Legal Careers FAQ: Paralegals, Legal Assistants and Law Clerks
Lawyers advise clients. Paralegals, legal assistants, and law clerks support legal work in different ways. Because job titles overlap, these answers focus on what each role does and who it works for.
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Paralegals
What does a paralegal do?
A paralegal does legal work that a lawyer assigns and supervises. That usually means drafting documents, organizing case files, and preparing for hearings or closings. The lawyer stays responsible for the result, and the paralegal can't give legal advice.
Common assignments include:
- Drafting pleadings, discovery, and contracts for a lawyer to review.
- Summarizing records, depositions, and research.
- Writing and signing routine letters, as long as they show the paralegal title and give no legal advice.
- Tracking deadlines, filings, and documents in each matter.
In a firm, paralegal time on substantive work is often billed to the client, at a lower rate than a lawyer's. More detail on the day-to-day work is in what a paralegal does in a law firm.
Can paralegals give legal advice?
No. Paralegals can't give legal advice or do any task reserved for licensed lawyers. They can gather facts, draft documents, and pass along a lawyer's advice. The advice itself has to come from the lawyer.
According to NALA, a paralegal can:
- Interview clients and witnesses, under a lawyer's supervision.
- Draft documents for a lawyer to review.
- Write and sign routine letters that show the paralegal title and give no legal opinion.
The day-to-day picture is in what a paralegal does in a law firm.
What is a Certified Paralegal?
A Certified Paralegal, or CP, is someone who has earned NALA's professional credential. NALA has run the program for over 50 years. It's a credential from a professional association, not a license to practice law.
A school certificate is a different thing. It shows you finished a training program, while certification means you passed a credentialing exam. How to become a legal assistant covers how both fit into a job search.
Legal Assistants
What is the difference between a legal assistant and a paralegal?
It depends on the employer. Some firms use "legal assistant" for administrative support and "paralegal" for substantive legal work. Others use both titles for the same job. So read the duties before you compare pay or plan a career move.
These clues in a job posting tell you which kind of role it really is:
| If the posting mentions... | It leans toward... |
|---|---|
| Drafting, research, or document review | Paralegal-style legal work |
| Calendars, calls, and correspondence | Administrative support |
| Billable hours or a billing target | Substantive work the firm charges for |
| A paralegal certificate or degree | A paralegal role, whatever the title says |
The full breakdown, including training and supervision, is in legal assistant and paralegal roles compared.
What is a legal assistant?
A legal assistant supports lawyers and legal teams with the work that keeps matters moving. At one firm that means calendars, client calls, and filing. At another it includes drafting and document prep. Because employers define the title differently, the job description tells you far more than the title does.
If you're thinking about the role, start with how to become a legal assistant.
Are paralegals and legal assistants the same occupation?
In federal job data, yes. O*NET, the U.S. Labor Department's occupation database, lists "Paralegals and Legal Assistants" as one occupation, code 23-2011. It describes the work as assisting lawyers by investigating facts, preparing documents, or researching precedent.
Employers can still use the two titles for different jobs. The legal assistant and paralegal comparison shows how to tell them apart in a posting.
Source: O*NET OnLine, 23-2011.00 Paralegals and Legal Assistants (opens in a new tab)
How do you become a legal assistant?
Start with the jobs, not a course. Look at legal assistant postings where you want to work and note what they ask for. Requirements differ by employer, so no single path covers every role.
A practical order of steps:
- Collect five to ten real postings in your area.
- List the education and skills they share.
- Fill the gaps with training that matches those postings.
- Apply with examples that show the skills each posting asks for.
The full plan is in how to become a legal assistant.
Lawyers and Law Clerks
What is the difference between a lawyer and an attorney?
In everyday US use, there's very little difference. Cornell's legal dictionary says a lawyer is also called an attorney or attorney-at-law. The bigger question is whether the person is licensed to practice where you need help.
More on titles and licensing is in lawyer vs attorney in the United States.
What is a law clerk?
A law clerk does legal research and writing for a judge or a legal office. In most judges' chambers, clerks concentrate on research and writing. Court staff who manage records are a different job, even when the title includes "clerk."
Federal judicial clerks often handle tasks like these:
- Legal research and bench memos.
- Drafting orders and opinions.
- Checking citations and proofreading the judge's work.
- Helping the judge during courtroom proceedings.
See how the role varies in what is a law clerk.
Source: OSCAR, Duties of Federal Law Clerks (opens in a new tab)
How do paralegals, legal assistants, law clerks, and lawyers compare?
Ask two things: who does the person work for, and can they give legal advice? Only a licensed lawyer can advise clients. The other roles support legal work in different ways.
| Role | Typical work | Gives legal advice? |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | Advises and represents clients | Yes, where licensed |
| Paralegal | Drafting, research, and case prep under a lawyer | No |
| Legal assistant | Ranges from admin support to paralegal-style work | No |
| Judicial law clerk | Research, memos, and draft opinions for a judge | No, works for the court |
For practice areas once you're licensed, browse types of lawyers and their practice areas.
Source: NALA, What Do Paralegals Do? (opens in a new tab); OSCAR, Duties of Federal Law Clerks (opens in a new tab)
Career Guides
Each answer links to a longer guide. If you're comparing roles or planning a move, start with these:
- What a paralegal does in a law firm: daily tasks, supervision, and billing.
- Legal assistant and paralegal roles compared: how employers use each title.
- How to become a legal assistant: a step-by-step job search plan.
- Paralegal salary by state and employer: pay data and how to read it.
- What is a law clerk: judicial and law office clerkships.
More topics are on the main Legal FAQ page.
About These Answers
Every answer opens with the direct response, then adds a list, a table, or steps. Sources sit under the claim they support, and we checked each one against the live page.
Job titles and rules vary by employer and state. These answers explain how the roles generally work. They aren't career or legal advice for your situation. Written and reviewed by Darlene Aberin. Last reviewed November 1, 2026. Spot an error? Let us know and we'll fix it.