Legal assistants are employed by law firms, corporate legal departments, or government units and render administrative services to lawyers. Their efforts assist in the optimization of processes and legal functions. The purpose of this article is to emphasize important components of a legal assistant title, a sample resume, salary, key duties, training requirements and provide a great deal of information useful in answering some of the basic queries in the subject matter.
Legal Assistant Job Description
A legal assistant, or paralegal, can also be defined as an individual professionally engaged in performing certain tasks from lawyers. There is a lot of task work which decides the effectiveness of legal assistants which range from developing a case structure or, preparing court documents, doing research or, collating information related to case presentation/court appearances etc. Attorneys control and supervise all activities related to the case and work to avoid delays in case resolution and overstepping of stipulated timeframes.
As legal assistants, it is imperative that you possess strong organizational, detail oriented, and oral and written communication skills. It is also necessary for them to be acquainted with the vocabulary associated with law, structure of various documents, and the procedures relating to management of cases. This position is multifaceted and experience both in normal administrative work and legal practice is ideal since lawyers need assistance in provision of legal words legal services to their customers.
Resume Description for This Job
In a resume, a legal assistant job candidate should ignore other information and instead concentrate on the relevant experience as well as skills pertaining to legal documents handling, investigations and research as well as case prep.
Sample resume description:
“Focused professional that works well under pressure and maintains quality; has 4 years experience in drafting legal documentation and filing papers as well as assisting litigation and corporate law attorneys. Good communication and interpersonal skills and a basic command of legal language versa the need to be aware of courtesy and ethics, client opinions, and his duties to the Court. Credibility to handle diverse tasks with scheduling them around deadlines including assisting legal representation in relevant preparatory proceedings for the hearings.”
Feel free to adjust details to better match your experience!
Salary (Based Range in USA)
Factors affecting legal assistant salaries in the USA include years worked, region, and employer type. However, here is an overview regarding the legal assistand average salaries within the united states:
- Average Annual Salary: 40,000$ – 60,000$
- Hourly Wage: ranges from 18-30 hourly, average 25
- Entry-Level: legal assistants wages are 35,000$ per year about average.
- The Experienced Legal Assistants: getting the job done and having a few years under your belt if you work in big cities or specialize in unique fields can earn you up to $70k a year easy.
Legal assistances are also well paid in major metropolitan cities like New York, Washington, and Los Angeles owing to the high demand and cost of living.
Responsibilities
Legal assistants perform many different sorts of operations which help professional lawyers get organized in the course of handling a particular case and trying it out in court. Their major duties are:
- Legal Research: Researching statutes, regulations and case law assisting attorneys in preparation for cases.
- Document Preparation: Preparing legal documentation such as, contracts, motions, briefs, subpoenas, affidavits, while under the supervision of an attorney.
- Case Management: Creating and organizing case files, tracking deadlines and other legal requirements.
- Client Communication: Making contact with clients, witnesses, and other relevant parties to obtain information and build rapport.
- Scheduling and Calendaring: Planning meetings, depositions and court appearances and ensuring timelines are met by attorneys.
- Filing and Recordkeeping: Submitting documents to the court, filing electronic and hard copies of documents, dealing with sensitive material.
- Trial Preparation: Helping in the preparation of exhibits, retrieval of evidence, and documents for trial.
- Administrative Support: Making telephone calls, sending emails and performing other office activities related to a legal team.
Qualifications
In practice, education, skills and certificates of legal assistants would be relevant in achieving success. Following are some of the requirements:
- Education: A high school diploma or GED is mandatory, however, most employers also like their employees to have an associate or bachelor qualification in paralegal studies, criminal justice or any other similar course.
- Certification: Certificates from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) or the American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc. (AAPI) are not obligatory, but they offer some added advantages and substantiate the legal assistant’s expertise to a great extent.
- Technical Skills:
- Proficiency in Legal Software: Expertise in legal research websites (such as Westlaw or LexisNexis) and case management applications.
- Document Handling: Proficiency in formatting and handling legal documents even proofreading the documents to ensure accuracy and compliance of legal standards.
- Soft Skills:
- Time Management and Organizational Skills: Skills to handle numerous assignments, bear accurate correspondence records, and meet preset deadlines.
- Attention to Detail: Necessary in drafting documents that incorporate legal facts as well as in adhering to court procedures.
- Communication Skills: Excellent written and speaking skills are important in drafting documents and dealing with clients.
- Responsible Discretion: All designated persons are professionally devoted to confidentiality ethics and hence do not expose client sensitive information.
FAQs
Q1: Am I required to possess any educational degree to work as a legal assistant?
Not necessarily, but many employers urge such. Some of the entry positions can only ask for the candidate to reach high school, graduate and can be trained during employment But having an Associate or Bachelor degree could increase the likelihood of getting a job.
Q2: What is the difference between a legal assistant and a paralegal?
In some organizations, these titles are used interchangeably. However, a paralegal explicitly carries out more substantive legal tasks than a legal assistant who may deal with administrative impressive things, instead. Responsibilities can overlap, and both roles are essential in supporting attorneys.
Q3: Is a legal assistant’s job restricted to a certain requirement such as certification?
Certifications are not required but are certainly encouraged. It is possible to earn additional certifications from NALA or AAPI and increase chances for employment as well as payable rates.
Q4: Are legal assistants able to climb the career ladder?
Yes, legal assistants certainly are able to progress over time through gains in experience or pursuit of further studies or even certification. Several could shift towards becoming a paralegal, managing a law office, or attaining law school for an attorney position.
Q5: What types of law do legal assistants typically work in?
Events of legal assisting executed under family, corporate, criminal, and personal injury lawyers would be followed through by legal assistants; also real estate and intellectual property are also legal assisting specialties. Focusing on one sector often opens realms of various opportunities and may also affect compensation as well.
Conclusion
Legal assistant careers are dynamic and fulfilling educationally and in terms of occupational demands. They serve as paralegal’s supporting role, offering various skills that include organizational technical as well as communication skills to assist in legal processes and case success. It is a meaningful occupation for aspiring lawyers because it does not rely on one area of practice since there is much room for development and specialization.