Becoming a Lawyer: Journey from Legal Assistant to Attorney

The Role of a Legal Assistant Explained

Legal assistants perform a variety of important tasks that support the work of lawyers and law firms. Their main role is to provide assistance with various legal matters, from drafting documents to carrying out research. Sometimes known as legal aides or paralegals, legal assistants do much of the groundwork that allows lawyers to focus on their core responsibilities.
Daily tasks of a legal assistant include the following:
Completing these essential tasks allows lawyers to focus on the more complex needs of their clients, while also ensuring the proper handling of all necessary documents and processes involved in cases. The work of a legal assistant is extremely important and cannot be overlooked by law offices or clients. A legal assistant is often your first point of contact with a lawyer – and one even more important than your receptionist.
While legal assistants are essential to the communication between lawyers and clients, they are completely separate from lawyers and do not have the same toolkit of legal skills. They are under the supervision of lawyers and perform their duties according to the methods and guidelines set by the lawyer, rather than based on their own judgment . The things they can do for you are a limited set of tasks that must follow the guidance of a higher-up. Hiring a legal assistant is like hiring an accountant to do your bookkeeping: it is ultimately up to the professional you are working with to ensure that everything happens according to the plan.
Whereas a lawyer takes the lead in developing a strategy for each case, your legal assistant simply carries out the instructions provided by your lawyer. This is the place where there can be some gray area, as paralegals are often an effective resource for helping clients understand and manage the law any time they have a question. They can translate your concerns into terms and methods that work best for your lawyer and take the lead in commencing preparation for any actions that may need to occur, if instructed to by the lawyer.
One reason legal assistants are such a common starting point for law students is that they provide a chance to get a foothold in the field without committing right away to a specific area of specialization. Your legal assistant training can be applied to almost any area of law, allowing you to find which types of law you might be most interested in pursuing.

Academic Pathway: From Legal Assistant to Lawyer

To begin the process of becoming a lawyer, a prospective legal professional must be educated on various topics, such as the law, civil procedure, criminal justice, and legal practices. While it is possible to study these topics independently, a legal assistant will find that pursuing an undergraduate degree in relevant areas will leave you better prepared for law school—and many universities require applicants to have graduated from a four-year college before considering them for admission into their law school. Most prospective lawyers choose to major in social justice or other fields that relate to the law. For example, some may choose to study criminal justice. Others may specialize in paralegal studies, which can provide them with some knowledge about legal and administrative processes. English and political science are also good choices for aspiring lawyers.
After graduating from a four-year college or university, all prospective lawyers must attend law school in order to receive their law degree. Law school usually takes three years to complete for students who start when they’re 18. On average, it costs about $30,000 per year to attend law school for those who do not have financial aid.
Because getting into law school is so competitive, it’s important for students to maintain a solid GPA during their time in community college or university and score well on the LSAT (Law School Admission Test). One way legal assistants can get ahead of the curve is to take the LSAT before they even reach the community college level. By taking it while they are still in high school, they can give themselves ample time to prepare for their postsecondary education.
First-year law students typically spend a lot of time studying for exams and their first-year grades largely determine whether they will succeed in their first year or be expelled. The first-year traditionally involves a lot of learning, growing, and making connections for your future practice. Following first-year exams, law students enter the second year of law school. During this two-year period, students devote much of their time to building and honing their legal skills. They learn all about the law and develop an appreciation for the legal process through various proven methods. Finally, upon successfully completing law school, graduates take the bar exam to earn their license to practice. Many schools offer bar review courses to increase students’ chances of passing the bar exam.

The Road to Law School: Legal Assistant Experience

Many law schools recommend a minimum of two to four years experience working in some legal capacity before applying to law school. A great way to get that legal experience is to become a legal assistant. Working as a legal assistant not only gives prospective law students the experience they need, but provides them with valuable insight into the field on several levels. Legal assistants and paralegals understand the inner workings of the firm they work in. They gain knowledge about important tasks such as: Working behind the scenes, legal assistants often assist lawyers with brief writing, pleadings, and trial preparation. Even though their work doesn’t have the direct involvement with clients that lawyers have, legal assistants get to know their client’s cases in-depth. Becoming a legal assistant allows students to work closely with legal professionals and attorneys. From that experience, students gain insight into what it takes to be successful in the legal field, as well as the skill necessary to succeed in law school. Many legal assistants view the job as temporary until they begin law school. This is a misconception. Most legal assistants find that the job is rewarding in its own right and opt to complete other, unrelated pursuits because they enjoy the work. Completing a degree will help make them more marketable for better paying work once they complete law school. And while they may have larger ambitions in mind, legal assistants who continue to work while enrolled in law school generally find that their grades suffer less than their counterparts who do not work. Another benefit to being a legal assistant during law school is the pay, sometimes starting at as much as $18 an hour. While it may not be enough to live high on the hog, it is enough to help offset tuition costs, reducing the need to take out loans or repay them. Plus, with employers that offer tuition reimbursement plans, legal assistants can reduce the burden even further. Another perk of being a legal assistant is the flexible schedule many law firms offer. This makes working while in school much easier. The bottom line is that there are several advantages to working as a legal assistant before or during law school. Legal assistants will grow in experience and knowledge, making them more marketable upon graduation. Plus, they will also gain invaluable skills, many of which they will not learn in law school.

Tips for Transitioning from Legal Assistant to Lawyer

Take the LSAT
Before any thought of law school is entertained, you must sit for the LSAT. The Law School Admissions Test is offered twice per year — typically in June and February. The test takes only one day to complete and results are typically made available 21 days following the test. It is a requirement of all law schools that you sit for the LSAT as part of their applicant screening process. The LSAT (and your score) is your first impression to the board of law colleges and their selection committee.
The LSAT consists of three "multiple-choice" sections plus a written component and is administered over a 3.5 hour period. The three multiple-choice sections consist of your standard problem-solving logic, analytical reasoning, and reading comprehension. Exactly how they quantify your "writing sample" is a mystery. But it is a part of the test and should not be taken lightly. The LSAT is designed to test your critical thinking skills important to the study of law and is required by all law schools in the country.
Application Process
After you’ve taken the LSAT and have received your results, you will be ready to apply. While the process is similar to applying to any other college or university, the LSAT is the lynch pin to the entire process. So it is in your best interest to make the greatest effort at this stage of the process to get the highest score you can. This is not the time to "wing it" taking the LSAT.
After you receive your score, you should carefully consider the graduate schools to which you will be applying. All law schools maintain the right to accept or deny your application based on their "rules". There may be some flexibility, but generally you should look for law schools with doctoral degree programs that are relevant to your education and training thus far. Your chances of acceptance will be highest if you apply to schools whose programs include graduate work in areas of the law in which you have specialized as a legal assistant.
Choosing the right law school for you is not an easy task, but it is an important choice to make. Law schools themselves are employeed by law firms and other legal employers to get them the people they need. By the same token, law firms and other legal employers hire the exceptionally trained graduates of these law schools. You will want to look closely into the schools to which you are applying. You may discover that the schools which offer the most relevant about your area of interest and study are out of state or even out of country. Don’t limit yourself only to local law schools.
Application
After you’ve selected your school of choice (or choices), you will prepare your application packages and begin the application process. You will need certain key information for this fictitious package but you will not actually need to go through the complete application process until you determine your ideal law school for graduate work. We have included this sample package because it includes information you can use in your real law school applications.
In the package you will need to provide the following information:
You can use a similar form when applying for law school in which a legal secretary or legal assistant has special advantages over those who are not in similar occupations.

Common Roadblocks in Become a Lawyer

Achieving a successful career change is never easy, and the road from legal assistant to attorney is no exception. One of the biggest hurdles for many in the profession is finding the time to study while performing day-to-day tasks. Many legal assistants work long hours and sometimes spend their weekends and evenings at the office meeting deadlines and completing research, reviewing contracts or performing other tasks. In your role as a paralegal, you are likely used to these conditions. Studying for a degree requires a serious commitment of time and effort. You may struggle to balance your responsibilities at work and at home with studying. To ease the pressure and prevent burnout, consider the following: While many paralegal studies programs are taught on campus, there are others that feature online learning. This provides the flexibility necessary to accommodate a busy work schedule , since you can study from anywhere and at any time. However, online programs are not perfect for everyone. Some students prefer the accountability and direct supervision of being in a classroom. Take some time to review your options before deciding. While there are many benefits to being a paralegal, you should be careful not to allow them to become a hindrance. For example, you should begin to practice thinking and writing as an attorney, instead of an assistant. Otherwise, you’ll struggle make the change from one profession to the next. Similarly, you should allow yourself to learn from your mistakes. Many paralegals are heroes when it comes to writing complicated legal documents, and they can stop attorneys from looking like fools. However, this can also make legal assistants reluctant to take risks like they did as a student. While you should certainly strive for excellence, don’t expect to be perfect right away.

Successful Legal Assistants Turned Lawyers

Each journey from legal assistant to lawyer is unique, but for a bit of inspiration, let’s take a look at a few examples.
— Bill Rowland, Legal Assistant, 1975-1980; Law Clerk, 1980-1983; Federal Clerk, 1983-1984
Bill’s progression in the legal field was all about making sure he never lost sight of his goals during his transitions. After being legally secretary to some of the region’s best known attorneys, and then a law clerk, he applied to law school in order to become an attorney. "The best thing you can do is walk into the dean’s office at your local law school and tell them you want to go to school at night, work at your law firm during the day and go to law school at night."
— Campbell Black, Law Clerk, 1978-1984; Juris Doctor, 1984
Campbell Black calls 1983 and 1984 the "dark ages" because she would return home to New York City every weekend to study for the New Jersey bar exam, which was notoriously difficult to pass, especially when you look at the low passage rate for that year. "Those guys didn’t care that much if you passed the bar exam, and they didn’t care that much if you passed the CPA exam," Campbell explains. They were just happy to have her work long hours at the law firm, so she could devote more time to studying during the week. It was a stressful experience, but she made it through. "As I got closer to law school, my employers told me that if I wanted to apply to law school, they would love to continue to have me as a law clerk. So, that’s what I did. And then they gave me a job as a lawyer."
— Laura Rodriguez, Paralegal Coordinator, 1993-2002; Juris Doctor, 1998
Laura Rodriguez started with her firm as a paralegal coordinator in 1993, and became a lawyer in 1998. She went on to get a master’s degree and now teaches classes in her field as well. While working full-time, Laura was able to earn her JD and master’s degree at night. She also attributes her success to getting a jumpstart on her education by taking classes in high school. "I got student loans in my own name, and paid for law school in its entirety. And, when I finished law school, I had no debt," she says.

Tips and Tricks: Starting Your Journey as a Legal Assistant

For those who have the ambition and talent to become a lawyer, working as a legal assistant is a step that can help you on your journey.
Staying abreast of industry news is essential for those who are on the path from legal assistant to lawyer. Start Networking Early: Establish your network before you start pursuing a law degree. From an early age, spend time networking with people in the field. You should also look into internship opportunities while you’re working as a legal assistant so that you can gain experience with legal research and writing. Develop Great Relationships with Lawyers: Working as a paralegal or legal assistant allows you to get a sense of what being an attorney will actually be like. Make the most of your exposure and get to know the attorneys you work with. This can impact your law school experience, especially if you can get a letter of recommendation to improve your chances of getting into the school of your choice. Find a Mentor: Look for a mentor early on to guide you in the industry and in your legal education. Creating a relationship with a mentor will open up a wide range of possibilities for you in your legal career. Research Schools: Once you start applying to schools , it’s important to have a solid state of mind and a clear idea of your career goals. You should also research schools thoroughly to find the one that’s right for you. While you should look at the bar passage rate, the law school ranking, and what programs are offered, you should also look into the atmosphere and social scene at the school. Also consider where you want to be after law school, your career options, and where you want to retire. Work With an Attorney: Try to work with an attorney during your summer breaks and other times off throughout your law school career. This will allow you to learn even more about the industry and will be highly beneficial when you’re trying to get hired after graduation. The path to becoming a lawyer from legal assistant isn’t always easy, but the earlier you get started, the better off you’ll be.