A legal assistant is a professional who assists lawyers and paralegals. Legal assistants perform a variety of tasks, including research, document preparation, and case management. From the tasks that paralegals typically take on to the advice for hiring and working with paralegals, this blog post covers the main benefits lawyers can gain from working with paralegals. With a better understanding of what a legal advisor can actually offer, you can make more informed decisions when considering adding legal counsel to your team. Legal assistants may need to file all documents with the court and opposing lawyer for the legal proceedings to continue. This typically includes the preparation and filing of documents such as exhibits, oppositions and briefs. As a legal assistant, you need to have certain skills to succeed – the ability to research, communicate well, and be organized, among others. These are skills that many types of employers are looking for, so if you decide to change careers, the skills you learn in school and at work can help you do just that. Example: « If I noticed an error in a legal document I had written, I would immediately inform my supervisor so that he could correct it before sending it. If the error was minor, I simply corrected the document and sent it back to my supervisor for approval. However, if the error was more serious, I would have to rephrase the entire document. I would then make sure to fix the problem so that it does not happen again. No matter how you find a freelancer, it`s also important to make sure you have a good process to make it easier for a legal assistant to work with your business.
Effective law firm processes are especially important if your legal assistant works remotely. Adding paralegals to your cloud-based practice management system makes it easy to collaborate with legal assistants, whether they`re in the office or remotely. There are three ways to become a legal assistant. The first and most common is to obtain an associate`s degree in paralegal studies. This is a post-secondary qualification that aims to provide students with the basic skills and knowledge needed to work as a legal assistant. It usually takes about 2 years and students enjoy more job prospects and a better salary once they complete this course. Admission to these courses is easy as there are no admission requirements. These courses may also include an internship to provide students with on-the-job training. Overview of the issue: Legal assistants are often alone to do the work. This question aims to determine the extent to which the candidate can work independently and whether they are able to meet deadlines without close supervision. Legal assistants assist lawyers with a variety of tasks, including legal research, preparing legal documents, and maintaining client records.
You may also be responsible for scheduling, organizing conference calls, and coordinating with other members of the legal team. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good legal assistant? This question gives you the opportunity to explain the qualities you want to demonstrate as a legal assistant, while telling the interviewer what they can expect from you in terms of responsibility and work ethic. Overview of the issue: Conflict is an inevitable part of the legal profession. The best lawyers are able to resolve conflicts in a professional manner. This question aims to learn how the candidate will handle conflicts in the workplace. Of course, working as a legal assistant also requires you to perform a lot more tasks. It`s a quick job with less than two days exactly the same – which attracts a lot of people to this profession. Reviewing frequently asked interview questions can also be a good way to prepare, as you have the opportunity to reflect on your answers instead of finding them locally. In no particular order, here are some questions you might be asked when you are interviewed for a legal assistant position. As mentioned earlier, paralegals are a key part of a legal team. The work you do, whether it`s doing legal research, preparing documents, or even scheduling appointments, helps the legal team work more easily and focus on helping their client win their case.