Calling all Legal assistants!

by Shelby Mickler

 

Do you immediately fact check Trump every time he opens his mouth? Have you spent (wasted) most of your life watching Law & Order? Have you won (at least in your mind) every single argument you’ve ever had? Then becoming a legal assistant may be the next best step for you.

 

Have you ever watched the TV show How to Get Away with Murder? The students of Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) are basically her legal assistants. Their job is to investigate cases, research laws, gather data, and write reports. It’s like all the joy of being a lawyer without the public speaking portion! How great is that?

 

As a legal assistant, your main task will be helping your lawyer in whatever way you can. And yes—if that means grabbing morning coffee, then you bet it will be on your to-do list. However, you will also gain a lot of experience with tasks that lawyers regularly complete as well, such as preparing for trials, filing legal documents, calling clients, and more. There are also specific types of legal assistants; depending on your job description, you could be a corporate law specialist or a lawyer’s assistant.

 

Good news: legal assistants enjoy a comfier salary than most entry level jobs, earning about $45,560 per year according to Glassdoor. The best part about this job is that it is growing fast, with about 41,800 new jobs by 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All you need to be qualified is an associate’s degree, so you can start applying now!