Legal Assistant Job Descriptions, Average Salary, Interview Questions

Legal assistants support lawyers with legal research, drafting, communicating with clients, and preparing hearings, trials, and meetings. All that’s required for being a paralegal is a high school diploma, however many have an associate’s degree or a certificate in legal studies. Paralegals must have great organization and communication skills. Because paralegals spend a lot of time with clients, they must have great interpersonal skills as well in order to ensure clients feel comfortable with sharing personal details about their cases. 

Typical duties and responsibilities

• Maintain and organize files
• Conduct legal research
• Investigate and gather facts for cases
• Write or summarize reports
• Help lawyers during trials by taking notes or reviewing transcripts
• File exhibits, briefs, appeals, and other legal documents
• Communicate with clients, witnesses and attorneys
• Schedule interviews, meetings and depositions

Education and experience

Legal assistants usually have at least an associate degree and/or have earned a certification in paralegal studies. A bachelor’s degree is preferred, as is law firm experience or training. Some firms might hire college graduates with a bachelor’s degree but no legal experience and then train them.

Required skills and qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint and Excel)
• Ability to multitask and meet deadlines
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with others
• Solid research and writing skills
• Attention to detail
• Discretion and the ability to handle confidential information
• Expertise in time management and prioritization

Preferred qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Secretarial skills
• In-depth knowledge of local and federal laws

The Legal Assistant will perform administrative duties to support the Chief Legal Officer and the legal department.

Essential role functions

• Acts as liaison between company attorneys, outside counsel, organizations, and management
• Facilitate contract review, administration, and management of ABC Company entity contracts using contract management software
• Drive annual and other periodic corporate reporting and filings with secretaries of state and other business registration/qualification authorities
• Coordinate with global subsidiaries regarding annual reports, minutes, and other documents, as well as obtain necessary signatures from officers and ensure timely return of documents
• Drive and expedite due dates, deadlines, and task completion for the legal team as needed
• Support M&A activities
• Perform administrative and secretarial duties for the legal department
• Conduct intermediate-level legal and factual research on assigned matters
• Assist Chief Legal Officer with preparations for Board meetings
• Assist with integrations of acquired entities with the legal department
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Strong analytical, organization, and communication skills accompanied by the flexibility to quickly adapt in a fast-paced, changing environment

Minimum qualifications

• 5+ years experience as a legal secretary or legal assistant
• Associates degree
• Proficiency in Office365 – including Microsoft Word, Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel

Bonus qualifications

• Experience in an in-house corporate law practice
• Legal Assistant or Paralegal certification
• College degree
• Notary Public

Core competencies

• Problem-solving: Strong analytical skills. Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, and gathers and reviews information appropriately. Uses own judgment and acts independently; seeks input from other team members as appropriate for complex or sensitive situations.
• Oral/written communication: Listens carefully and speaks clearly and professionally in all situations. Edits work for accuracy and clarity and is able to create, read and interpret complex written information.
• Planning and organization: Prioritizes and plans work activities and uses time efficiently. Strong organizational skills.
• Adaptability: Adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands, and is able to deal with frequent interruptions, changes, delays, or unexpected events.
• Dependability: Consistently on time and at work, responds to management expectations, and solicits feedback to improve performance.
• Interpersonal skills: Capable of developing strong interpersonal networks and trust within the organization.

ABC Company is seeking an experienced full-time Legal Assistant/Legal Secretary in the firm’s (City) office. The ideal candidate will ensure the smooth running of the office and effective case management by providing legal services under the supervision of attorneys, including one in our (State) office. This individual will frequently communicate with the clients, and have exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, the ability to prioritize, and a strong ability to multitask. This position offers competitive pay, parking, and the potential for bonuses.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to lawyers
• Handle communication with clients
• Locate and develop case-relevant information
• Prepare documents (pleadings, discovery, discovery responses, etc.) for review by attorneys
• Monitor compliance with deadlines
• Administrative filings, court filings, electronic transcription, expense reimbursement processing, travel arrangements, and calendar maintenance

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience
• 2 years or more recent experience in legal assistance
• Familiarity with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure
• Proficient in MS Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to learn and effectively utilize various computer applications and other forms of technology

ABC Company, a multi-office national firm, has an immediate opening for a full-time legal Assistant for our (City, State) Office.

Job summary:

The individual in this role will assist attorneys in defending civil litigation matters in the areas of Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice. This is a hands-on position that involves working collaboratively with clients and employees of the firm.

Responsibilities:

• Maintains calendar for trial and discovery deadlines
• Schedules depositions, hearings, legal proceedings, and appointments for attorneys
• Submits invoices and assists attorney with time entry on billing software
• Ensures organization of files including opening, closing, management, and maintenance of files
• Under attorney direction drafts and prepares correspondence and other written documents as required including responses, reports, filings, pleadings, answers, motions, interrogatories, contracts, opinions, position papers, letters, etc., and other documents as necessary
• Organizes and analyzes documentary evidence including contracts, medical records, reports, depositions, discovery, investigative, and other documents and summaries. Interpretation and preparation of chronologies and summaries as requested
• Prepares, issues, and handles tracking and disposition of subpoenas or other requests for information
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• 1+ years of prior legal assistant experience supporting litigators in defense litigation preferably in personal injury and medical malpractice defense and in a high-volume, fast-paced law firm environment
• Florida State Court filing including E-Filing experience required
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, Word Perfect, PowerPoint, and Outlook required
• Requires critical thinking skills, excellent communication and organizational skills, decisive judgment, and the ability to work with minimal supervision
• High School Diploma or its equivalent required