I chose a career in law because I wanted to pursue a rewarding career where I could use my skills to help others. I have always been interested in the justice system and I want to do my part to ensure that people are treated fairly before the law. The specific tasks of a legal assistant depend a lot on several factors. These include the law firm or lawyer they assist, the area of legal specialization in which they operate, and the number of other support roles within the firm. However, paralegals often have many day-to-day tasks and ongoing responsibilities, including preparing legal documents, conducting extensive research based on the instructions and advice of in-house counsel, communicating with clients and updating on the progress of the case, and compiling or preparing documents. information and data as required. You will also be required to schedule and organize meetings, prepare for court proceedings, review documents and identifications, provide assistance during the process, gather evidence, keep records and archive, and perform other duties deemed appropriate by your supervising lawyer or manager. Legal assistant > legal specialist > accountant > accountant or forensic accountant How to stay organized and meet deadlines? Staying organized is important for any legal assistant working on multiple cases at once. Talk to the interviewer about your organizational skills based on certain details. Legal assistants are an essential part of law firms. They help prepare court proceedings, conduct research and make appointments. Legal assistants also prepare legal documents, perform day-to-day administrative tasks, and help prepare witnesses for testimony.

Litigation (court proceedings, tort laws, legal aid, and preparation of litigation-related documents) Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for paralegals and paralegals was $52,920 per year, or $25.44 per hour, in 2020. There are also a variety of soft skills that will benefit you in your job as a legal assistant. These include: If the idea of becoming a legal assistant excites you, the good news is that you don`t need to go to school for a long time to gain the necessary qualifications. Pros: You`ll be doing tough and important work that really makes a difference (any smart lawyer knows they couldn`t do their job without a skilled legal assistant!) A legal assistant may be called upon to organize and prepare the files of a case. A paralegal is more likely to search for the client`s file than a legal assistant and may also need to organize the file. Due to the nature of the work, paralegals tend to be paid more than paralegals, but starting as a paralegal is a great way to become a paralegal. Paralegals generally do not require formal training beyond a high school diploma or GED. However, many are pursuing additional legal studies (e.g.

a legal assistant certificate) or gaining legal training in the workplace. I believe that a good legal assistant has great organizational and interpersonal skills, as well as attention to detail and a high level of focus. They should also be passionate about what they do and be motivated to do their job to the best of their ability. Hiring a paralegal can be an effective solution for law firms that need help with substantive legal work. A paralegal also costs less than another lawyer. If your firm is struggling with lawyers who are overburdened with essential legal tasks, few billable hours, or dissatisfied clients and customer service complaints, you may benefit from working with a paralegal. You can gain experience as a legal assistant by applying for internships during your school years. These opportunities can be found in local government agencies, businesses, or in any legal environment where administrative tasks need to be performed.

The goal is to facilitate the fastest possible transition to the job market after graduation. In 2019, 89% of our legal assistants were employed in a related field (statistics based on the latest available data). To learn more about how law firms are using legal freelancers – such as Independent Legal Assistants – to become more efficient and profitable, watch our webinar recording on Embracing the Freelance Legal Professional. There will be many normal 9-5 day business days as a legal assistant. But there will also be many working days that will be very long. You`ll likely also work nights and weekends, especially if a court case is pending. As mentioned earlier, paralegals are a key part of a legal team. The work you do, whether it`s doing legal research, preparing documents, or even scheduling appointments, helps the legal team work more easily and focus on helping their client win their case.