Job prospects Legal Assistant in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "legal assistant" in Ontario or Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

Note: These outlooks were updated on November 29^th, 2023. Learn more about our methodology.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Legal administrative assistants (NOC 13111) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• The majority work in firms that provide legal services, such as law offices
• A smaller number work in public administration and real estate offices

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Steady demand for legal services overall may help support work in this occupation
• Some opportunities may arise as assistants move into other law professions, such as paralegals, with additional training
• Consolidation and mergers of law firms, and greater use of computer applications to centralize or automate certain administrative tasks may temper opportunities in this field

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Completion of a legal administration or law-related postsecondary program may be required
• Experience in a legal administration role and familiarity with law, legal procedures, and protocols is an asset.

Here are some key facts about Legal administrative assistants in Ontario:

• Approximately 17,650 people work in this occupation.
• Legal administrative assistants mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Legal services (NAICS 5411): 72%
  • Real Estate and rental and leasing (NAICS 53): 13%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 85% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 15% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 72% of legal administrative assistants work all year, while 28% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 5% of legal administrative assistants are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 8% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 92% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 21% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 41% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 23% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 7% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "legal assistant" Legal administrative assistants (NOC 13111) or Canada.

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