This question is about legal assistant jobs.

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

By Zippia Team - Nov. 2, 2021

The difference between a paralegal and a legal assistant is that a legal assistant's work is more administrative than that of a paralegal. These two jobs differ in many ways:

Case Preparation Duties
Client Contact
Educational Requirements
Skillset

Both paralegals and legal assistants are heavily involved in preparing cases to go to trial. A paralegal performs research for trials, interviews potential witnesses or others who are in any way involved with the case and prepares statements and arguments for the lawyer to use in the courtroom.

The legal assistant's work, however, is more administrative. They organize the files for trial and organize documents for the lawyer to review. They also schedule meetings with clients, witnesses, and other parties for both the lawyer and paralegal.

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

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