Legal assistants are indispensable members of the legal office. Their communication and administrative responsibilities ensure that day-to-day operations run smoothly.
Legal secretaries are in demand in Alberta, with 60 per cent of employers having recruited legal assistants in the last two years. While the average Canadian salary is $54,630, they earn anywhere from $47,000 to $87,000 per year.
This article delves into what it means to be a legal assistant and the qualifications necessary to become one.
What Is A Legal Assistant?
Legal assistants work in law offices, courts, real estate, insurance companies, corporations, land title offices, federal, provincial and municipal offices. The extent of their responsibilities, however, may vary based on the type of company they work for, according toZaki Ahmad, Calgary lawyer and former legal assistant.
“In civil litigation you have the commencing document, which is a statement of claim typically, and that will include the style of cause, the file number, who the parties are and who the service needs to be addressed to. This will be put in by the legal assistant.”
“In family law, legal assistants generally take a more active role,” he compares. “There are a lot of applications that need to be done, or divorce documents… often legal assistants know these nuances and they can draft documents accordingly.”
If you are interested in a career as a legal assistant, here are some responsibilities you will have upon the required completion of a legal assistant course:
Draft and proofread legal documents and correspondence.
Collect, organize and examine evidence and other legal documents for your attorney, in preparation of a case.
Research laws and regulations to help with the preparation of reports and case files.
Communicate with clients and witnesses to schedule meetings, interviews and depositions.
Manage client billing and organize physical and electronic documents.
Other general administrative responsibilities may be given to you based on the type of firm you work for and upon the discretion of the employer.
What Qualifications Do You Need To Be A Legal Assistant?
A legal assistant diploma in Canada will teach you about Canadian law, civil litigation, commercial and corporate law, real estate, intellectual property, immigration and refugee law, just to name a few. You will also learn how to conduct legal research, interviews and different legal office procedures, as part of the program.
