Paralegal or Legal Assistant?

If you ever searched for legal jobs in California, you have probably noticed “paralegal” and “ legal assistant” get used like they mean the same thing. Realistically, they do overlap a lot. But California specifically makes a distinction that is good to know if you are thinking about getting into this field.

What They Have in Common

Both paralegals and legal assistants are behind the scenes heroes of the legal world. They draft documents, talk to clients, keep files in order, and make sure attorneys do not miss important deadlines. Without them, cases would fall apart before they even go to court.

What They Differ

In California, they regulate the title paralegal. To legally call yourself a paralegal, you need specific training such as a paralegal certificate or a degree. You also have to keep up on continuing education. Paralegals also take on more delicate work such as legal research and discovery.

Legal assistants, are not regulated the same way. Their job responsibilities learn more towards admin work. They handle a lot of scheduling, billing, first point of contact in the office. In some offices, legal assistants do take on some paralegal type of work as well.

Overall

In California, every paralegal is a legal assistant, but not every legal assistant is a paralegal. Both roles are super important and when they work together it keeps the legal system moving.