What Is a Legal Assistant? [+9 Essential Skills]
By
June 30, 2023
9 min
In This Article
Lawyers can’t do everything by themselves. That’s why Legal Assistants are essential in law firms and legal departments.
Legal Assistants perform administrative duties and manage projects — but they don’t stop there. They can assist Lawyers with important legal work like drafting and formatting documents.
Unfortunately, law school can take six to seven years of intense schooling before you even begin practicing law. But don’t give up your dreams yet. You can earn a Legal Assistant Diploma and start your new career in less than a year. Legal Assistants can work in law offices, real estate firms, the government, and other legal environments.
If this sounds like a career for you, keep reading. We’ll explain what a Legal Assistant is and the steps to take to start your career.
What Does a Legal Assistant Do?
Legal Assistants, or Legal Administrative Assistants, do administrative work in legal environments. Alongside typical administrative duties, Legal Assistants must be familiar with legal terminology and documentation like “subpoena” and “pro se.” They use this knowledge to communicate with their clients and assist Lawyers.
Legal Assistant duties include:
- Organizing office and casework
- Answering telephone calls and emails
- Greeting and managing clients in the office
- Communicating with clients, plaintiffs, and opposing counsel
- Building spreadsheets and preparing presentations
- Managing invoices and timesheets
- Managing projects and deadlines
- Arranging and organize travel
- Drafting documents for Lawyers
Legal Assistants understand basic legal procedures and systems. They can create and format pleadings, discovery, and transactional documents. Lawyers complete the legal documents, but Assistants can get them started. In this way, Legal Assistants aim to reduce workloads for Lawyers as much as possible.
Legal Assistants work in many environments, like:
- Legal firms
- Legal departments within corporations
- Real estate agencies
- Insurance companies
- Government departments
- Municipal, provincial, and federal courts
| Legal Assistant Salaries by Province | ||
|---|---|---|
| Province* | Median Hourly Rate | Median Annual Salary |
| Yukon | $29.69 | $61,755 |
| Alberta | $28.85 | $60,008 |
| British Columbia | $25.13 | $52,270 |
| Saskatchewan | $25.13 | $52,270 |
| Quebec | $24.18 | $50,294 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $24.04 | $50,003 |
| Ontario | $24.04 | $50,003 |
| New Brunswick | $22.25 | $46,280 |
| Nova Scotia | $21.58 | $44,886 |
| Prince Edward Island | $20.51 | $42,660 |
| Manitoba | $20.00 | $41,600 |
What Is the Average Salary of a Legal Assistant in Canada?
The average Legal Assistant salary in Canada is $52,424 per year. This is above the average salary for Administrative Assistants, which is $47,395. Legal Assistant salaries vary depending on your experience level, employer, and province. Look at the salaries below to see how much a Legal Assistant makes in your province or territory.
What Education and Training Do Legal Assistants Require?
Like most administrative positions, Legal Assistants need a High School Diploma or G.E.D. Hiring managers may prefer candidates with post-secondary education, but it’s not required. Advanced roles, like an Executive Legal Assistant, may require a Legal Assistant Diploma and some work experience. Thankfully, Community Colleges and online programs across Canada can grant Legal Assistant Diplomas or Certificates.
Legal Assistant vs. Paralegal
Both Legal Assistants and Paralegals assist Lawyers, but neither has any legal authority. The main difference is that Legal Assistants manage larger organizational duties, while Paralegals deal with case-specific duties. For this reason, Legal Assistants only need a basic understanding of legal work. Paralegals need a deep understanding of legal processes and systems because they work closely with Lawyers.
Here’s an example of how Legal Assistants, Paralegals, and Lawyers work together.
- The Lawyer instructs the Paralegal to prepare a document with the aid of a Legal Assistant.
- The Legal Assistant compiles research and creates the first draft of the document.
- The Paralegal revises and finalizes the document before submitting it to the Lawyer.
- The Lawyer approves the document.
- The Paralegal files the final document. Or, the Lawyer can give the Legal Assistant permission to file the document.
9 Key Legal Assistant Skills
Below are the top nine skills for Legal Assistants. They are a mixture of both soft and hard skills. Legal Assistants need a balance of all these capabilities to work fast in a demanding environment.
- Technology Skills: Legal Assistants support Lawyers’ work and need excellent computer skills. You should have advanced skills with Office programs such as Office 365 and Google Suite.
- Interpersonal Skills: Legal Assistants communicate daily with clients, vendors, Attorneys, Paralegals, opposing counsel, and more. Great interpersonal and customer service skills will help you manage these relationships.
- Written Communication Skills: Legal Assistants draft plenty of important correspondence. You’ll need to write error-free emails quickly to keep the office on track.
- Organizational Skills: Legal Assistants organize files, manage projects, track deadlines, and much more. Organizational skills are essential to managing any legal department.
- Transcription Skills: Legal Assistants must type fast and listen intently. Legal Assistants may have to type anywhere from 50 to 100 words per minute (WPM). Strong grammar, spelling, and vocabulary skills are essential.
- Attention to Detail: Legal Assistants should pay attention to detail, especially in legal matters. For example, typing $50,000 in a settlement offer instead of $5,000 could cost the firm a client.
- Legal Terminology: Legal Assistants should be familiar with legal terminology and procedures. This knowledge separates the Legal Assistant from an Executive Assistant or Administrative Assistant. This is especially important for creating and drafting legal documents.
- Confidentiality: Legal Assistants must always keep client information confidential. As a Legal Assistant, you must never share confidential information with friends, family, or anyone else.
- Teamwork Skills: Legal Assistants do demanding work alongside Attorneys, Paralegals, Secretaries, vendors, and more. The best Legal Assistants know how to collaborate with their team to complete the job.
Example of a Legal Assistant Job Description
Legal Assistant job descriptions list typical Administrative Assistant skills like communication and time management. They’ll also list skills specific to working in a legal setting. The duties and responsibilities of Legal Assistants will vary depending on the company.
Example of a Legal Assistant job description:
- Answer phones, emails, and faxes.
- Maintain a client database.
- Use office software for scheduling, word processing, slide decks, and spreadsheets.
- Use legal research software.
- Draft and key in correspondence and legal documents for Lawyers.
- Ideal candidates will have experience drafting pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery documents, and subpoenas.
- Schedule depositions and hearings.
- Conduct intake interviews for new clients.
In an interview, prepare to answer Administrative Assistant interview questions and legal knowledge questions. Entry-level interviews may ask how comfortable you are with legal terminology and processes. Candidates may need to discuss specific filing systems or research programs for advanced roles. Aim to study job descriptions before an interview to prepare your answers.
How To Become a Legal Assistant in Canada
You don’t need a University Degree to become a Legal Assistant. High school graduates can earn a Legal Assistant Diploma or Certificate in less than a year. While a Diploma isn’t necessary, it can give you the skills and knowledge required for the job and set you apart from the competition.
There are four steps to becoming a Legal Assistant in Canada:
- Get a High School Diploma (or GED).
- Earn a Legal Assistant Diploma or Certificate.
- Get hands-on experience through a practicum or internship.
- Apply for jobs and nail the interview.
You can stand out from the competition by researching the jobs you want. Reach out to Recruiters to make a personal connection before or after your interview. Making an extra effort shows Hiring Managers you are enthusiastic and professional. You should always follow up on job applications to show appreciation and stay on Hiring Managers’ minds.
Hiring Managers look for people with education and experience, especially for high-paying jobs. For those without education or experience, College Programs are a great way to earn a Diploma while gaining hands-on job training. Graduates can enter job interviews with confidence, credentials, and hands-on experience.
What Is a Legal Assistant Diploma Program Like?
Legal Assistant Diploma Programs can be a fun and engaging learning experience. They can take one to two years to complete. For example, Robertson College offers a 44-week Legal Assistant Diploma Program. The program equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge to work in a legal office.
Students who complete our Legal Assistant Diploma Program will:
- Gain an understanding of the basic components of Criminal Law, Family Law, Wills & Estates, Real Estate, and Immigration Law.
- Learn to perform legal transcription and use proper legal terminology.
- Understand common office procedures and legal office procedures.
- Learn how to type effectively and accurately.
- Develop computer skills and learn to use Microsoft applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Gain real work experience in a legal office environment.
Diploma Programs can offer practicums that give students a chance for hands-on learning. Robertson students work with industry professionals in a legal office setting for four weeks as part of their practicum. Students build networks and gain real-world experience they can mention in job interviews.
You can earn a Diploma or Certificate online or in person. Our program is a great option for students who want to study online or in person at one of our Winnipeg, Edmonton, or Calgary campuses.
Earn a Legal Assistant Diploma to kickstart your exciting career in a legal office setting.
