Difference Between A Legal Administrative Assistant And A Paralegal: Career & Training

While the role of legal administrative assistant and paralegal may seem to closely

resemble each other, there are also a number of major differences between the two professions that you should be aware of when choosing a career. For example, specialized education is generally required for paralegals, which explains why they are also in a higher salary bracket.

Comparing these two jobs

In addition, legal administrative assistants mainly concentrate on performing operational tasks while paralegals are focused on relevant legal work, For example, while the administrative assistant might have the task of transcribing testimony from a trial, the paralegal may be busy doing research prior to making a court appearance when representing an attorney. Note that both of these professionals make a major contribution to the success of any law firm, but the two fields are definitely not the same.

In a law firm, both legal administrative assistants and paralegals perform essential tasks that allow lawyers to concentrate on preparing for court. However, they are not permitted to carry out any duties that are directly related to the practice of law. In addition, the position of paralegal is generally considered to be one of higher authority than that held by the legal administrative assistant. Paralegals often have the task of supervising legal administrative assistants, but the reverse is virtually unheard of.

Career outlook for legal administrative assistants

In this position, you will be overseeing essential office tasks to ensure that the law firm is run in an efficient manner. This may include preparing and forwarding legal documents or doing research for a case with the supervision of a paralegal or an attorney.

To develop the skills you need for filing this position, consider earning a legal administrative assistant certificate or completing a related diploma program. In the process, you may study office management, legal ethics, formatting legal documents and similar topics.

In May 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that job growth for these professionals for the ten-year period ending in 2018 was expected to be 11 percent. The need is obviously great, and there is also the possibility of advancing to the position of paralegal when you fill this role by earning a paralegal associate degree.

Career outlook for paralegals

Much of the work they do requires detailed knowledge of legal proceedings, legal documents and the law itself as they assist a lawyer in handling court cases. Today, most law firms are looking to hire job candidates with some type of formal training, such as a paralegal associate degree. Relevant programs usually include courses in estate law, bankruptcy, family law, and related areas of litigation. If you already have a degree, some schools offer programs that lead to certification as a paralegal.

In May 2010, the BLS also reported that job growth for the ten-year period ending in 2018 was expected to be even more impressive at 28 percent. In addition to law firms, many job opportunities for paralegals are also becoming available in other areas, including financial institutions and large corporations.

by: William Hauselberg

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