What is a Legal Assistant?

A legal assistant/paralegal is a person qualified through formal education, training, and experience to assist attorneys in the delivery of legal services. Legal assistants have sufficient knowledge and expertise regarding the legal system and substantive and procedural law which qualify them to do work of a legal nature under the supervision of an attorney.

The legal assistant concept began to develop in the late 1960's when law firms and individual practitioners sought ways to improve the efficient and cost-effective delivery of legal services. Other factors entered into the development of the legal assistant field, including the growing volume of work due to increased public awareness of legal remedies.

What Do Legal Assistants Do?

According to the Spring 2001 Career Focus magazine, published by Macomb Community College, it states that a Legal Assistant has the following career aspects: "Relieving an attorney of those portions of the legal practice that requires routine legal processes. At the completion of the program, the student will be able to assist and work under the control and supervision of an attorney. Entry-level jobs in the field of legal assistant, where you'll work under the supervision of an experienced attorney."

How Do You Become a Legal Assistant?

The training required for a legal assistant is primarily determined by the individual employer. There are numerous schools across the nation offering legal assistant programs, with others initiating these programs. The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Assistants is conducting a program of inspecting and approving those courses which meet its guidelines. Macomb Community College's program is an ABA approved program.