What Are the Benefits of Working as a Legal Assistant in Different Legal Settings?

If you’re considering a career as a Legal Assistant in Nevada, there are a lot of different places you could work. Legal Assistants can be employed in law offices, corporate offices, government buildings, or even for nonprofit groups. But with so many options, how do you know which is right for you?

Legal Assistants mainly support the attorneys in preparing documents, maintaining case files, and communicating with clients. However, job satisfaction, time spent in the workplace, and daily tasks vary depending on where the assistant is employed. 

Some jobs involve more teamwork, although a few provide the assistant worker more independence. Different places to work are discussed herein as a Legal Assistant. This will help you understand your choices and pick the best path for your future.

Let’s review the benefits of eventually working as a Legal Assistant in different legal settings and why this career is fruitful.

Private Law Firms: High-Paced Environment

One of the trend lines of their career is to work as a Legal Assistant in a private law firm. In general, private law firms take on all sorts of cases, from personal injury to family law to criminal defense, among many others. That guarantees an opportunity to be involved in different cases, which might also be exciting and challenging.

Advantages of working at a private law firm:

Variety of Cases

In a private law firm, you often encounter numerous cases involving all sorts of matters. Variety makes your day at work interesting and, therefore, allows you to develop many kinds of skills.

Learn from Seasoned Lawyers 

In private law firms, an experienced attorney can likely know something about the legal process. You will learn about legal research, document preparation, and case management while assisting in the work of skillful lawyers.

High-energy Work Environment

Most private law firms are typically buzzing with activity, with multiple cases moving simultaneously. If you are the type of individual who wishes to be at the center of such a fast-moving environment, this setting would be ideal for you.

Corporate Legal Departments: Stability and Structure

Corporate legal departments are found in larger businesses or companies. These departments handle issues such as contracts, intellectual property rights, labor laws, and others associated with the business’s operations. Working as a Legal Assistant in a corporate environment provides a stable, clearly structured, routine work environment.

Benefits of working in a corporate legal department:

• Predictable Work Schedules: While law firms occasionally have extended hours, corporate legal departments usually have more regular working hours. This will allow you to balance work and personal life better.

• Business Law setting: In a corporate environment, you will deal with legal issues related to business operations. If you want to learn about business law, including contracts, compliance, and corporate governance, this setting can be ideal for you.

• Potential Career Growth: Applying for a corporate legal department opens growth opportunities. As you progress with experience, your prospect of growing up the ladder in a company or exploring other areas of the corporate world increases.
  

Government Agencies: Serving the Public Good

Legal Assistants work at various levels of government agencies-local, state, and federal-on everything from criminal to immigration law, environmental law, and even regulatory issues. This option could be advantageous if you are passionate about serving the public and others.

Advantages of working in a governmental agency:

• Making a Difference: One of the most significant rewards of working in a government agency is knowing you serve the public. Whether you work on criminal justice reform, environmental protection, or social justice issues, you can make a difference in people’s lives.
• Job Security: Government jobs are considered stable; therefore, they come with good benefits, apart from tending to employ many for long-term employment. If one seeks job security, one can find that in working at a government agency.
• Career Path: Most government agencies have well-defined career ladders. The legal assistant could move up in the organization or later become a paralegal or legal analyst.
  

Nonprofit Organizations: Driving Social Change

Nonprofit organizations usually exist for specific causes, such as advocacy, assistance to indigent people, or the solution of various current social problems, such as human rights, public health concerns, or environmental protection. A legal assistant working in a nonprofit organization would prepare legal documents, communicate with clients, and assist attorneys with their work supporting causes for change.

Benefits of working in a nonprofit organization:

• Fulfilling work: Working in a nonprofit can often be deeply fulfilling, as the operations are usually about serving vulnerable or underserved communities. Therefore, if one wants to make a difference in the world, a nonprofit setting is where they should be.
• Legal work variety: Nonprofits have been concerned with various areas of law, such as civil rights, housing law, and family law. This can be great, as you can receive an overview of several legal fields within a supportive environment.
• Mission-driven work: Many nonprofit organizations are driven by a mission to improve the world. If you feel passionate about social justice or helping people in need, working for a nonprofit can align with your values.
  

Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice

Legal assistants work in police agencies, federal agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and correctional institutions. They assist lawyers by conducting legal research, preparing legal documents, and managing criminal law cases.

Benefits of working in either law enforcement or criminal justice:

Direct Impact on Justice

Working in law enforcement as a legal assistant can place a person directly in the criminal justice system. You can work with law enforcement professionals to help ensure proper justice is served.

Special Knowledge 

Working in criminal justice will help you acquire special knowledge concerning criminal law, investigation processes, and how the court works. This is a charming opportunity if you are interested in studying criminal law or public safety.

Working with Police Professionals

You will collaborate directly with police officers, detectives, and other law enforcement professionals, which could be enlightening and exciting.

Start Your Career Today at Northwest Career College

The legal assistant career has many opportunities to be involved in the legal environment and start an exciting career. Northwest Career College‘s Legal Assistant program students learn the concepts and methods necessary to seek employment in various legal settings. Our blended learning format offers online access to coursework and one day of physical attendance per week. You’ll graduate in as little as nine months, ready to make a difference in the legal field.

Enroll at Northwest Career College and start your successful journey as a Legal Assistant today!