How long does it take to become a legal assistant?

It takes between two and five years to become a legal assistant. During those two to five years, you will need to complete an associate's degree, any certifications, and rack up some work experience.

How old do you have to be to get an internship at a law firm?

There is no age limit to getting an internship at a law firm. Rather than a set age limit, there are often educational requirements that can make it so that most applicants are around a specific age, but there is no set rule.

Is a legal assistant a good job?

Yes, being a legal assistant is a good job. If you are looking for a steady day job, being a legal assistant is a good choice. If you decide to become a legal assistant, you'll be signing up for a career in a fast-evolving field where your talents and worth ethic could be the key factor of your success.

Is a legal assistant the same as a paralegal?

No, a legal assistant is not the same as a paralegal, although they are very similar jobs. While a legal assistant's work is more administrative, a paralegal gathers information for trials.

Is legal assistant a good career?

Yes, working as a legal assistant can be a good career. As a legal assistant, you'll do challenging, important work that has the potential to make a difference. There are many employment options ranging from private law firms to government agencies and everything in between.

What is a legal assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Emily Allen-Hornblower,

Robert Birrenkott

A legal assistant provides administrative and legal support to lawyers and law firms. They perform a variety of tasks such as drafting legal documents, organizing files, scheduling appointments, conducting research, and communicating with clients. Legal assistants may also assist in trial preparation, attend court hearings, and help with document management. They should have excellent organizational and communication skills, be familiar with legal terminology and procedures, and have strong attention to detail.

What general advice would you give to a legal assistant?

Emily Allen-Hornblower

Associate Professor of Classics, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

"I would say, think broadly. Your CV gives you an edge - you chose a course of study that is somewhat atypical, original (and a great conversation starter!) that gave you widely applicable skills.

I mean, who studies Classics? Who willingly subjects themselves to the rigors of Latin or Greek - or both? Who commits to navigating the intricacies of an interdisciplinary path that combines some of the most vital areas of inquiry for our time: social and cultural history, political science, philosophy, psychology, literary studies, material culture?

A go-getter. Someone who is passionate. And is Driven.

And you know what? Employers know that. They see that on your CV, and they think, wow - here is someone interesting and hard-working and who thinks out of the box. And they are right. Xerox saw that. Macy's saw that. The Air Force Intelligence Officer who hired one of our (female!) undergraduates as an officer saw that. The software engineer who hired another one of our grads to join his team as a full-time software engineer saw that. Oxford University Press in New York City saw that - and hired another recent grad as a full-time intern in their Higher Education Editorial Development department. SO: Classics majors, think big and broad. There is no restricted path for what is next.

So - Graduating seniors in Classics (and other Liberal Arts degrees), as you prepare to go forward into the world, you have good reason to go forth with pride, and enter the world after college, with all its question marks and inevitable bumps in the road, with confidence.
A Classics major is excellent preparation for the pursuit of a wide range of careers in a large number of fields, including, but not limited to, government, law, education, business, journalism, library science, publishing, foreign service, finance, the entertainment industry, museum, and preservation work, pharmaceutical sciences, music, and the arts, foundations, technology, web design, and labor relations. So think broadly. You've got this. "

ScoreLegal AssistantUS Average

Salary

3.3

Avg. Salary $42,387

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.0

Growth rate 14%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.40%

Asian 5.36%

Black or African American 8.17%

Hispanic or Latino 21.42%

Unknown 4.71%

White 59.94%

Gender

female 82.64%

male 17.36%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

7.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a legal assistant?

Pros

Chance to learn from experienced attorneys
Exposure to various legal areas
Possibility of career advancement
Opportunities for networking
Chance to develop valuable skills, such as research and writing

Cons

Tight deadlines and pressure to perform
Exposure to sensitive and potentially disturbing information
Potential for conflict with clients or colleagues
Inability to provide legal advice or represent clients in court
Potential for ethical dilemmas and conflicts of interest

Key steps to become a legal assistant

Explore legal assistant education requirements

Most common legal assistant degrees

Bachelor's

51.3 %

Associate

25.4 %

High School Diploma

8.3 %

Start to develop specific legal assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Litigation	11.57%
Legal Correspondence	10.02%
Discovery Responses	6.12%
Legal Research	6.01%
Law Firm	5.12%

Complete relevant legal assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New legal assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a legal assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real legal assistant resumes.

Gain additional legal assistant certifications

Legal assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific legal assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for legal assistants include Certified Paralegal/Certified Legal Assistant (CP/CLA) and Professional Legal Secretary (PLS).

More About Certifications

Research legal assistant duties and responsibilities

Complete accounting and payroll functions.- gather and process client documents.- manage daily operations of office.
Manage document production with various internal departments for response to DCAA investigations and third party subpoenas.
Assist patent attorneys by managing invention disclosure documentation and relate correspondence with outside counsel and USPTO.
Relocate temporarily to Chicago, Illinois to facilitate and manage electronic discovery exchange in preparation for arbitration.

Prepare your legal assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your legal assistant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a legal assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable legal assistant resume templates

Build a professional legal assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your legal assistant resume.