Are you interested in a legal profession but don’t want to be a lawyer? If you prefer to be behind-the-scenes support personnel, consider becoming a paralegal or legal assistant. Two of the most common jobs in the legal profession are paralegals and legal assistants; they are known for being a lawyer’s support system and backbone.
Paralegals and legal assistants are vital in the practice of law. You might be wondering are legal assistants and paralegals the same thing; as well as what it is they do. Continue reading to get details on the job duties and education differences between legal assistants and paralegals.
What is the difference between paralegals and legal assistants?
Paralegals and legal assistants differ in terms of responsibilities and education. Paralegals must have field-specific training in paralegal studies by completing either an associate or bachelor’s degree. Legal assistants do not need a formal education because they don’t necessarily touch legal responsibilities like paralegals.
The education of a paralegal grants them more higher-level responsibilities, such as managing a department or paralegal team. Certified paralegals work side by side with attorneys, either independently or semi-independently. While legal assistants are more responsible for clerical and secretarial duties and serve as administrative assistants.
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What does a legal assistant do?
Legal assistants work on administrative tasks ensuring the office is running smoothly while performing customer service duties within a law office.
Legal assistant’s job duties might include:
- Offering general administrative support, such as making travel arrangements for the lawyer and maintaining their calendar
- Communicating with witnesses and clients to schedule interviews, depositions, and meetings
- Drafting legal documents; proofreading them and correspondence
- Managing client billing by preparing and sending out bills and resolving billing issues
- Collecting and organizing evidence and legal documents for the lawyer to review
What does a paralegal do?
Paralegals are trained professionals who work behind the scenes with attorneys. Paralegals have formal education, training, and experience. Because of this, they are qualified to do work of a legal nature under the supervision of an attorney.
Paralegals can specialize in law, such as family, criminal, real estate, or immigration. Paralegals can be independent contractors and hired by individuals or law firms to perform paralegal work for cases. Paralegals may perform some administrative duties, but their main job duties are legal tasks.
Paralegal job duties might include:
- Performing legal research
- Help lawyers prepare for hearings, trials, and corporate meetings
- Gather electronic discovery such as emails, data, documents, accounting databases, and websites
- Locating and interviewing witnesses
- Summarizing testimony, depositions, and interrogatories
- Filing appeals with opposing lawyers
What skills do you need to be a legal assistant?
Legal assistants need to have essential skills to function efficiently and be productive. A legal assistant needs these essential skills because it is a part of the job duties for administrative tasks on the lawyer’s behalf.
Key legal assistant skills:
- Organizational skills
- Writing skills
- Technical skills
- Detail-oriented
- Interpersonal skills
- Adaptability
- Knowledge of legal terminology for documentation
What skills do you need to be a paralegal?
Paralegals are an integral part of the legal team and should have certain skills to perform their duties well. They offer technical support for lawyers and are usually the secondary point of contact for clients once a lawyer is assigned to a case.
- Key paralegal skills:
- Multitasking
- Full attention to detail
- Willingness to learn
- Expertise in the organization
- Good intuition
The future outlook for paralegals and legal assistants
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that “employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 1 percent from 2023 to 2033.” 1 While this growth rate is slower compared to some other professions, the role of paralegals remains essential within legal practices. Law firms are anticipated to remain the largest employers of paralegals and legal assistants, as they rely on these professionals to prepare and organize legal documents, perform research, and manage case files efficiently.
Despite modest growth projections, the role of paralegals and legal assistants can offer a pathway to a stable and rewarding career. With an emphasis on skill-building, adaptability, and understanding emerging legal trends, professionals in this field can continue to play a critical role in the legal ecosystem.
Becoming a paralegal or legal assistant
Regardless of the law career path you choose, attaining education and on-the-job training is the best way to solidify the start of your career to the desired position of choice! If you want to gain experience and education, consider enrolling in a paralegal studies program.
What education do you need to be a paralegal?
Many paralegals and legal assistants have an associate degree or certificate in paralegal studies. Program lengths can vary but as an example Mildred Elley’s paralegal degree program is about 65 credit hours which can take about two years to complete.
A paralegal studies program could prepare you for a career in law. During your education, you could master the skills needed to be a paralegal or legal assistant and get one step closer to achieving a job in the legal profession.
Paralegal Education at Mildred Elley
With Mildred Elley’s online paralegal program you will gain the knowledge required to explore possible career opportunities in the legal field. Mildred Elley’s A.A.S. in Paralegal Studies curriculum includes an employer-based internship to prepare graduates for employment. This curriculum provides students with hands-on experience and introduces them to a variety of job prospects.
Learn more about Mildred Elleys paralegal program today!
1.Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Paralegals and Legal Assistants,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm (visited May 27, 2025).
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