Who are Legal Assistants

Legal assistants who are also often called paralegals do everything that a lawyer does and more. They help and assist lawyers in all respects, but the ultimate responsibility for the legal work is of the lawyer. Legal assistants nowadays are assuming newer responsibilities and performing many of the same tasks as lawyers in a legal office. They can do almost everything that a lawyer does but are unequivocally forbidden to carry out any duties which entail practicing law including the giving of legal advice, presenting cases in court and setting legal fees.

Legal assistants help lawyers in all aspects pertaining to case proceedings such as closings, hearings, trials and corporate meetings. Legal assistants check out the facts of a case to ensure that all the relevant facts have been included. They also do research and find out the appropriate laws, judicial decisions, legal articles and other materials. They compile and organize all material after completion of their analysis to make a written report which is presented to the lawyer for his consideration on how to proceed with the case. At such times the attorney decides to go to trial with a lawsuit on behalf of their client, legal assistants are of assistance by helping in the drafting of the opening and closing arguments, draft pleadings and motions which have to be filed with the court, obtain necessary affidavits and assist the lawyer at the trials. Legal assistants also sort out and keep a record of files which have importance to the case including case documents and keep them ready for the perusal of the lawyer. All in all, a legal assistant eases the burden of a lawyer by doing all the research and secretarial work thereby allowing the lawyer to concentrate on the proceedings in the court. Legal assistants also work for prosecutor training coordinators, administrative law specialist, or attorneys.

Duties and responsibilities of a legal assistant

The main duty of a legal assistant is to assist a lawyer and help them with the legal services.

Their duties may differ as per the industry that they work in, the employer type that they work for and some other factors.

Some of the common responsibility and duties of a legal assistant have been shown below.

• To research old cases, relevant statutes, rulings and precedents; find out the facts for the current one; preparation of legal documents and give suggestions pertaining to the current case.
• Legal assistants help lawyers in the preparation of cases and hearings by assisting them in the opening and closing statement of a trial, giving them whatever information needed for meetings, and ensuring that lawyers are well prepared in the legal tasks which are needed for the day.
• Interviewing witnesses and clients is another duty of a legal assistant so that they can provide the necessary information to the lawyers.
• Summarize the depositions that have taken place, interrogatories and testimony of the witnesses.
• Prepare legal briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts and correspondence.
• Attend the execution of wills, depositions, real estate closings, administrative or court hearings and trials with the attorney.
• Execute and sign legal correspondence as long as it is indicative of the status of the legal assistant and does not contain any legal advice or opinions.
• Monitor the legal library and make necessary additions to the books and CDs to keep it up-to-date.

Educational requirements of a legal assistant

Education is the framework on which a person’s entire career is based.

A person wanting to be a legal assistant or paralegal has also to work towards an education that will get him/her accepted in the legal firms or get a job in the government.

• Enrol in a college or university that offers paralegal programs that leads to an associate degree.
• A person who already has a college degree can earn a certificate in paralegal or legal assistant studies.
• Associate and bachelor’s degree program have courses which includes studies in other subjects along with paralegal training.
• Out of the more than 1000 colleges and universities, law schools and proprietary schools offering legal assistant’s training program, 260 are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
• Graduates from an American Bar Association (ABA) recognised program is not an absolute necessity; nevertheless it could enhance employment opportunities.
• There are no fixed criteria for gaining entry into these schools as some accept high school graduates or with legal experience, while others require certain college courses or bachelor’s degree.
• Certain schools have standardised tests and interviews as the admission criterion.

Salary and Earnings of a Legal Assistant

The salary and earnings of a legal assistant largely depends on their years of experience, which part of the industry they are working in, the kind of employer who hires them, the city that they are working in etc.

There are other factors also involved which determine the salary that a legal assistant receives such as the school they have attended, the skills that they bring to the job, the size of the practice or agency or company they are working for or what their primary responsibilities are.

Given below are some of the factors which determine the salary of a legal assistant.

• Years of Experience

• Experience of less than one year the salary range is between $ 22,662 and $ 41,936 and the hourly wage range is between $ 8.35 and $ 15.46.
• Experience between one to four years the salary range is between $ 23,425 and $ 43,358 and the hourly wage range is between $ 9.72 and $ 18.16.
• Experience between five to nine years the salary range is between $ 26,810 and $ 51,849 and an hourly wage range is between $ 10.90 and $ 21.44.
• Experience between ten to nineteen years the salary range is between $ 30,348 and $ 59,571and an hourly wage range is between 12.12 and $ 26.35.
• Experience of more than twenty years the salary range is between $ 31,737 and $ 64,024 and an hourly wage range is between $ 13.52 and $ 27.51.

• Industry

• A legal assistant working in a law firm or law office gets an annual salary range between $ 25,413 and $ 54,511 and an hourly wage rate between $ 9.87 and $ 21.05.
• A legal assistant working in litigation gets an annual salary range between $ 24,211 and $ 57,553 and an hourly wage rate between $ 10.10 and $ 21.64.
• A legal assistant working in an intellectual property (IP) law office gets an annual salary range between $ 26,983 and $ 51,851.
• A legal assistant working in government of public offices gets an annual salary range between $ 27,025 and $ 54,486.
• A legal assistant working in insurance, gets an annual salary range between $ 29,882 and $ and an hourly wage rate between $ and $.
• A legal assistant working in workers compensation information gets an annual salary range between $ 19,916 and $ 51,064.
• A legal assistant working in healthcare gets an annual salary range between $ 25,600 and $ 57,391.

• Employer Type

• A legal assistant working for a company gets an annual salary range between $ 26,586 and $ 56,584 and an hourly wage rate between $ 10.07 and $ 22.39.
• A legal assistant working for a private practice or firm gets an annual salary range between $ 25,174 and $ 53,200 and an hourly wage rate between $ 9.80 and $ 20.49.
• A legal assistant who is self-employed gets an annual salary range between $ 23,450 and $ 49,097 and an hourly wage rate between $ 10.00 and $ 21.22.
• A legal assistant working for a government – state and local gets an annual salary range between $ 26,402 and $ 54,422 and an hourly wage rate between $ 10.32 and $ 22.00.
• A legal assistant working for a government – federal gets an annual salary range between $ 31,287 and $ 54,882 and an hourly wage rate between $ 10.14 and $ 25.64.
• A legal assistant working for a foundation or trust gets an annual salary range between $ 31,429 and $ 49,250.

This is a profession dominated by the females and the percentile ratio of females to males is as follows: females constitute 87% to only 13% of males.

The average annual salary received by females falls in the range of $ 30,286 and $ 46,349 and their male counterparts receive an average annual salary in the range between $ 32,194 and $51,288.

Legal assistants receive the usual benefits and perks such as 401(k), paid holidays/vacations, paid sick leave, life insurance/disability, etc.

They also receive the common health benefits and 61% said that they receive medical benefits, 37% said that they receive dental benefits, 25% said that they receive benefits towards vision while 38% said that they do not receive any health benefits at all.

Certification and Licensure for a Legal Assistant

Certification is not a necessity but would have additional weightage when applying for a job or for advancement as a legal assistant.

• Education and experience in various combinations are the requirement to obtain certification from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).
• Additionally a person has to undergo and pass a two day examination to get Certified Legal Assistant or Certified Paralegal credential.
• The certification is valid for five years and requires 50 hours of continuing education for recertification.
• To obtain the American Alliance Certified Paralegal credential offered by the American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc.
• A candidate should have at least 5 years of paralegal experience and meet one of the three educational criteria.
• Certification has to be renewed every two years with the completion of 18 hours of continuing education.
• Those who pass an exam and have a bachelor’s degree with two years of experience can obtain the Registered Paralegal (RP) designation offered by the National Federation of Paralegal Association (NFPA).
• Recertification requires twelve hours of continuing education every two years.
• The Professional Paralegal Certification offered by the National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS) requires a candidate to clear a four part exam.
• 75 hours of continuing education is the requirement for recertification.

Skills and Abilities for a Legal Assistant

• Must have fundamental knowledge of subjects in law.
• Must have considerable knowledge of analysis and research methods.
• Must have the ability to document and present their findings and opinions in a succinct yet encompassing way to their supervising attorney.
• Must have the ability to understand legal jargon and also should have good investigative and research skills.
• Must have knowledge of computers to be able to operate and apply software programs in legal research and litigation support.
• Must be up-to-date on the current development in laws and regulations that affect their area of practice.
• To keep in touch with and expand on their existing knowledge they must attend legal education seminars for continuing education.
• Must have the ability to write and speak effectively.
• Must be able to use judgement, tact, confidentiality and discretion.