Legal Assistants

Legal assistants provide administrative support to legal professionals and are often the most invaluable team members of a law firm or office. Commonly known as paralegals, legal assistants perform the majority of preparation for legal proceedings. Although legal assistants are responsible for completing professional tasks in place of a lawyer, they are barred from performing any duties that fall within the boundaries of practicing law, such as giving legal advice, signing legal documents, and presenting in court.

Duties

Legal assistants typically perform a variety of duties when employed by a law firm. They typically are responsible for preparation and research for hearings, trials, meetings, and other legal proceedings. Depending on the needs of the employer, a legal assistant will also assist in drafting legal documents such as motions, subpoenas, contracts, mortgages, separation agreements, tax returns, estate plans, trusts, and wills. These documents will be reviewed by a lawyer after their completion. Legal assistants are often the first contact a client has with a law firm. As part of their researching duties, legal assistants can conduct preliminary interviews with clients and witnesses.

The specific duties of a legal assistant depend primarily on their specialization and scope of practice. Legal assistants, like lawyers, can choose to specialize in a certain area of the law. Common fields are real estate, divorce, family law, criminal law, and civil litigation. Each branch of the law requires that certain procedures and technical documents be followed and filed. Legal assistants specializing in marriage and family law, for example, will be familiar with documents pertaining to adoption, marriage, and divorce. Criminal legal assistants will have different skills associated with their field.

Education and Training

Legal assistants must be familiar with legal terminology, ethics, and proceedings in order to fulfill their job function efficiently. Unlike general administrative assisting, which can be entered without formal education, legal assistants almost always have some kind of training in the law.

There are several avenues to becoming a legal assistant. The most typical method is attending a community college or vocational school with a legal assisting program. Individuals who have already completed a 4-year degree can augment their education with a certificate in paralegal studies. Some schools offer both B.A. and M.A. degrees in paralegal studies. One great benefit of enrolling in a paralegal program is the opportunity to participate in an internship with an attorney general, law firm, corporate legal department, bank, and other institutions that hire legal assistants.

When considering a legal assisting program, potential applicants should investigate whether or not the school is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). Though employers rarely require new hires to have graduated from an ABA accredited paralegal program, accreditation is an sign of quality.

Certification

Legal assistants have the option to become certified by a professional, national, or local paralegal organization. Certification isn’t mandatory, but demonstrates a commitment to the profession that is attractive to employers. There are several ways to become certified.

The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) offers a Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) and Certified Paralegal (CP) credential. In order to earn certification, legal assistants must meet certain standards of education and experience. They must also sit for a 2-day examination. NALA certification is valid for 5-years. In order to remain certified, legal assistants must complete 50 hours of continuing education. Advanced Paralegal Certification is also available for legal assistants who want to specialize in one area of the law.
 
 

Top Administrative Assistant Schools

  • Career Point College Online

    Imagine an exciting new career in the medical, business, legal or computer fields. Career Point College is a great place to learn all of the skills you will need to succeed in these industries and get the future you want! In as few as eight months for a diploma, 15 months for an Associate’s, and 18 months for a Bachelor’s (with an Associate’s first), you could be prepared to enter the job marketplace. Whether it is because of our accelerated programs, hands-on training, personal attention, flexible schedules, lifetime placement assistance or lifetime refresher training, you will see Career Point College is the right school for you!

  • Potomac College

    Potomac College offers students the opportunity to take advantage of all of the same courses, programs, and specializations online that are offered at either of their two physical campuses. This allows students the convenience of flexibility and makes it an ideal institution for fulltime working adults, military persons, or anyone with a busy, demanding schedule seeking to pursue a college degree. In fact, many of our students residing in a close proximity to either our Washington, DC or Herndon, VA campuses have chosen to take both online and on-campus courses for an accommodating blended program.

    Imagine being able to pursue your degree at a pace and time that works with your busy schedule. Potomac College offers practical and tailored curricula to a diverse community of working adults and students. It is our goal to make education obtainable regardless of a student’s schedule and finances. Our academic advisors are trained to assess your educational needs and tailor a curriculum that matches your career goals and expected time of completion.

  • Harrison College

    Harrison College is a nationally accredited college with more than 75,000 graduates. We offer a unique learning environment for students who want to pursue a career-focused, quality education and complete their degree in a student-centered atmosphere. In order to achieve your goals, we believe it’s important for us to take the time to get to know you. In fact, our students are often surprised at the one-on-one attention they receive here as compared to other institutions. You’ll experience it throughout every stage of your Harrison experience, from our Admissions Representatives to our Career Services staff and financial aid analysts to our course instructors. Each of us believes it is our goal to help you achieve yours.

  • TCI - Technical Career Institute

    TCI College is a New York City based technical school that offers continuing technical education to students who want on-site specialized training in competitive fields. Technical Career Institutes provides students with technical training such as web site design, health information technology, electronic engineering technology, and heating ventilation and air conditioning. TCI also offers career placement assistance upon graduation. Visit TCI College in New York City located in lower Manhattan.

  • Career Point College

    Imagine an exciting new career in the medical, business, legal or computer fields. Career Point College is a great place to learn all of the skills you will need to succeed in these industries and get the future you want! In as little as 8-11 months for a Diploma or 18 months for an Associate’s Degree, you can graduate and join the workforce. Whether it is because of our accelerated programs, hands-on training, personal attention, flexible schedules, on-site daycare, lifetime placement assistance or lifetime refresher training, you will see Career Point College is the right school for you!

  • ASA The College For Excellence

    ASA The College For Excellence specializes in offering a superior value in higher education, with programs that balance traditional academic preparation with professional training and hands-on experience. 80% of Graduating Students get into the career field of their choice and many go on to advanced degrees!

  • Milan Institute

    We believe that each student at Milan Institute holds the key to his or her own success. Our staff and instructors strive to help each student develop the professionalism that will open a world of creativity and knowledge. Milan Institute offers a college atmosphere conducive to learning and individual growth. Excellent training and job placement assistance enable our students to become enterprising professionals.

  • Salter College

    Salter College, a private two-year college, offers an enriching balance of liberal arts and professional career education. We are dedicated to meeting the needs of our students through quality education and support services while fostering an environment that inspires academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, social responsibility, and an interest in life-long learning and continued higher education.

  • West Virginia Junior College

    Our programs are designed for you to be job-ready in months with career-focused, hands-on training in a friendly, small-school environment where you receive individual attention.

    As a WVJC student, you will have access to modern classrooms and laboratory equipment, individualized attention in a small class setting, and job placement assistance.

    Along with academic credentials and certifications, our faculty brings industry knowledge to the classroom, helping students understand both theory and real-world experiences.

  • Laurus College

    Our mission is to provide every student with a quality education and a quality experience that prepares you for success in the global marketplace of the modern world. To do this we provide focused instruction and personalized caring to every student. Our emphasis on career opportunities in all of our program offerings helps open up avenues of opportunity that previously may have gone unrealized.