What Are The Differences Between Paralegals And Legal Assistants Law Firm Assistant Jobs

The language “paralegal” and “legal assistant” have been used interchangeably over the years and in the company of great reason. These legal professionals perform similar duties within a law firm, and they're often referred to within the same context within legal decisions handed down by courts.

Court rules don't differentiate between them, and bar associations rarely distinguish between the roles when setting rules for practice. That said, paralegal assistants and legal assistants should not be present confused in the company of legal secretaries who generally work not share the same responsibilities. 

What Is a Paralegal Assistant? 

The name "paralegal" is widely understood to describe a being qualified through education, training, or work understanding to perform substantive legal work under the direction and supervision of an attorney. The same often applies to legal assistants, but the National Association of Legal Assistants made a distinction between the two roles within 2004.

It added "certified paralegal" to address those who have passed the NALA certification exam. Other professionals may only refer to themselves as "legal assistants." Surveys of the paralegal business have revealed an overwhelming wish by paralegals for this title over that of “legal assistant.”

The two terms—“paralegal” and “legal assistant”—are stationary used interchangeably within the legal industry, but the growing trend is to use the title of “paralegal” for certified employees. 

Duties of Paralegals vs. Legal Assistants 

Paralegals and legal assistants perform various of the duties an attorney would have to grab care of personally assuming he did not commission such a professional. They work legal investigation and draft pleadings, contracts, leases, and other court and legal documents.

They help in the company of hearing preparation and can usually assist clients by answering various of their questions. However, they cannot give legal guidance or guide clients toward one course of deed or another. Also, they cannot sign pleadings or other documents, which must be present reviewed and signed by the attorney.

Most lawyers charges their paralegal's or legal assistant's hours to their clients, just as they would charges their special time, but at a lower rate. For example, they may charges $100 an hour for the paralegal's or legal assistant's period and $300 for their own. Paralegals and legal assistants work not receive this money directly, however, as they're typically paid set salaries through the firm.

Legal Secretaries vs. Paralegals and Legal Assistants 

Many law firms call their legal secretaries “legal assistants” so they can explain billing clients for these employees' hours as well, but the duties of a legal secretary are typically more limited. They may draft correspondence and usually organize files and perform term processing, transcribing the attorney's dictation from audio devices and following his directives for other tasks. They grab phone calls but are not usually entrusted in the company of answering client questions.

More commonly, they'll draft those questions within a memo which is passed on to the attorney, so he has a filled understanding of the client's concerns and needs when he returns calls. Legal secretaries set appointments and calendar court appearances and events within every single case. They may too grab care of other executive tasks, such as billing clients. 

Most law firms use the language "paralegal" and "legal assistant" to avoid confusion in the company of secretarial and other legal back roles. 

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