Qualifications for Legal Assistant High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required associate's degree in paralegal studies, a paralegal certificate, or a Bachelor's degree preferred In fact, as a legal assistant or paralegal, you will carry out many of the same tasks as a lawyer, with two major exceptions: you cannot dispense legal advice or represent a client in court. Their tasks include research, filling in documents, helping lawyers to prepare for trials and assisting clients. Legal Assistants provide support for lawyers in the process of delivering legal services. In order to become a paralegal, you must meet certain qualifications. Legal Secretaries vs. Paralegals and Legal Assistants Many law firms call their legal secretaries “legal assistants” so they can justify billing clients for these employees' hours as well, but the duties of a legal secretary are typically more limited. A legal assistant or paralegal handles many tasks within a law office. Legal assistants are typically highly organized and detail-oriented, and have strong communication skills. Paralegal Qualifications. Legal office assistants work under the direction of lawyers and help them prepare for meetings, hearings and trials. In most cases, your job will involve handling a lot of paperwork and managing clients. Legal Assistant Requirements and Qualifications. Litigation Legal Assistant Skills and Qualifications. They know the ins and outs of litigation and law. Bachelor’s degree or paralegal certificate preferred; 1+ years of experience as a legal assistant or legal secretary; Familiarity with legal procedures and terminology; Proficient with Microsoft Office; Strong communication and organizational skills The paralegal, or legal assistant, is a legal associate assisting the attorney in some or most legal duties with the exception of providing legal advice to clients. A high school degree is required to become a legal assistant and most legal assistants have an associate's degree or a certificate in paralegal studies. Performing a variety of administrative tasks, litigation legal assistants pay careful attention to details and work proactively. Legal Assistant Resume Examples.