Paralegal and Legal Assistant Career Profile

Picture this: You’re working alongside attorneys on a complex corporate merger, meticulously reviewing contracts, organizing thousands of documents, and preparing detailed summaries that will help shape major business decisions worth millions of dollars.

Think about being the essential bridge between attorneys and clients, managing the critical details that keep cases moving forward while ensuring everything complies with legal requirements and deadlines. That’s what a Paralegal and Legal Assistant does every day.

Paralegals and Legal Assistants are legal professionals who support attorneys by performing substantive legal work requiring knowledge of legal concepts. They assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent.

Total Employment: 354,890 (2023)

Common Names for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

• Immigration Paralegal
• Law Associate
• Legal Analyst
• Assistant
• Legal Clerk
• Legal Processing Assistant 
• Litigation Paralegal
• Paralegal
• Paralegal Specialist
• Real Estate Paralegal

What Paralegals and Legal Assistants Do

Paralegals perform substantive legal work under attorney supervision. Core responsibilities include:

• Document Management: Organize, maintain, and file legal documents, correspondence, and records to ensure quick retrieval and compliance with legal procedures and deadlines.
• Legal Research: Conduct comprehensive research of legal resources including statutes, case law, and regulations to support attorneys in case preparation and legal document drafting.
• Case Support: Assist attorneys with case preparation by gathering evidence, organizing exhibits, and preparing documents for trials, hearings, or corporate transactions.
• Client Communication: Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, scheduling meetings, responding to basic inquiries, and maintaining professional relationships while protecting confidential information.
• Draft Legal Documents: Prepare initial drafts of legal documents including contracts, pleadings, motions, and correspondence under attorney supervision to support legal proceedings.
• Administrative Coordination: Manage calendars, coordinate meetings, and track deadlines for court filings and other legal proceedings to ensure timely completion of all case-related activities.
• Fact Investigation: Gather and analyze information from various sources, including interviews, records, and databases to support case development and legal strategies.
• Records Management: Maintain accurate billing records, case files, and legal documentation systems to ensure organizational efficiency and regulatory compliance.