What is a Legal Assistant?
Legal Assistants (also known as Paralegals) are essential professionals who perform substantive legal work under the supervision of a licensed attorney. They conduct legal research, draft legal documents (such as pleadings, motions, and briefs), prepare for trials, interview clients and witnesses, and organize case files. They cannot provide legal advice, represent clients in court, or set legal fees, but they are crucial for preparing cases and managing the flow of legal information in law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies.
Typical Education
An associate's degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor's degree in any field combined with a certificate in paralegal studies is typically required.
Salary Range in the United States
The median annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants was $59,200 as of May 2023.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - Paralegals and Legal Assistants - May 2023
Day in the Life
How to Become a Legal Assistant
- Obtain Education: Earn an Associate's degree in paralegal studies or complete a paralegal certificate program after securing a bachelor's degree in any subject. Ensure the program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
- Develop Core Skills: Focus on developing legal research skills (using tools like Westlaw or LexisNexis), strong legal writing, and proficiency in document management software.
- Gain Practical Experience: Seek an internship or entry-level position in a law firm or corporate legal department to gain hands-on experience in case preparation and client communication.
- Obtain Certification (Optional but Recommended): While generally not required by law, earning professional certification from organizations like the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA – Certified Paralegal) or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA – PACE Registered Paralegal) can enhance job prospects.
- Seek Employment: Apply for roles, often specializing in a practice area like litigation, corporate law, family law, or real estate.
Essential Skills
- Legal Research: Expertise in using primary and secondary legal sources to efficiently find relevant case law, statutes, and regulations to support an attorney's position.
- Legal Writing and Drafting: Ability to draft clear, concise, and grammatically correct legal documents, including pleadings, motions, subpoenas, and discovery requests.
- Case Management: Excellent organizational skills for managing large volumes of evidence, exhibits, pleadings, and correspondence, maintaining accurate litigation calendars.
- E-Discovery and Technology: Familiarity with electronic discovery (e-discovery) platforms and document review software used to process and organize electronic evidence.
- Attention to Detail: Meticulous precision required to ensure that all citations are correct, deadlines are met, and documents comply with court rules and formats.
Key Responsibilities
- Conducting Legal Research: Investigating legal facts, searching statutes, and identifying applicable precedents to build the legal foundation for a case or transaction.
- Drafting Legal Documents: Preparing initial drafts of official court documents, contracts, agreements, and correspondence, and organizing exhibits and appendices for filing.
- Client and Witness Interviewing: Communicating with clients to gather facts, and interviewing potential witnesses to collect statements and relevant information for the case file.
- Trial and Hearing Preparation: Organizing all trial materials, exhibits, and evidence; managing witness schedules; and assisting the attorney in the courtroom during proceedings.
- Managing Discovery: Coordinating the exchange of information between parties, including organizing, reviewing, and redacting documents relevant to production requests.
Five Common Interview Questions
- "What is your process for conducting thorough legal research on an unfamiliar topic?"
- Description: Assesses the candidate's methodical approach to research, their knowledge of various legal research tools, and their ability to determine when research is sufficient.
- "Describe a time you discovered a critical error or deadline miscalculation in a case. How did you handle it?"
- Description: Tests accountability, urgency, problem-solving skills, and the ability to professionally communicate mistakes and suggest corrective action.
- "Walk me through the steps you would take to prepare a large-scale litigation file for trial."
- Description: Evaluates organizational skills, knowledge of the litigation life cycle, and familiarity with trial preparation tasks (e.g., exhibit lists, witness binders).
- "Why did you choose the paralegal profession, and what ethical obligations are most important to you?"
- Description: Gauges commitment to the non-attorney role and assesses understanding of key ethical rules, particularly the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) and client confidentiality.
- "How proficient are you with e-discovery platforms, and what role do you typically play in the discovery phase?"
- Description: Determines technical aptitude regarding modern legal technology and practical experience with the increasingly digital aspects of litigation.
Questions?
Have questions about this career? Explore the Legal Careers Community!