Legal assistants, also known as paralegals, serve as legal secretaries, helping attorneys perform legal work. They're informed in legal terminology and procedures, working in a law firm or legal department. With formal education and training, they combine experience and knowledge in legal matters, qualifying them to help lawyers.
The concept of legal assistant began in the late 1960s. It developed out of a need for lawyers and firms to improve the delivery and quality of legal services. Other reasons leading to creating the profession included an overload in work because of more public attentiveness of the legal field solving problems. Because it's new, training and education doesn't have a long history. The National Association of Legal Assistants adopted the term "legal assistant" in 1984.
Paralegals have a wide range of duties. For example, they meet with clients and witnesses, conducting interviews. Besides doing interviews, paralegals stay in contact with clients. They perform legal investigation, including statistical and documentary research. Drafting legal documents, pleadings and correspondence, as well as signing them is another function.They summarize depositions, interrogatories and testimonies. Being present at will executions, as well as real estate closings, depositions, court or administrative hearings and trials with attorneys is also part of the job.
The status of the legal assistant just has to be clearly noted and not contain legal advice or legal opinions independent to those held by their attorneys.
You either become a certified legal assistant or a registered paralegal. Check with your school or college for how to sign up for the needed exams for these certificates. There are several choices for training.
An Associate degree in paralegal studies isn't required, but most paralegals have this degree. Going through a community college paralegal program leading to an associate degree is the typical route of training. Divided between courses in paralegal subjects and general education, the training is about 60 to 70 hours. A bachelor's degree with a certificate in paralegal studies is another option. Some schools call for a bachelor's and master's degree in paralegal studies, while others only need earned credits in particular courses. Earning a certificate in paralegal studies takes only few months to complete. Usually people who work for a certificate already have college degrees. About 1,000 colleges and university offer paralegal programs.
For others, all that's needed is on-the-job training at the job they already have working for a lawyer or legal department.
The training can go quickly. If you have a passion for legal matters, but dread the time and money entailed to become a lawyer, choosing a legal assistant career may be more attainable. While it takes seven years to become a lawyer, it can take as little as three months to be qualified as a paralegal and enter the job market. There's no entrance exam for enrolling in most paralegal schools, whereas it takes a high LSAT score to get into law school. However, some schools do require a standardized test and personal interviews. Other schools want particular college courses or a bachelor's degree, although others accept high school graduates or people with a legal work background
When choosing a training school, consider a program offering internships where you can work temporarily for a private law firm. This can be useful when looking for a job.
Besides training, before deciding on a paralegal career, consider if the job is right for you. Paralegals should have strong organizational skills and be proficient in detailed work. They should be able to work with distractions as most often they share cubicles and work spaces. A passion for research, plus good research and investigative skills are also good qualities.