Paralegal in New York

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

Median annual salary

$66,390

trending_up +8.8% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, New York.

engineering

28,510

Jobs (NY)

monitoring Stable

+0.2%

10-yr job growth

schedule

Varies depending on education and experience

Time to complete

route How to become a paralegal in New York

In New York, there is no mandatory state licensing or certification required to work as a paralegal; regulation is primarily through the supervising attorney. However, voluntary certification is available through the Empire State Alliance of Paralegal Associations (ESAPA), which offers the New York State Certified Paralegal (NYSCP®) credential. To become an NYSCP®, candidates must meet specific education and experience requirements, such as an Associate's degree in paralegal studies with six years of experience, or a Bachelor's degree in any subject with a paralegal certificate and three years of experience, or successfully passing a national paralegal exam like NALA's CP or NFPA's PACE. Continuing legal education is required to maintain the NYSCP® credential, with 12 hours needed every two years, including one hour of ethics.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $47,880

25th percentile $57,570

50th (median) $66,390

75th percentile $89,540

90th (experienced) $105,910

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

checklist New York requirements

Licensing body	Empire State Alliance of Paralegal Associations (for voluntary NYSCP® certification)
State license	Not required
Education	Varies (e.g., Associate's degree in paralegal studies with 6 years experience, or Bachelor's degree in any subject with a paralegal certificate and 3 years experience, or passing a national paralegal exam)
Exam	Not applicable for state certification, but national exams like NALA's CP or NFPA's PACE are accepted for NYSCP®
Renewal	Every 2.0 years
Continuing education	12.0 hours per cycle
Notes	There is no mandatory state licensing or certification required to work as a paralegal in New York. Regulation is through the supervising attorney. Voluntary certification is available through the Empire State Alliance of Paralegal Associations (ESAPA) as a New York State Certified Paralegal (NYSCP®). Applicants for NYSCP® must be 18 years or older, a legal resident of or employed in New York, of good moral character, and currently employed as a paralegal. National certifications like NALA's Certified Paralegal (CP) or NFPA's Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) are also recognized and can provide a competitive edge.

Source: Empire State Alliance of Paralegal Associations (for voluntary NYSCP® certification)

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?

infoNo state license required — lower barrier but weaker signal
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.

arrow_forward

Frequently asked questions

What are the steps to becoming a paralegal in New York? expand_more

New York requires paralegals to complete the required education (Varies (e.g., Associate's degree in paralegal studies with 6 years experience, or Bachelor's degree in any subject with a paralegal certificate and 3 years experience, or passing a national paralegal exam)), and pass the Not applicable for state certification, but national exams like NALA's CP or NFPA's PACE are accepted for NYSCP®.

Is a state license required for paralegals in New York? expand_more

New York does not require a state license for paralegals. Note: There is no mandatory state licensing or certification required to work as a paralegal in New York. Regulation is through the supervising attorney. Voluntary certification is available through the Empire State Alliance of Paralegal Associations (ESAPA) as a New York State Certified Paralegal (NYSCP®). Applicants for NYSCP® must be 18 years or older, a legal resident of or employed in New York, of good moral character, and currently employed as a paralegal. National certifications like NALA's Certified Paralegal (CP) or NFPA's Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) are also recognized and can provide a competitive edge.

What do paralegals earn in New York? expand_more

paralegals in New York earn a median of $66,390 annually. That's 9% above the national median of $61,010. New paralegals start around $47,880; seasoned professionals can reach $105,910.

What's the timeline to become a paralegal in New York? expand_more

The typical timeline in New York is Varies depending on education and experience. This includes completing education, gaining any required experience, and passing the licensing exam.

What's required to renew a paralegal license in New York? expand_more

Yes — paralegals in New York must complete 12.0 CE hours every 2.0 years to stay licensed.