Legal Assistant Hiring Guide | LinkedIn Talent Solutions

Illustration of a man sitting at a desk

Legal assistants provide administrative support to lawyers and judges. While they are expected to carry out the tasks of traditional assistants, such as compiling and filing documents, they are required to have a firm understanding of legal terminology and proceedings. As the primary point of contact for clients and co-counsel, they must possess strong interpersonal skills. Sometimes, legal assistants are required to appear in court or handle complicated transactions, so they must also possess good judgment and a sense of discretion.

You might hire a legal assistant to:

Collect legal and factual information and documents

Communicate with opposing counsel, clients, and judicial authorities
Perform clerical duties at a law office or organization
Schedule appointments with clients, family members, witnesses, etc.

Required skills and qualifications	Preferred skills and qualifications
Experience working in a relevant, fast-paced legal environment	Degree or legal assistant certification relevant to country of employment
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills	Knowledge of online court filing systems
Excellent attention to detail	Experience working with multiple lawyers simultaneously
Strong organizational skills	Experience using dictation and transcription software