Home to snowy mountains, sprawling deserts, and glitzy buildings lit up with neon, Nevada is a dynamic place that refuses one simple definition. It’s also changing fast; it had the second-highest population growth rate in the country from 2015 to 2016. Approximately three-quarters of this population lives in the Clark County area surrounding Las Vegas, while most other areas are quiet and rural.
No matter where you live in Nevada, legal services are needed, which means that lawyers and those in search of legal aid will rely upon paralegals. You can pursue a career in legal services and become a paralegal in Nevada when you go through the following process.
Nevada Paralegal Certification
Basic Paralegal Certification Requirements
- Certification: Nevada does not require certification, but certain law firms in Nevada may have a certification requirement to be eligible for employment
- Age: No minimum age is required for paralegals in Nevada, but most firms have either a 16+ requirement or an 18+ requirement
- Licensure: There is no required license to practice as a paralegal in the state of Nevada
- Degree: No degree is required by Nevada, but many law firms may require an associate’s or bachelor’s to be eligible for employment
- Experience: Nevada has no minimum experience requirement, but many law firms may require one or more years of experience in a legal setting
- Citizenship: All paralegals must be either U.S. citizens or authorized to work in the United States
Additional Requirements:
- Background: Typically, no specific law background is required for employment, but a background check will likely be requested
Featured Schools
Becoming a Paralegal in Nevada
Paralegal Certification Process in Nevada
Certification is not required to become a paralegal in Nevada, but some law firms may require certain certifications to be eligible for positions with more responsibility. Even among firms that do not require a certificate, having one can make you more competitive.
Paralegal Certifications in Nevada are given through the following programs:
- Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal (CLA/CP) — This certification is given by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) after passing a NALA-accredited program
- Advanced Paralegal Certified — Given upon completion of NALA programs that satisfy advanced training and knowledge requirements
- Certified Registered Paralegal — Given after passing the Paralegal Core Competency Exam (PCCE), which is administered by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)
- Registered Paralegal (RP) — Given after passing the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) also provided by the NFPA
Major Cities in Nevada
- Las Vegas has the largest population in Nevada at 613,599 people, according to 2011 data
- Henderson, which borders the city of Las Vegas to the southeast, has the second-highest population in Nevada with 277,440 people
- Reno, Nevada, located in Washoe County immediately across the California border along I-80, has the third highest city population
- North Las Vegas has the fourth-most people with 230,788 residents
- Paradise, located within the downtown Clark County Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, has the fifth-most residents at 230,000 people
What Does a Paralegal Do in Nevada?
In the state of Nevada, paralegals must be supervised by a licensed attorney who is a member of the State Bar of Nevada. This attorney assumes full responsibility and liability for the paralegal’s conduct. Under this arrangement, a paralegal can perform any duties authorized by the attorney as long as the action does not require a law license to perform.
Work duties of paralegals in Nevada will vary according to the law practice you work at. Some paralegals may serve as administrative assistants, helping mostly with filing tasks and completing paperwork, while others may be involved in lengthy research for their employers.
Examples of types of law practices in Nevada include personal injury, criminal and civil defense, administrative law, environmental law, business law, employment law, government law and more.
Nevada Legal Assistant and Related Careers
Similar Nevada careers to a paralegal include a legal assistant, law librarian, court reporter, court clerk, mediator, legal cashier, law researcher, legal nurse consultant and more.
Employment Numbers in Nevada
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2015 data, there are 1,860 people employed as paralegals and legal assistants in the state of Nevada. That quantity constitutes 1.5 positions per every 1,000 jobs available in any field in Nevada.
Bureau of Labor Statistics Salary Ranges in Nevada
2015 BLS data indicates that the average annual wage of a paralegal/legal assistant in Nevada was $51,530. Average salaries for the Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise Metro area were $51,490. Reno, NV average paralegal salaries were $54,740.
Nevada Paralegal Organizations
Online Paralegal Programs and Schools in Nevada
Online Paralegal Programs and Schools in Nevada
(It’s fast and free!)
Choose your area of study and receive free information about programs you are interested in. Pursuing an education in paralegal studies is vital to your success as a paralegal or legal assistant. Paralegals have a wide range of responsibilities that attorneys, law offices, and even government agencies rely on every day. A formal education is a must for paralegals looking to impress law offices in both the public and private sectors of the law.