What is the difference between a legal assistant and a paralegal?
Asked by Fatdude427
Please explain.

Best Answer:
A paralegal is a non lawyer who performs routine tasks requiring some knowledge of the law and procedures, employed by a law office or who works free-lance as an independent for various lawyers. Usually paralegals have taken prescribed series of courses in law and legal processes, which is much less demanding than those required for a licensed attorney. Paralegals are increasingly popular, often handling much of the paper work in probates of estates, divorce actions, bankruptcies, investigations, analyzing depositions preparing and answering interrogations, procedural motions and other specialized jobs. In addition, they handle more legal fields than mentioned above. Clients should be sure that the hourly rate charged for paralegals is much less than for attorneys. A paralegal usually must have a bachelors degree in law. Dependent on the state's laws paralegals are qualified to represent clients in court as well as provide legal advice. Legal assistants help attorneys deliver legal services. Although they assist attorney in technical areas of the law they are prohibited from practicing law without a license. Legal assistants cannot represent a client or give legal advice. All work must be done under the supervision of an attorney, who is subject to disciplinary procedures for ethical violations committed by the legal assistant. Hope this answers your question. Best wishes.
12+ year specializing in HR and a Paralegal
Answered by guardianangel

As defined by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations,(NFPA) a paralegal/legal assistant is a person qualified through education, training or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer. This person may be retained or employed by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency or other entity or may be authorized by administrative, statutory or court authority to perform this work.
Answered by Sherry C

The lines are getting blurier every day. Generally a Paralegal has a degree. A Legal Assistant is usually someone who has gotton to their position by work experience, sometimes combined with SOME formal classwork. WARNING: DON'T go into the field of Law. These jobs are drying up!!! (Mostly due to: the bad economy, thanks to the web everyone thinks they can be their own attorney) Go into the field of healthcare <there are LOTS of jobs there!!!
Answered by mailaccount63