What is the difference between a legal assistance and a paralegal?

[ji]

I work in a small personal injury/admiralty law firm for over 3 years. I have learned so much here! However, my salary has not increased.

The other legal assistant jobs out there are getting double of what I am getting now.

The attorney that we share spaces said that the position that I had is the same as a paralegal. I know how prepare a case to go to court, ie. complaints, interrogatories, notices, productions and other few documents. However, I do not know if this can be considered a paralegal since the attorney is the who actually modify whatever I do.

I really want a better job for the future. I have a kid, and I don't have any benefits here. Besides a speak fluent English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

[coinleain]

One took a few more classes at the local community college than the other...

[iden]

paralegal- go to school to become paralegal, hired by a complany.
legal assistance- someone hired directly

[colfre]

If you want a better job for the future, get OUT of the vocational field of Law. Law is a field that is imploding. There is no future here.

A legal assistant is usually an individual that aids an attorney and often used in a secretarial manner - they have usually achieved their position by experience.

A paralegal is an individual that (through education) performs substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer. Most paralegals have bachelor's degrees. I know of people who were hired as paralegals without much education or experience, but generally they had a connection to the hiring attorney (in a small office), or were hired in a much better economy than we have now.

There is a shift right now in the definitions. Paralegals are trying to distinguish themselves from legal assistants. A lot of attorneys use their legal assistants as secretaries and a lot of paralegals are trying to move away from the secretarial work and more toward the legal aspect. You will find many legal assistants that are really paralegals and paralegals that are really legal assistants. It is all subjective.

The legal industry in general is pretty tight right now. Friends of mine who work in law firms are reporting cuts in staffing, downsizing, bonuses, etc. If you want a better job, with a future, go into HEALTHCARE. (Even with your background.)

Good luck.