21 Legal Assistant Interview
Questions & Answers

Legal Assistant Skills, Qualities, and Attributes

To be a Legal Assistant, you must possess several essential skills and qualities. Whilst the following list is certainly not exhaustive, it will give you a strong indication as to the attributes needed to excel in the role:

• Exceptional team working qualities.

This involves putting the needs of the team first, making sure you complete your tasks on time, and offering to support other team members when they need your assistance.

• Outstanding researching capabilities.

You must be a good researcher, and be thorough in all of your duties paying particular attention to accuracy in terms of your written work and communications with team members, stakeholders, and clients.

• Strong administrative skills.

To be a competent Legal Assistant, you need strong administrative capabilities, be able to act in accordance with the law and operating principles of your employer, and remember to maintain confidentiality at all times.

• In-depth knowledge of your area of specialism.

Legal Assistants need to have a solid understanding of their area(s) of specialism. This includes operating practices, legal processes, and an understanding of the documentation that accompanies each process.

• Organizing and planning capabilities.

As a Legal Assistant, you must take responsibility for the planning and organizing of your work without the need for constant supervision. You should also know when the time is right to seek advice or guidance from Lawyers within the firm or your manager.

• Competence in IT systems and ownership or professional development.

To meet the requirements of the role of a Legal Assistant, you must be competent in the use of computer systems and software packages, be able to arrange and organize meetings and be prepared to cope whilst under pressure in difficult and sometimes stressful situations. It is also vital that you take responsibility for your ongoing professional development.

LEGAL ASSISTANT JOB DESCRIPTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The specific duties of a Legal Assistant will very much depend on several factors. These include the law firm or the Lawyer they assist, the area of legal specialism they operate in, and the number of other supporting roles within the company. However, Legal Assistants will often have numerous daily duties and ongoing responsibilities including preparing legal documents, conducting extensive research based on instructions and guidance from the company lawyers, communicating with clients and keeping them informed of case progression, and collating or preparing documents, information and data as and when required. You will also be required to schedule and organize meetings, prepare for trials, verify documents and identification, provide support during trials, collect evidence, maintain files and archiving, and conduct any other such duties as deemed appropriate by your supervising Lawyer or manager.