Legal assistants have a very difficult job, yet it’s a very interesting one. They provide critical support to attorneys that help them prepare for trial, be that as a prosecutor or defense attorney. While legal assistants don’t make nearly as much money as attorneys, there are many benefits
of skipping law school and working in this field. So, you might be wondering what benefits you might derive from becoming a legal assistant.
Let’s find out!
You Don’t Need Much Education
In some settings, legal assistants only need a high school diploma. In other situations, you might need an associate’s degree. Still, an associate’s degree takes two years to complete, so there isn’t a large amount of time investment needed to begin a legal assistant career. What you’ll find is that there’s a lot of on-the-job training. In fact, it might be several months before you feel like you’ve hit your stride. But, once you learn the ropes, you can likely thrive in your position.
It’s Relatively Easy Work
Legal assistants have many important duties, yet their work isn’t terribly complex. For example, you might be responsible for answering phones, setting appointments, and making photocopies of documents. You might also be tasked with filing, basic legal research, and cleaning the office. As a legal assistant, you’ll make critical contributions to the team, but you likely won’t have the
high-stress tasks that others – like attorneys – will have.
It’s Important Work
Just because much of this job is “easy” doesn’t mean that it isn’t important. Attorneys are incredibly busy with caseloads that might include dozens of clients, multiple court dates, motions, petitions, and so forth. Having a competent legal assistant to handle day-to-day duties frees up the time of attorneys to focus on case preparation. As noted earlier, sometimes, legal assistants will be asked to conduct basic legal research. They might also be responsible for filing legal paperwork with the courts, arranging meetings with opposing counsel, and interviewing clients. These are extremely important tasks that can directly influence the outcome of a court case.
It’s a Good Stepping Stone
If you’re interested in a career in law, working as a legal assistant is a good stepping stone for other positions. For example, you might work part-time in an attorney’s office while you attend college. This enables you to gain valuable experience that will help you pursue your degree in law. Even if your goal isn’t to become a lawyer, this kind of work requires you to have many skills that are necessary in all types of work, such as:
● Attention to detail
● Effective communication skills
● Good research skills
● Punctuality
● Problem-solving and analytical skills
There are Many Opportunities for Additional Education and Training
While you don’t need a lot of schooling to become a legal assistant, there are many ways that you can continue your learning after you get your first job. For example, you might enroll in a paralegal certification course to get your credential and move into a more legal-centric position. As another example, you might pursue training in a special type of legal assisting, like real estate, intellectual property, or litigation. These types of trainings might even be paid for (in part or in total) by your employer. This allows you to advance your career while minimizing your monetary output.
The Hours are Usually Predictable
Make no mistake – there will be occasions when you need to work a lot of overtime as a legal assistant. There will be times when you have to work nights, weekends, or holidays. However, the vast majority of the time, you can look forward to a predictable office schedule. Most legal assistants work Monday through Friday, 8-5, and have time off for lunch, holidays, and might even have paid vacation.
It’s a Great Job if You’re a People Person
Legal assistants are in constant contact with clients, whether that’s over the phone, via email, or in person. And in some cases, clients are in a very difficult situation, either as the victim of a crime or as someone accused of a crime. This requires you to have excellent people skills, like
good verbal communication, active listening skills, and empathy.
If you’re a people person, you likely enjoy meeting new people and getting to know them regardless of who they are or where they’re from. There will be many opportunities for that in a law office, so this job could be a great fit!
Legal Work is Very Exciting
As a legal assistant, you can look forward to a job environment that is very stimulating and exciting. No two clients are alike. No two cases are alike, either. What’s more, you will often have many different tasks to complete over the course of a normal day.
In other words, this isn’t a job where you typically sit at a desk for eight hours. It can border on chaos at times, but if you have the needed skills and personality traits, you can turn the chaos into a very exciting and fulfilling career.
If you are facing criminal charges, call the Best Criminal Defense Lawyer in Grand Rapids, Michigan now! Call Attorney Shawn James Haff at 616-438-6719. Shawn has an office in Grand Rapids and practices law all over Michigan.