Legal Assistantship as a Career
The University of Oklahoma Department of Legal Assistant Education prepares professionals for employment in law-related occupations. Graduates of this program are employed in both public and private sectors, providing a variety of legal services to corporations, government agencies, and law firms.
The legal assistant, or paralegal, is trained to work under the general supervision of a lawyer, performing tasks which traditionally have been performed by lawyers. The responsibilities of the legal assistant are professional and distinct from routine clerical duties. In the performance of these various tasks, the legal assistant, lawyer, and clerical staff provide increased efficiency in the delivery of legal services to the client. The legal assistant may interview clients, research legal issues, prepare documents, and assist in litigation, allowing the supervising lawyer to provide quality representation at lower cost to the client.
Legal Assistants cannot give legal advice, accept cases, set legal fees, represent clients in court, or perform any legal service without the supervision of a licensed lawyer.