Legal assistants work under the supervision of licensed attorneys.
Most legal assistants work in professional law offices, although some work in other law-related settings, such as real estate, insurance, corporate legal departments, or in certain government offices. With the increasing number and complexity of today's laws, Americans are in need of legal services more than ever. More and more, legal assistants are helping their supervising attorneys provide the vital link between American citizens and their laws. By assisting their supervising attorneys with a variety of tasks, legal assistants allow attorneys to provide legal services more efficiently and cost-effectively to their clients. However, legal assisting is now recognized as an entirely separate career choice with increased responsibilities and compensation.