National Occupational Classification, TEER 2
NOC 42200: Paralegals and related occupations
Paralegals prepare legal documents and conduct research to assist lawyers or other professionals. Below are the main duties, all 76 job titles it covers, what it means for Express Entry and what it pays in each province.
Updated
- Official NOC 2021 data
- Job Bank wages
What is NOC 42200?
NOC 42200 is the code for paralegals and related occupations in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include commercial law clerk, commissioner of affidavits, commissioner of marriages and corporate paralegal. It is a TEER 2 occupation (usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or a supervisory role), so it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $33.05 an hour.
- NOC code
- 42200
- TEER
- 2: College diploma or apprenticeship of 2+ years
- Broad category
- Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services
- Express Entry
- Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $33.05 an hour
Job titles under NOC 42200
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.
Main job titles
- commercial law clerk
- commissioner of affidavits
- commissioner of marriages
- corporate paralegal
- family law paralegal
- independent paralegal
- judicial officer
- justice of the peace
- land titles examiner
- legal researcher
- notary public
- paralegal
- real estate law clerk
- registrar of bankruptcy
- title searcher
- trademark agent
All 76 job titles in the NOC index
abstractor, brief writer - law, British Columbia notary public, citizenship judge, clerk of probate, collection paralegal, commercial law clerk, commercial law paralegal, commissioner of affidavits, commissioner of marriages, contract clerk - law, conveyance clerk, copyright agent, corporate law and litigation clerk, corporate law clerk, corporate paralegal, corporate securities law clerk, corporation paralegal, court and tribunal agent, criminal law clerk, criminal law paralegal, family law clerk, family law paralegal, foreclosure clerk, foreclosure paralegal, independent paralegal, insurance law clerk, insurance paralegal, judicial officer, judicial officer - courts, justice of the peace, justice of the peace magistrate, labour law clerk, labour law paralegal, land registrar, land titles clerk, land titles examiner, law clerk, law clerk to judge, lay notary public, lease and title clerk, legal researcher, legal services officer - courts, legal technician, litigation law clerk, litigation paralegal, mortgage and real estate paralegal, notary public, notary public (British Columbia), notary public (outside Quebec), notary public clerk, oil and gas property paralegal, oil and gas rights law clerk, oil and gas rights paralegal, paralegal, presiding justice of the peace, property paralegal, prothonotary, Queen's Bench registrar, real estate law clerk, real estate paralegal, registered trademark agent, registrar of bankruptcy, registrar of deeds, registrar of probate, registrar of wills, registry officer - marriages, tax law clerk, tax paralegal, title and lease clerk, title examiner, title searcher, trademark agent, transfer-of-title clerk, wills and estates law clerk, wills and estates paralegal.
Also included in this group
- law clerk
- prothonotary
Main duties of NOC 42200
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Paralegals
- Assist lawyers by interviewing clients, witnesses and other related parties, assembling documentary evidence, preparing trial briefs, and arranging for trials
- Assist lawyers in preparation for mediation and judicial dispute resolutions
- Under the supervision of a lawyer, prepare wills, real estate transactions and other legal documents, court reports and affidavits
- Research records, court files and other legal documents
- Draft legal correspondence and perform general office and clerical duties.
Independent paralegals
- Represent clients in small claims court and in other lower court proceedings, at tribunals and before administrative bodies
- Advise clients and take legal action on landlord and tenant matters, traffic violations, name changes and other issues within their jurisdictions.
Justices of the peace
- Issue subpoenas, summonses and warrants, including search warrants
- Receive affidavits, declarations and affirmations
- Administer oaths
- Conduct bail hearings
- Release defendants on judges' orders and explain rights and obligations
- Hear evidence at trials on summary conviction offences and may preside over trials of criminal offences at the discretion of the chief judge of the jurisdiction or as provided for in federal, provincial, or territorial statutes
- Perform civil marriages
- Register wills, probate, bankruptcy, etc.
Notaries public
- Administer oaths and take affidavits and depositions
- Witness and certify the validity of signatures on documents
- May draft contracts, prepare promissory notes and draw up wills, mortgages and other legal documents
- May arrange probates and administer the estates of deceased persons.
Trademark agents
- Advise clients on intellectual property matters and represent clients before the Registrar of Trade-Marks on matters including prosecution of applications for registration of trademarks
- Advise on the registrability of trademarks, trademark licensing requirements, transfer of intellectual property and protection of existing trademark rights
- Represent clients at proceedings before the Trade Marks Opposition Board and in related proceedings
- May represent clients internationally in consultation with foreign associates and attorneys.
Employment requirements
- 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.
Additional information
- Notaries public usually receive in-house training and perform their duties in rural or remote areas or in the business offices in which they are employed.
- The duties and responsibilities of justices of the peace vary significantly depending on the level of their authority. They may be employed part-time on a fee-for-service basis in small communities. Their duties range from performing civil marriages, receiving affidavits and similar documents, to presiding in courts and hearings and determining prosecutions under provincial/territorial and federal laws.
Is NOC 42200 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 2 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.
| Program or draw | NOC 42200 |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Canadian Experience Class | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | Not a listed trade |
| Occupation category draws (2026) | Not on any occupation list |
| French-language proficiency (category draw) | Open to any occupation with NCLC 7 in French |
Read how TEER categories work and the full list of NOC codes in each 2026 category draw. Category draws also need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in one listed occupation within the past 3 years.
How much does NOC 42200 pay?
Job Bank wages for this occupation, per hour. Low and high are, in most cases, the 10th and 90th percentiles, so 8 in 10 workers earn somewhere between them.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $21.63 | $33.05 | $52.19 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $18.00 | $26.01 | $37.84 |
| Prince Edward Island | $20.65 | $26.00 | $32.97 |
| Nova Scotia | $17.00 | $28.21 | $42.01 |
| New Brunswick | $20.00 | $30.26 | $46.15 |
| Quebec | $20.56 | $28.57 | $45.11 |
| Ontario | $20.71 | $33.00 | $54.95 |
| Manitoba | $21.25 | $32.72 | $67.20 |
| Saskatchewan | $20.00 | $30.00 | $85.00 |
| Alberta | $25.96 | $33.65 | $55.00 |
| British Columbia | $26.43 | $39.58 | $50.67 |
| Yukon | $30.28 | $36.61 | $54.69 |
Source: Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025), data from 2023-2024 (Labour Force Survey). Wages for job offers in LMIA and provincial programs are compared with these figures, so check the current numbers on Job Bank before you rely on them.
Using NOC 42200 duties on your resume
Canadian resumes do not list NOC codes. Employers read your job titles, what you did and what came of it. The NOC duties are still a useful checklist: if you did these tasks, say so in your own words and add the numbers that prove it.
For Express Entry, the reference letter from your employer should describe the duties you really performed, in line with this lead statement and most of the main duties, without copying the NOC text word for word. The free reference letter generator checks your duties against NOC 42200 as you write.
- Start each bullet with a strong verb and end it with a result: how many, how often, how fast.
- Use the job title your employer used, even if the NOC title is different.
- Keep immigration details such as your NOC code and permit type off the resume.
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Where this information comes from
Occupation codes, titles and descriptions are adapted from Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Wages come from Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Express Entry rules come from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): the program pages for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the category-based selection page as modified on June 22, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for a commercial law clerk?
NOC 42200, Paralegals and related occupations, a TEER 2 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 42200?
TEER 2. Usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or a supervisory role. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 42200 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes. As a TEER 2 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. You still have to meet every other requirement, and your duties must match the NOC description.
Is NOC 42200 in an Express Entry category-based draw?
No. It is not on any 2026 occupation list. The French-language proficiency category is open to any occupation if you reach NCLC 7 in French. See every category.
How much does NOC 42200 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $33.05 an hour, with most wages between $21.63 and $52.19. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 42200 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.
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More on NOC codes and Canadian resumes
- NOC Code Finder: Describe your duties and get your NOC 2021 code, TEER and Express Entry eligibility. Free.
- NOC Codes Canada: Full List: All 516 NOC 2021 codes with their TEER, duties and wages.
- TEER Categories Explained: What TEER 0 to 5 means, which count for Express Entry, and every job in each one.
- Express Entry Category Draws: NOC Codes: Every NOC code on the 2026 healthcare, STEM, trades, education and other lists.
- Canadian Resume Examples by Job: Real examples for cashiers, caregivers, trades, tech, students and more.
- Newcomer Resume Guide: Turn international experience into a resume Canadian employers understand.