Legal Assisting/Paralegal Overview

Legal Assisting/Paralegal — Overview

Legal assisting and paralegal are actually the same profession, however some geographical areas prefer one title over the other. In either case, the legal assistant/paralegal field is seeing rapid growth as employers continue to cut operating costs by shifting duties away from lawyers to qualified legal assistants.

Legal Assisting / Paralegal Duties

Typical duties include: preparing legal arguments; pleads or court motions; obtaining affidavits; assisting lawyers during trials; researching similar cases/contracts; interviewing participating parties; investigating relevant laws; and assisting with contract creation, negotiations and closings. In addition, legal assistants may help the lawyer prepare tax returns, establish wills and trust funds, and file separation and divorce documents.

Unauthorized Practice of Law

The duties of a legal assistant/paralegal include assisting the lawyer with research, brief preparation, and other legal office administration, but do not include practicing law, advising clients, or setting fees since paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law.

Legal Assisting/Paralegal - Is it for you?

Those considering a profession as a legal assistant or paralegal must be detail-oriented, organized and enjoy paperwork and research. In addition, the individual should have excellent written and oral communication skills, strong computer skills, and present themselves in a professional manner. Legal assistants must be self-starters and able to work individually as well as on a team.

Find out more

Learn more about this growing career field by speaking with one of our Admissions Advisors toll free at 1-866-508-0748 x832. We are happy to provide you with further information about career opportunities and the Herzing University Legal Studies online programs so you can determine which one is right for you.
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