Becoming a Legal Assistant offers you more than just a job, it is an opportunity for a rewarding career. If you are interested in learning how to become a Legal Assistant, there are certain requirements for you to meet. Having the proper training, education, and experience are the keys to meeting those requirements.
Legal Assistant Training
Legal Assistants, also known as Paralegals, now more than ever are professionally trained. In decades past, it was possible to start working in a law office and work your way up to a Paralegal position. It is slightly possible to accomplish that these days as well, but it is not the most time efficient course of action. Employers prefer to hire Legal Assistants who have already been trained, who can come into the office ready to work.
Being properly trained ensures you have a wide variety of talents and qualifications. In addition to legal abilities, trained Legal Assistants have the advantage of possessing transferable job skills that equip them to qualify for many other administrative positions.
The best way to become a Legal Assistant is to focus on achieving specialized training by concentrating on education and experience.
Legal Assistant Education
In school, you will gain an expertise in all the necessary skills you will need to perform on the job. Having a formal education increases your chances of easily landing employment in a law firm over other non-educated applicants.
There are many options available to get your Legal Assistant education. The most popular educational choice is to earn an associate’s degree in paralegal. Other options include a paralegal bachelor’s degree, technical or trade school, and certificate programs.
You want to be sure to enroll in a Paralegal program that will give you the appropriate training and guidance. Typical courses will include legal vocabulary; civil, criminal, and domestic law; legal writing, case management, legal research,
Legal Assistant Experience
All employers prefer to hire employees who have experience. When you begin applying for Legal Assistant jobs, you will notice most job announcements list experience as a requirement. So the dilemma is how to get the necessary experience in the first place.
Paralegal schools usually have options available to you so that you can gain experience while earning your degree or certificate. You may have a chance to utilize a work/study program, which is basically a paid internship opportunity. Some schools will have arrangements with local attorneys where you can participate in unpaid internships.
Whether you are enrolled in school or not, another opportunity to gain experience is to engage in volunteer work. Legal aid clinics, prosecutor’s offices, and public defender’s offices are always looking for volunteers. Check with your school to see if they have other ideas or opportunities.
Legal Assistant Resources
Now that you have a better understanding of the requirements to become a Legal Assistant, you can start planning on how you are going to receive the necessary training, education, and experience. BestLegalAssistant.com is a great resource to help you get on the right track.
Legal Assistant Requirements 