Anyone out there a legal assistant?

[BUMP] Coming July '09

Depending on what size law firm and how large the city, the lowest a legal assistant with a 2 year degree would make is probably $25k/year in small firm and $30/k in a larger firm.

I started out at $14/hour (approx. $29k/year). Now I make $20/hour (approx. $42k/year).

In my experience, it is a hard job. It isn't the work that is necessarily the hard part, it is working for and with attorneys and the amount of work. Some days I sit in my office after my boss has come in and rambled 100 things at me to do and just want to pull my hair out!!

**EDIT: I just read your other answers and thought I would follow up on a few things:

According to the National Assocation of Legal Assistants, "paralegal" and "legal assistant" are interchangable terms for the same job/position. Generally, industry professionals also recognize the terms as meaning the same.

Paralegals are not administrative assistants or secretaries. Paralegals perform substantive legal work such as researching case law/statutes/codes and drafting, formatting, and preparing legal documents, etc... However, sometimes paralegals double as legal secreatries and have duties such as docketing mail, answering phones, and calendaring.

A paralegal certificate is not enough education and a bachelor's degree is more than necessary. I have found great success after graduating with my associates degree in Paralegal Studies as have my fellow graduates.

If you have any more questings feel free to e-mail me.

jannsody

I've heard that a person really needs a bachelor's degree in 'something' (perhaps in addition to completing an accredited program) to possible obtain a job as a paralegal. A lawyer (from when injured in car accident) once told me that he can instead hire a law school intern to do the same amount of work for less pay.

For general career info: http://www.bls.gov/oco and can search 'paralegals and legal assistants' or such.

mailaccount63

Generally, an "associates" degree is not enough to get a job.

WARNING: Jobs in the field of Law are drying up FAST!!! This is NOT a good field to invest in right now. Reasons: very bad economy, people (mistakenly) think they can do their own legal work now thanks to the WWWeb, there are TOO MANY law schools in this country (USA) that are churning out WAY TOO MANY graduates to be supported by this country, once you graduate you will find you will be unable to get a job, IF you do get a job the law environment is very political and competitive and those in charge typically do not have their employees' best interests in mind.

Suggestion: Go into the field of Healthcare <<<LOTS of jobs there!!! Even with your background.

Good luck.

evilattorney

I'm a lawyer. In my area, most firms do not hire legal assistants because there are just too many unemployed lawyers who will do the same work and more (for the same money or less) AND they can go to court if necessary. It's an unprofitable career path around here.

rockchick

Usually you only need a certificate that you've had training. The AA degree is good if you plan on persuing legal studies or legal areas of work. Around my way, legal assistants are used because most lawyers think their time is too valuable to go to court & file papers. Also, the assistants are often the buffer between client & lawyer. Sometimes they draw up the legal forms prior to filing at court. Most of the time legal assistant are like Admin Assts only with more knowledge of legal matters, so they type, file, do phone work, some research, and other secretarial-type assistance to the lawyer(s).
Maybe you're thinking of paralegals who are somewhere betw. L.A.'s and Lawyers.

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