Lawyers have a whole team of professionals working behind the scenes to help them achieve their goals. These include paralegals and legal secretaries. So what are the differences between a paralegal and a legal secretary? Both play a valuable role in making sure law firms are successful. Let’s break it all down for you.
Differences Between a Paralegal and a Legal Secretary
The two jobs have many overlapping duties, but there are a few important differences between a paralegal and a legal secretary. Before you start your legal journey, it’s important to decide which job title would suit your interests and skills best. Let’s explore them below.
Paralegal
Paralegals need to have in-depth knowledge of the law. This is because they work very closely with lawyers and are qualified to help them prepare for court cases. Paralegals can work at law firms, courts or the legal departments of companies.
Duties
It is important to note that a paralegal can only perform duties given to them by a lawyer. They cannot provide independent legal services. But a paralegal can meet with potential clients and decide if the firm should represent them. So a large part of a paralegal’s job is to do research on behalf of the lawyer. Some of their other responsibilities include:
- Drafting legal documents
- Putting together evidence to be used in court
- Summarising testimonies
Education
Good news, paralegals don’t have to study as long as lawyers. Depending on the institution you choose, you can become qualified anywhere from five months to three years. If you want to study an accredited course, you’ll need to have a matric certificate before you enrol.
Legal Secretary
Legal secretaries are seen as the face of a law firm because they are the first point of contact between a client and their lawyers. They are in charge of doing the admin needed to keep firms running smoothly.
Duties
A legal secretary needs to have basic legal knowledge. This includes excellent computer and organisational skills. This is because they have to manage all legal records and make sure they’re kept up-to-date. They will also have to perform other duties such as:
- Answering phone calls
- Managing client relationships
- Scheduling appointments
- Editing and proofreading legal documents
Education
There are many accredited courses to help you become a legal secretary. To get started, you need matric or equivalent. If you choose distance learning, you’ll be able to study at your own pace, from the comfort of your home.
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