Paralegal and Legal Assistant

What is a Paralegal?

A paralegal assists attorneys (lawyers) in delivering legal services. Paralegals perform various tasks to support attorneys, but they are not licensed to practice law or represent clients in court. Instead, they work under the supervision of an attorney and handle essential duties such as legal research, drafting documents, and aspects of case preparation. 

Paralegal Job Description:

Paralegals handle more substantive legal tasks than legal assistants, which supports more administrative-focused functions. The paralegal job scope can include:

• Legal research: Investigating case law, statutes, and legal precedents.
• Drafting documents: Preparing contracts, pleadings, motions, briefs, and other legal paperwork.
• Case preparation: Assisting in organizing evidence, exhibits, and preparing for trials or hearings.
• Client communication: Liaising with clients, gathering relevant information, and providing updates.
• Administrative tasks: Managing schedules, filing documents with courts, and maintaining case files.

What is a Legal Assistant?

Legal assistants provides administrative and clerical support to attorneys, law firms, or legal departments. The role of a legal assistant is similar to that of a paralegal, but it often focuses more on administrative tasks and office management, whereas paralegals tend to handle substantive legal work.

Legal Assistant Job Description

Like paralegals, legal assistants support a highly diversified set of functions, under the supervision of an attorney or attorney team. These responsibilities can include:

• Administrative Support: Managing calendars, scheduling appointments, and organizing meetings.
• Document Preparation: Drafting correspondence, proofreading legal documents, and preparing reports.
• File Management: Organizing and maintaining case files, client records, and legal documents.
• Client Communication: Answering phones, responding to client inquiries, and relaying messages.
• Research and Data Entry: Assisting with basic legal research and entering information into databases.
• Court Filings: Preparing and submitting documents to courts and other legal authorities.

Lawyers have a heavy workload with a broad range of responsibilities that they have to take care of. Paralegals and legal assistants are the critical right hand for these professionals. When additional information is needed, a paralegal legal assistant may prepare in-depth research reports, schedule interviews, and take affidavits. They will assemble filings so they’re ready to go to court, maintain files and records before, during, and after cases go court, and communicate with clients as needed. 

Skills for a Paralegal/Legal Assistant

The skills valued for paralegals and legal assistants are essentially the same. They can include the following:

• Organizational Skills
• Communication Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Critical Thinking
• Multitasking
• Time Management
• Writing Proficiency
• Working with a Team

What Are the Training Requirements for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?

Paralegals and legal assistants are typically required to have a minimum of an associate’s degree in a related field. The Paralegal Studies Associate Degree from Bryant & Stratton College is a well-rounded choice. This 60-credit-hour program includes courses such as criminal law & procedures, torts & remedies, contract law, civil litigation. This will give you the well-rounded legal studies you need to pursue a successful career in this area. 

You can further enhance your employability by pursuing professional certification for paralegals. This is available on both local and national levels. 

Prospective paralegals and legal assistants will have the best chance of success in this occupation with strong communication, research, computer, and organizational skills. Improving any skills in these areas will help you fill out your resume well to make it more attractive to prospective employers. 

What Can I Do With an AAS Paralegal Studies Degree?

With an AAS Paralegal Studies degree, you’ll be equipped for a number of legal careers. These can go by many names and may fall in a variety of legal areas. As you’re conducting your job search, you should keep an eye out for job titles such as: 

• Law clerk 
• Legal analyst 
• Paralegal specialist 
• Law associate 
• Title examiner 
• Abstractor 
• Legal support 
• Legal secretary 
• Brief writer 
• Copyright agent 
• Legal researcher 
• Notary public 
• Title searcher 
• Trademark agent 

Your AAS Paralegal Studies degree will prepare you for any of these positions. 

For more insights into the paralegal studies field, visit the paralegal section of our blog. This will give you a wealth of information on how you can get involved in the legal field.