Legal Assistant Jobs

A legal assistant is a professional who works on a team to help support attorneys with a variety of legal tasks. Their role is crucial in streamlining the busy workload and schedule of the lawyers they work for.

A legal assistant is not allowed to represent clients or give legal advice, however their role is critical in enabling legal processes to run efficiently and effectively. Legal assistants can be hired to work at law firms, government agencies, corporate legal departments, or solo practitioners. Tasks for this role include drafting documents, conducting research, managing cases, assisting in trial preparation, and communicating necessary information to clients.

The salary or hourly rate of a legal assistant varies based on several factors, including experience, location, type of position, and the employer themselves.

The average salary for legal assistants typically falls around $56,000, with potential for an increase based on experience and company preferences.

For contract or contract-to-hire legal positions, the average hourly wage is typically between $22 to $42 per hour.

To be able to pursue a role as a legal assistant, a high school diploma or GED is required. It is encouraged to complete a higher education degree, associates or bachelor’s, with a focus in legal studies. Experience with internships and entry level positions are critical to gain experience and build relevant knowledge before being able to advance. Obtaining certifications is not required but highly encouraged to help develop key skills and make you more competitive when starting to search for jobs. Applying for legal assistant positions can look very different depending on the type of employer you are looking to work for. Jobs can be found in law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies and more. While working to advance your career as a legal assistant, it is important to stay current with any changes in law or legal software for best practice.