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Paralegals

Paralegals work with attorneys to provide legal services to clients. Paralegals may: draft legal documents, correspondence, and reports; investigate, research, analyze and organize case information; assist with legal research, and perform office support tasks in a legal office.

Paralegals work in a variety of settings in addition to law offices, such as financial institutions, real estate and title offices, corporations, investigative agencies, and law libraries. Paralegals do not give legal advice or act in the place of an attorney.

In many firms and agencies, a paralegal may fulfill the dual responsibilities of paralegal and legal secretary. Paralegals must be well-organized and knowledgeable about laws and procedures of their specialty, skilled in helping people in stressful situations, and respectful of confidentiality.

Wages for paralegals in Whatcom County may start between $22.42 and $23.73 per hour; the average hourly wage is $29.73. (Sources: Washington State Employment Security Department, September 2024; Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023)

Legal interpreters

In Washington state, court interpreters are independent contractors/freelancers contracting with individual courts. Hourly rates vary, with minimum ranging from $55-$75/hour per assignment for most courts. Some courts hire a full-time staff interpreter to handle their Spanish language demands. Some hearings are conducted via remote platform.

Other career options: legal interpreting for federal courts; legal interpreting for courts in other states; professional translating; interpreting for medical, social and education fields; conference and business-setting interpreting.

(Source: Court Interpreter Career in Washington, by Eunyoung Kim, Washington State Court Interpreter Program Coordinator)