If you go through an agency that specifically recruits legal assistants, you will have a leg up over other candidates. Legal assistant recruiters are often privy to openings before they are ever placed in the general job boards. They will even help you polish your resume free of charge. Careful to charge law offices not the applicants, these recruiters work to get the best deal for legal assistants in Tucson.