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Paralegal Core Competencies for Career Advancement – Q4 2025 Facts & Findings

As legal teams rapidly adopt AI, automation, and analytics, today’s paralegals are stepping into roles that require more than legal knowledge. They need digital fluency and business savvy. NALA’s Paralegal Core Competencies (PCCs) continue to serve as the bedrock of paralegal education, and aligning them with today’s legal workflows is the key to future-proof careers. These PCCs include effective communication, legal research and writing, legal technology, ethics, and substantive legal knowledge, all of which form the foundation of competent and ethical legal support. As legal workplaces evolve, it is increasingly essential for paralegals to upskill in emerging technologies.

These competencies are not just enhancements. They are transformative in preparing paralegals for new opportunities in legal operations, compliance, and strategic business roles. This article explores NALA’s Paralegal Core Competencies and offers practical tools and career planning insights to help paralegals remain agile and prepare for the future.

MASTERING CORE LEGAL CONCEPTS
Every successful paralegal needs a strong foundation in legal knowledge. Mastering core legal concepts ensures effective collaboration with attorneys and accurate, efficient legal work. We will dive deeper into key areas of doctrinal and procedural expertise that remain central to the profession.

1. Legal Knowledge

  • Litigation and Transactional Law: Proficiency in civil procedures, contracts, corporate organization, real estate, family law, and estates
  • Legal Research and Writing: Mastery of Westlaw or Lexis (or free platforms like Fastcase or Google Scholar) plus structured writing, such as case memos, briefs, discovery, and contracts
  • Ethics and Compliance: Understanding professional responsibility, confidentiality, data privacy (e.g., General Data Protection Regulation [GDPR], California Consumer Privacy Act [CCPA]), and e-billing policies

 

2. AI-Infused Legal Workflows
The integration of artificial intelligence into legal workflows is reshaping how paralegals perform critical functions. From document review to contract management, AI tools are increasing efficiency and accuracy across disciplines and practice areas. Paralegals must develop fluency in these tools to stay competitive and innovate meaningfully.

  • Document Review and Analysis: Familiarity with AI platforms (e.g., RelativityOne, Everlaw, HighQ) and using analytics and machine learning to detect privilege and inconsistencies and move toward “document triage”
  • Contract Life Cycle Management (CLM): Training on tools like Ironclad and Agiloft to automate drafting, redlining, executive approvals, and renewals • eDiscovery and Automation: Skills in workflow creation, assisted by platforms like Logikcull and DISCO
  • AI-Powered Research Tools: Adoption of AI-enhanced essentials like CoCounsel and free large language model (LLM) based legal research tools

 

3. Tech and Data Fluency
Today’s paralegals must be proficient with a variety of digital tools. From process mapping to data analytics and cybersecurity, technological literacy is now a baseline expectation in most legal environments. Here are some must-have tech competencies for modern paralegals:

  • Process Mapping and Improvement: Using Lucidchart, Miro, or Microsoft Visio to map workflows, reduce divergence, and identify bottlenecks
  • Project Management and Agile Methodology: Skills in task tracking via Asana, Trello, or simpler forms; comfort with kanban or scrum (Agile); certifications like Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), helpful but optional
  • Basic Data Analytics and Reporting: Competence with Excel (PivotTables, VLOOKUP), Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, and structured query language (SQL) fundamentals to produce metrics dashboards
  • Security and Privacy Tools: Awareness of cybersecurity basics, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), encryption, and document redaction protocols

 

STACKABLE CAREER PATHWAY STRATEGY
Paralegal careers are no longer linear. They are stackable. With each new competency, paralegals can move into expanded roles like legal operations specialist, compliance coordinator, or business strategist. Here, we discuss a framework for long-term career mobility based on progressive skill acquisition. Paralegal roles increasingly serve as the foundation for legal operations careers, where competencies range from e-billing control and data reporting to vendor management and process optimization.

Key strategy: Build your road map by adding one competency per role every 12 to 18 months and seeking cross-functional opportunities (e.g., side projects, vendor reviews) to deepen your experience in key areas.

POSITIONING FOR BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS
As legal departments adopt business-oriented models, the paralegal role evolves into that of a strategic business professional. This shift is now evident in law firms, where paralegals are taking on expanded responsibilities as key players in business strategy. This trend requires a mastery of soft skills, business acumen, and a continuous learning mindset.

We will explore how to align your professional profile with broader business goals. It is always a good time to audit your knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to determine which areas you may need to develop further or acquire additional education or training in. Consider the following KSAs for advanced business professional roles, coupled with paralegal education and experience:

  • Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Operational roles require clear stakeholder communication, including metrics presentations, executive briefings, and vendor negotiations.
  • Business Acumen: You need to understand budgeting, ROI, vendor value, contract terms, marketing’s role in CLM, and cross-departmental collaboration.
  • Adaptive Learning Mindset: As AI tools evolve, so must your fluency in prompt engineering, proof validation, and customizing templates to ecosystem needs.
  • Professional Branding: Join NALA, the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA), the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS), or the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA). Network at conferences. Share insights via presentations or articles.

 

AFFORDABLE AND HIGH-CALIBER RESOURCES
Professional development does not have to be expensive. Accessible and cost-effective resources are available for building legal and tech skills. The following is a curated list of high-impact tools and platforms to support your upskilling journey:

  • Legal Research: Fastcase, Google Scholar
  • AI Tools: Logikcull, Everlaw ( free trials)
  • Process Mapping: Lucidchart, Miro
  • Analytics: Microsoft Learn, Coursera Excel courses
  • Project Management: Trello, Asana
  • Vendor Management: ALA webinars, Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) resources
  • Certifications: NALA Certified Paralegal (CP®), Certified E-Discovery Specialist (CEDS)

 

5-YEAR ACTION PLAN
Strategic career growth requires intentional planning. By layering skills and experiences over time, paralegals can set a course toward senior roles in legal ops, compliance, and more. This five-year road map offers a guide for steady, achievable progress.

Year 1: Build a strong legal foundation in research, document prep, ethics, and case management.
Year 2: Integrate tech such as eDiscovery, CLM tools, and Excel basics.
Year 3: Focus on process mapping and data reporting, and complete a CEDS or CP® certification.
Year 4: Volunteer for vendor requests for proposals (RFPs), subscription renewals, and AI tool proofs of concept. Begin cross-functional operations work.
Year 5: Position yourself for Legal Operations Specialist roles. Emphasize your experience with metrics dashboards and vendor management, and highlight projects with high ROI.

FINAL THOUGHTS
As legal services lean into automation and data-driven decision making, the modern paralegal is as much a technologist and process strategist as a legal knowledge master. By intentionally stacking legal, technical, analytical, and operational competencies, today’s paralegals can seamlessly transition into legal operations roles and beyond, positioning themselves as indispensable business professionals.

The Duke Center on Law & Technology’s Responsible AI in Legal Services (RAILS) program is creating a collaborative framework for the ethical development and deployment of artificial intelligence in law. With a focus on transparency, fairness, and accountability, RAILS explores how AI tools can support, not supplant, legal professionals, particularly in high-stakes areas like civil justice and regulatory compliance. Paralegals who engage with the RAILS initiative can gain a strong foundation in the responsible use of AI, which is essential for those working with or evaluating emerging legal technology solutions. This training prepares paralegals to serve as informed advocates and implementers of AI policy and practice within their organizations.

Paralegals also play a critical role in advancing access to justice by supporting underserved populations, streamlining legal processes, and expanding the reach of legal services. One pathway for meaningful engagement is through the Justice Technology Association, a nonprofit organization that supports professionals working at the intersection of law and technology to improve legal system accessibility. Paralegals can contribute by participating in open-source projects, joining policy discussions, or assisting with usability testing of justice tech platforms. This kind of involvement helps shape legal innovation with real-world impact and affirms the essential role of paralegals in building equitable legal solutions.

RESOURCES
AAfPE Legal Luminaries S 2 Ep 1, “The Paralegal Edition: Featuring eDiscovery Technologist Monica Harris,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xogj6KLUJpw

ABA Formal Opinion 512:
https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/professional_responsibility/ethics-opinions/aba-formal-opinion-512.pdf

Duke Center on Law & Technology: https://law.duke.edu/dclt

  • Research on Justice Tech: https://law.duke.edu/dclt/research
  • Work in AI and A2J: https://law.duke.edu/dclt/AIandA2J
  • RAILS Website: https://rails.legal/
  • RAILS Resources: https://rails.legal/resources/

Justice Tech Association: https://justicetechassociation.org/

Merken, Sara; AI ‘hallucinations’ in court papers spell trouble for lawyers, February 2025, https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/aihallucinations-court-papers-spell-trouble-lawyers-2025-02-18/

MIT Computational Law: https://law.mit.edu/

NALA’s Paralegal Core Competencies: https://nala.org/nalas-essential-corecompetencies/

National Society for Legal Technology (NSLT), AI For Legal Professionalscourse, https://www.legaltechcert.org/products/courses/ai-for-legalprofessionals

Obracajová, Barbora; Rapid Prototyping of Legal Tech and Design Using Generative AI: Bridging Theory and Practice in Legal Education, September 2024, https://law.mit.edu/pub/rapidprototypingoflegaltech/release/2

Stanford CodeX: https://law.stanford.edu/codex-the-stanford-center-for-legalinformatics/

Susskind, Richard; How To Think About AI: A Guide For The Perplexed, https://www.susskind.com/

The State Bar of California Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct, Practical Guidance for the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law, https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/ethics/Generative-AI-Practical-Guidance.pdf

World Economic Forum, The Future of Jobs Report 2025, https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/digest/

Author(s)

Kelli Radnothy is a litigation paralegal with over 20 years of legal experience. She runs a legal solutions company, contracting with law firms and nonprofit organizations to enhance legal services. Kelli is a Legal Researcher for the Nevada Attorney General’s Office and a course developer and instructor for the University of Washington’s Paralegal Program. Kelli serves as Treasurer for the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Nevada and as Second Vice President of the Sierra Nevada Association of Paralegals (SNAP). Kelli holds a BS in criminal justice, a paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program, and an eDiscovery & Litigation Technology Certificate.
email: kelli@klrparalegal.com

KristineCustodioSueroACP.pngKristine Custodio Suero, ACP, is an award-winning legal professional, author, coveted speaker, and servant leader. She has led the San Diego Paralegal Association and California Alliance of Paralegal Associations as President. Kristine teaches legal courses for a local San Diego paralegal program and sits on the program’s advisory board. Kristine serves on the NALA Board of Directors as Area 3 Director. She has served NALA as Chair of the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee, Ethics Chair, and as a member of the Professional Development Committee and Continuing Education Council. Kristine is a Senior Paralegal/Business Development Director for Schechter Benefits Law Group LLP.
email: kristine.custodio@gmail.com

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