NOC 42200: Paralegals and related occupations
Paralegals prepare legal documents and conduct research to assist lawyers or other professionals. Independent paralegals provide legal services to the public as allowed by government legislation, or provide paralegal services on contract to law firms or other establishments. Justices of the peace administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summonses and warrants and perform other court-related duties such as conducting bail hearings. Notaries public administer oaths, take affidavits, sign legal documents and perform other activities according to the scope of their practice. Trademark agents advise clients on intellectual property matters. Paralegals are employed by law firms, by record search companies and in legal departments throughout the public and private sectors. Independent paralegals are usually self-employed. Justices of the peace are employed by federal, provincial, municipal, and territorial courts. Notaries public are employed by government and in the public and private sectors or they may be self-employed. Trademark agents are employed by law firms and legal departments throughout the public and private sectors, trademark development and search firms or they may be self-employed.
Official Main Duties for NOC 42200
Select the duties you perform in your actual job. Under IRCC guidelines, you must perform at least 60% of these duties for a successful work permit or PR reference letter.
Your employer reference letter must confirm you performed the main actions described in the duties above. Avoid copying words directly from the NOC description — officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.
Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 42200
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Paralegals and related occupations is categorized under TEER 2. Occupations in this tier typically require completion of a 2- to 3-year post-secondary diploma, apprenticeship training, or specialized technical certifications.
Express Entry Alignment
Qualifies directly for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry. Work experience must be full-time (or equivalent part-time) and continuous for at least one year.
Target Category Status
Currently evaluated under standard General and CEC invitation rounds, or targeted through provincial in-demand lists such as Ontario (OINP), British Columbia (BC PNP), or Alberta (AAIP).
NOC 2016 to NOC 2021 Transition & Equivalency
Under Canada's previous NOC 2016 classification, this occupation was mapped under the following 4-digit code(s). When preparing your Express Entry profile or work reference letters, you must use the new 5-digit code NOC 42200.
1227 expired, part transferred to 10019 and 42200 and part split-off to emerging item 14103
Regional Wages Across Canada
Under Canadian immigration law, an employer hiring you under an LMIA must pay you at least the median wage listed below for your province.
| Province / Territory | Low Wage | Median Wage | High Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (National Average) | $21.63 | $33.05/hr | $52.19 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $18/hr | $26.01/hr | $37.84/hr |
| Prince Edward Island → | $20.65/hr | $26/hr | $32.97/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $17/hr | $28.21/hr | $42.01/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $20/hr | $30.26/hr | $46.15/hr |
| Quebec → | $20.56/hr | $28.57/hr | $45.11/hr |
| Ontario → | $20.71/hr | $33/hr | $54.95/hr |
| Manitoba → | $21.25/hr | $32.72/hr | $67.2/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $20/hr | $30/hr | $85/hr |
| Alberta → | $25.96/hr | $33.65/hr | $55/hr |
| British Columbia → | $26.43/hr | $39.58/hr | $50.67/hr |
| Yukon → | $30.28/hr | $36.61/hr | $54.69/hr |
🏙️Top Metropolitan Cities Wage Rates (ESDC 2025/2026)
Economic Region BenchmarksOfficial ESDC prevailing median wages across major Canadian metropolitan regions. Crucial for LMIA prevailing wage compliance and local job offer evaluations.
Employment Requirements
These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:
- Paralegals in law firms require a bachelor's degree in law or a law college diploma and in-house training from a law firm or other legal establishment.
- Independent paralegals require knowledge of legal principles and procedures usually obtained through industry-sponsored courses and through experience, or through completion of a community college paralegal program.
- Paralegals require a licence to perform advanced legal services.
- Justices of the peace requirements can vary from a background in law and the justice system, completion of a justice registrar, justice of the peace or other court training program depending on their duties and responsibilities.
- Justices of the peace in the provinces are appointed by the lieutenant governor in council and, in the territories, by federally appointed territorial commissioners.
- Notaries public usually require a university degree in law or a related field.
- Notaries public are appointed after examination and certification of their qualifications by the governing judiciary in their province or territory. All appointments have specific limitations on the activities they can perform and for specific periods of time.
- Notaries public require a provincial licence. In British Columbia, membership in the Society of Notaries Public is also required.
- To be licensed, trademark agents are required to work in the area of trademark law, including the preparation and prosecution of trademark applications for registration, for two years and to successfully complete the examination conducted jointly by the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada and the Registrar of Trade-Marks, Canadian Intellectual Property Office or either one of the above and to be a lawyer entitled to practise in Canada.
- Trademark agents require registration with the federal Trade-Mark Office.
Official Job Titles for NOC 42200
76 Titles ListedIf your current job title matches any of these official examples, this NOC code is likely the right choice for your Express Entry reference letter:
Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)
Check this list to make sure your actual job is not classified under one of these related codes:
- Articling law student (See 41101 Lawyers and Quebec notaries)View NOC 41101→
- Legal administrative assistants (See 13111 Legal administrative assistants)View NOC 13111→
- Patent agent (See 41400 Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers)View NOC 41400→
- Quebec notary (See 41101 Lawyers and Quebec notaries)View NOC 41101→
- Trademark lawyer (See 41101 Lawyers and Quebec notaries)View NOC 41101→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 42200 (Paralegals and related occupations)
Essential answers regarding Express Entry eligibility, LMIA prevailing wage compliance, and official reference letter rules.
Check Your Express Entry Score & Latest Cutoffs
Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 42200, explore your TEER 2 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.