what is legal assistance course

The Legal Assistant

Capstone course brings theory and practice together in a law office simulation. Expected keyboarding speed at the end of this program is 60 words per minute. Time commitment This is a two-year (four term) diploma program. A standard course load is five courses per term.

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Why is legal assistant certification important?

Legal assistant certification is a must if you want to be hired by any legal firm. This is a safety requirement for both you and your employer. There are five main reasons why it’s important to get yourself certified first, even if it’s not a requirement. 1. Lawyers and Court As a legal assistant you work directly under a lawyer or a law firm.

Where do legal assistants work?

Legal Assistant Training Courses. Register and start training today with Lorman Education Services OnDemand and live continuing education for legal assistants. Legal assistants and other professionals need ongoing training to keep up with the latest developments in this fast-paced field. As a legal assistant, your role may require you to wear a variety of hats.

How much does legal assistant training cost?

Legal Assistant Associate's Degree Legal assistants should have an eye for detail and a knack for research to work in a fast-paced law office helping lawyers prepare for court cases. Read on to learn more about associate's degree programs in legal assisting as well as job duties, employment outlook and salary range for this field.

Is the legal assistant program a vocational program?

Legal Assistants play a critical role in supporting lawyers in various types of firms and business organizations. These professionals provide assistance related to legal proceedings, including completing research, drafting various legal documents and maintaining databases.

How do I become a legal assistant in South Africa?

You’ll need to have a Grade 12 Certificate as a minimum entrance requirement fort he relevant courses. The South African School of Paralegal Studies offers a Paralegal Diploma course which takes five months to complete and includes practical experience gained in the Magistrates Courts, Dees Office and a law firm.

How do I become a legal assistant in Ontario?

How do I become a Paralegal in Ontario?Meet academic and field placement requirements. ... Apply to the licensing process. ... Pass the examination. ... Be deemed to be of good character. ... Pay all required fees and submit all required forms. ... Apply for a P1 (paralegal) licence.

How much do legal assistants make in Ontario?

Paralegal and related occupations (NOC 4211) usually earn between $19.71/hour and $48.08/hour in Ontario. People working as a "paralegal" are part of this group.Feb 9, 2022

How much money do legal assistants make in Canada?

$44,850 per yearHow much does a Legal assistant make in Canada? The average legal assistant salary in Canada is $44,850 per year or $23 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $36,385 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $58,584 per year.

What does it mean to be certified in law?

Certification proves your legal understanding and eligibility to the firm that you’ve chosen. 2. Get Certified Anyway. While there is no legal requirement to be certified to work with a law firm, the majority require all candidates to be certified in order to be above board with any issue that could arise throughout the course of your employment.

Why is it important to get yourself certified?

There are five main reasons why it’s important to get yourself certified first, even if it’s not a requirement. 1. Lawyers and Court. As a legal assistant you work directly under a lawyer or a law firm. You provide research and handle documentation in regards to a case or situation your office is handling. In order to properly follow ...

Do law firms require certification?

Law firms do have entry level jobs that don’t require certification. In fact, working while getting certified is a great way to get a feel for your prospective work environment. Certification training isn’t required, but it’s something employers look for.

What is the role of a legal assistant?

As a legal assistant, your role may require you to wear a variety of hats. One day, you can be providing administrative support, the other day, performing in-depth research to support an important case. To be versatile, you must possess a depth and breadth of knowledge, and commit to keeping it current. Lorman Education Services offers online legal ...

When was Lorman Education Services founded?

We founded Lorman Education Services in 1987 with the goal of making world-class professional training available to everyone. When you make us your choice for online legal assistant training, you'll benefit from our: Multiple ways to learn. Train online through live programs or download self-study content at your convenience.

What is an associates degree in legal assisting?

Associate's degree programs in legal assisting are similar to associate's degree programs in paralegal studies. This is a 2-year degree program that can be completed on a traditional college campus or over the Internet. Online programs commonly have the same requirements, curricula and faculty as on-campus programs;

What is a legal assistant?

Legal assistants should have an eye for detail and a knack for research to work in a fast-paced law office helping lawyers prepare for court cases. Read on to learn more about associate's degree programs in legal assisting as well as job duties, employment outlook and salary range for this field.

How much do legal assistants make?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), legal assistants and paralegals earned a median annual salary of $52,920 as of May 2020; top-earning legal assistants and paralegals took home upwards of $85,160, while the lowest-paid earned $32,900 or less ( www.bls.gov ).

What does a paralegal do?

Paralegals help lawyers with clerical work and litigation preparation. In this position, you might research case precedents, prepare legal documents, correspond with clients and other lawyers, write contracts or prepare tax forms.

Program Overview

Legal Assistants play a critical role in supporting lawyers in various types of firms and business organizations. These professionals provide assistance related to legal proceedings, including completing research, drafting various legal documents and maintaining databases.

Career Opportunities

Employment opportunities for Legal Assistants exist in law firms, government offices, real estate and insurance companies, financial institutions, legal departments or corporations. Graduates of this diploma program will be prepared to specialize in conveyance, litigation, family, estate and corporate practice.

Admission Requirements

An Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent; or be at least 18 years of age or older and pass an entry test.

What You Will Learn

The Legal Assistant Program is approved as a vocational program under the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005.

What is the best course for a legal assistant?

If you think you possess the skills you need to be able to be an effective legal assistant, or if you’re looking for a bit of help on that path, a course from Stratford Career Institute can help impart the skills that a legal assistant might need.

What is a legal assistant?

A legal assistant is an integral part of a law firm, someone who can help the lawyer to better utilize their time and to make sure that they’re bringing in as much profit as they possibly can.

What is the most important part of being a legal assistant?

Legal Research. Being able to perform basic legal research is another extremely important part of being a legal assistant. Law offices pay good money to gain access to legal libraries such as Lexis Nexus online, and being able to use the search engine to find information pertaining to the work of your lawyer is one of the most important tasks ...

Why is typing important?

Typing. If you are going to work almost any position in an office, typing is essential. Being able to type at a decent speed, while also being able to type correctly, is important. It is not the most important skill for someone hoping to be a legal assistant, but it will absolutely make your life easier, and make you more employable ...

Why do we need an eye for fine details?

If something is out of place or left out or doesn’t have the appropriate signatures, it can cause problems. You need to have an eye for fine details in order to make sure that you dot all the I’s and cross all the T’s.

Can a lawyer be an asset?

Most lawyers will not expect you to come into their office being an expert in the type of law they practice, but if you cannot understand laws and legal filings, then you’re not going to be an asset.

Can a legal assistant give legal advice?

If you’re hoping to become a legal assistant, it is important that you keep in mind that the only person who can give legal advice is a lawyer. However, that does not mean that you should not have a decent understanding of law in general. Being able to understand legal terms, and to read laws, is very important for anyone who wants ...

What is legal assistant?

Legal assistants help with administrative and customer service tasks, including: Drafting and proofreading legal documents and correspondence. Managing client billing by preparing and sending out bills and resolving billing issues. Collecting and organizing evidence and legal documents for the lawyer to review.

What is the difference between a paralegal and a legal assistant?

However, paralegals are involved with tasks that involve actual technicalities with the law, while legal assistants have a broader range of responsibilities. Here are the top skills necessary for each role:

What do paralegals do outside of law firms?

Also, paralegals can specialize in certain areas of the law, such as criminal, family, real estate or immigration law. Related: Paralegal Resume Samples.

What are the areas of law that paralegals can specialize in?

Paralegals can specialize in certain areas of the law, such as family law, criminal law, real estate or immigration law.

How much does a paralegal make?

The average annual salary for a legal assistant is $42,573 per year while paralegals earn $49,177 per year. Paralegals who hold a paralegal certificate generally earn 15% more than the average base salary. For the most up-to-date information ...

What degree do paralegals need?

Most paralegals have either a two-year associate degree or a four-year bachelor's degree.

What is a paralegal?

A paralegal is a legal professional who is retained by a law office, lawyer or government agency and who performs legal work for lawyers. They prepare documents, investigate the facts of cases and write reports. However, they're prohibited from completing tasks like representing clients, offering legal advice or other activities ...

What is a paralegal assistant?

Paralegals, also known as lawyer’s assistants, typically work directly with a lawyer to help draft legal documents, research laws and gather evidence to use in court. They’re also responsible for filing appeals with the court or opposing counsel.

How much do paralegals make?

Paralegals and legal assistants earn a median annual wage of $50,940, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), with the highest 10 percent earning more than $82,050.*.

What are hybrid positions?

Due to the need to fill paralegal and legal assistant positions, firms are starting to offer “hybrid” positions, which combine the duties of both roles and can decrease hiring costs for firms.

Does BLS estimate entry level wages?

* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2020. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.

What do legal assistants do?

What Does a Legal Assistant Do? 1 Answer phone calls, respond to emails and greet clients 2 Schedule meetings, appointments, and interviews 3 Organize paperwork 4 Maintain legal files and other relevant information in digital databases 5 Write drafts of contracts, letters, and legal documents 6 Gather information about cases 7 Conduct research on laws and regulations 8 Reference law libraries 9 Assist during trials and hearings 10 Prepare and deliver affidavits 11 Perform billing/accounting duties

What do legal assistants need to know?

Most lawyers rely on their legal assistants to draft everything from everyday emails to professional legal documents. As a result, legal assistants must know how to communicate effectively through writing, create documents according to accepted formats and proofread.

What is a paralegal?

Technically, the title paralegal is reserved for someone who is certified through an organization such as the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA).

How much will legal assistants grow in 2028?

And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for legal assistants is expected to grow 12 percent from 2018 to 2028. This rate is considered much faster than average for all occupations. Home78.

How to stay on top of legal changes?

To stay on top of ongoing changes within the industry, you may choose to enroll in online or in-person classes, attend conferences and/or regularly read legal articles, books, and blogs. Soft skills, on the other hand, are more difficult to learn in a traditional setting.

Do government agencies hire legal assistants?

However, government agencies and legal departments in large corporations also hire legal assistants. As an office job, the position requires lots of sitting and computer work. In some cases, legal assistants may be asked to travel to court cases or gather/deliver documents. Generally, the job is fast-paced.

Do legal assistants depend on people?

Legal assistants depend on many people and many people depend on them to get the job done. This remains true regardless of the size of the office. To be successful, they must view themselves not as a single person working in isolation but rather as a contributing member of a larger team.

What is a paralegal assistant?

The terms “paralegal” and “legal assistant” have been used interchangeably over the years and with good reason. These legal professionals perform similar duties within a law firm, and they're often referred to in the same context in legal decisions handed down by courts.

What do paralegals do?

Paralegals and legal assistants perform many of the duties an attorney would have to take care of personally if he did not hire such a professional. They do legal research and draft pleadings, contracts, leases, and other court and legal documents.

What is a legal secretary?

Legal secretaries set appointments and calendar court appearances and events in each case. They may also take care of other administrative tasks, such as billing clients. Most law firms use the terms "paralegal" and "legal assistant" to avoid confusion with secretarial and other legal support roles.

How much does a lawyer bill for a paralegal?

For example, they may bill $100 an hour for the paralegal's or legal assistant's time and $300 for their own.

Do paralegals and legal assistants have the same responsibilities?

That said, paralegal assistants and legal assistants should not be confused with legal secretaries who generally do not share the same responsibilities.