Legal assistants can expect to help with legal research, customer service, legal document creation, and correspondence. Legal assistants must have a high level of technical, research, organizational and editorial skills, as well as be highly professional and confidential. Legal assistant positions can be found in all types of organizations, but most are found in law firms, corporate legal departments, or government agencies. The topic of ethics and the role of paralegals in the legal profession are highlighted in the program`s courses. See admission requirements for the Paralegal Studies and Certificate Program in the Certificate Requirements tab above. No matter where you work as a legal assistant, you need to be organized. Even a small mistake can lead to problems in a law firm. This is just one more reason to train in a targeted way. In this area, professional certification is voluntary; It is not a requirement. However, certification is often good because it can help you advance your career. This is because some law firms and companies only hire certified legal assistants. Certification can also serve as a testament to your knowledge and commitment to your career, leading to networking opportunities.
As a legal assistant, you should also be familiar with technology, including databases. That`s because „eDiscovery“ is now an important part of that career. Ediscovery means working with digital data or information. This includes things like searching the web, searching databases, or organizing emails that can be used as evidence. It`s all part of the modern job description for paralegals. So, find a legal assistant program that can help you advance your ambitions. To get started, simply enter your postal code into the search tool below! The Paralegal Legal Studies and Certificate program is a member of the American Association for Paralegal Education. The duties of the legal assistant also vary depending on the type of organization you work for. The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) indicates that about 73 percent of paralegals work in law firms, while 11 percent work in local, state, or federal offices.
Three percent work in fields such as insurance or financial companies. In addition, legal assistants who work in small offices often have more diverse tasks than those who work in large offices. In large offices, legal assistants sometimes focus on one area, such as contract management. Once you have completed your training, expect to continue learning. You`ll want to stay up to date with new developments related to law and your particular legal profession. Tacoma Community College`s Paralegal Program aims to develop graduates who are world-class ethical paralegals with the professional skills necessary to succeed in a complex legal environment. Tacoma Community College`s Paralegal Associate of Applied Science (AAS) program and Paralegal Preferred Pro certificate program have been approved by the ABA. Courses can be taken during the day or evening with optional hybrid online courses, although 10 semester credits must be completed by the traditional classroom. The Associate`s degree program covers several substantive legal topics and develops critical thinking, research, and analytical skills that help students become invaluable members of law firms and corporations. This program includes a legal internship component at the end of the program, where students must complete a minimum of 132 hours with an approved firm, agency, or corporation. The Paralegal Pro-Certificate program is designed for students who already have an associate`s degree or bachelor`s degree in another subject and wish to move into the legal field. It`s also important to remember that paralegals aren`t allowed to do certain things.
For example, they cannot represent a client in court and they cannot give legal advice. However, they play a key role in assisting lawyers in almost every other aspect of legal work. The Security Bureau estimates that employment opportunities for paralegals are expected to increase by 12% from 2018 to 2028. This figure is higher than the US average of five percent. On the other hand, the employment of lawyers is expected to increase by six per cent. So why is the number of legal assistants growing almost twice as fast as the number of lawyers? Money is an important factor. The paralegal studies program prepares you for entry into the legal profession. Paralegals are qualified professionals who perform substantive legal tasks under the supervision of a licensed lawyer. His responsibilities include: Renton Technical College hosts a Certificate of Completion as a Legal Assistant and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) as a Legal Assistant. With a full-time course load, the certificate program lasts five terms and the AAS requires five or more terms, depending on the schedule chosen. Students can start classes in the fall, winter or spring, and classes are available on campus in the evenings, as well as in a hybrid online format.