Paralegal in Arizona

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for AZ. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$61,220

trending_up +0.3% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Arizona.

engineering

6,780

Jobs (AZ)

monitoring Stable

+0.2%

10-yr job growth

payments

$605

Licensing fees

route How to become a paralegal in Arizona

To become a Legal Paraprofessional (LP) in Arizona, individuals must meet rigorous education or experience requirements, pass a two-part examination, and undergo a character and fitness review by the State Bar of Arizona. The education pathway typically involves an associate's or bachelor's degree in law or paralegal studies, or a master's degree, along with specific coursework and experiential learning hours. The examination consists of a core exam and at least one subject matter exam, and LPs must complete 15 hours of continuing legal education annually for renewal.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $43,480

25th percentile $47,150

50th (median) $61,220

75th percentile $78,110

90th (experienced) $97,070

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Arizona. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Arizona requirements

Licensing body	State Bar of Arizona
State license	Required
Education	Associate-level degree in paralegal studies, OR any Associate-level degree plus an ABA-approved or CHEA-accredited paralegal certificate, OR a four-year Bachelor's degree in Law, Master of Legal Studies (MLS), Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA school (excluding disbarred or suspended lawyers), OR a foreign-trained lawyer with an LLM from an ABA-accredited law school. All endorsement areas require 3 credit hours in Evidence, Legal Research and Writing, and Professional Responsibility, plus 120 hours of experiential learning including advocacy. Specific additional coursework is required per endorsement area (e.g., Family Law, Civil Law, Criminal Law, Administrative Law). An alternative experience pathway requires 7 years of full-time substantive law-related experience within the 10 years preceding application, with 2 years in the practice area of licensure, certified by a supervising attorney.
Exam	Legal Paraprofessional Core Exam and at least one Subject Matter Exam (e.g., Family Law, Civil Law, Criminal Law, Administrative Law, Juvenile Law, Probate Law) ($100)
Application fee	$505
Renewal	Every 1.0 year
Continuing education	15.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Arizona does not license traditional paralegals who work under the supervision of an attorney. However, Arizona licenses Legal Paraprofessionals (LPs), a distinct role allowing individuals to provide limited legal services directly to the public without attorney supervision in specific practice areas. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, a citizen or legal resident of the United States, of good moral character, and pass a character and fitness review. A valid fingerprint clearance is required. Within one year of licensure, a newly licensed LP must complete the State Bar professionalism course. The annual membership fee for LPs admitted 3 or more years is $505, and for those admitted fewer than 3 years, it is $345. These fees are due by February 1st each year, with late fees applied after this date.

Source: State Bar of Arizona

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+0.2%

Average

Annual openings

39,300

Nationwide per year

Total employment

376,200

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

error High exposure 1.29/1.00

Many tasks in this career are susceptible to AI automation. Long-term career planning should account for potential disruption.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

check_circleArizona license required — clearer credential signal to employers
warningElevated AI disruption risk

psychology

Wondering if a paralegal career is the right fit?

See what the day actually looks like, who the role suits, and who should skip it — grounded in real practitioner sources.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you get certified as a paralegal in Arizona? expand_more

The path to paralegal licensure in Arizona: complete the required education (Associate-level degree in paralegal studies, OR any Associate-level degree plus an ABA-approved or CHEA-accredited paralegal certificate, OR a four-year Bachelor's degree in Law, Master of Legal Studies (MLS), Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA school (excluding disbarred or suspended lawyers), OR a foreign-trained lawyer with an LLM from an ABA-accredited law school. All endorsement areas require 3 credit hours in Evidence, Legal Research and Writing, and Professional Responsibility, plus 120 hours of experiential learning including advocacy. Specific additional coursework is required per endorsement area (e.g., Family Law, Civil Law, Criminal Law, Administrative Law). An alternative experience pathway requires 7 years of full-time substantive law-related experience within the 10 years preceding application, with 2 years in the practice area of licensure, certified by a supervising attorney.), pass the Legal Paraprofessional Core Exam and at least one Subject Matter Exam (e.g., Family Law, Civil Law, Criminal Law, Administrative Law, Juvenile Law, Probate Law), and submit your application ($505 fee).

Does Arizona require paralegal licensure? expand_more

Yes, Arizona requires a state license to practice as a paralegal. The licensing body is State Bar of Arizona. You must pass the Legal Paraprofessional Core Exam and at least one Subject Matter Exam (e.g., Family Law, Civil Law, Criminal Law, Administrative Law, Juvenile Law, Probate Law).

What do paralegals earn in Arizona? expand_more

In Arizona, the median pay for paralegals comes to $61,220/year. This is close to the national median of $61,010. Entry-level (10th percentile) starts at $43,480, while experienced professionals (90th percentile) earn $97,070.

What are the fees to become a paralegal in Arizona? expand_more

The full cost to enter the field runs about varies, factoring in exam fee ($100) and application fee ($505) and required training.

What are the continuing education requirements for paralegals in Arizona? expand_more

To keep your license active, Arizona mandates 15.0 CE hours every 1.0 year.