Attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants work in the same profession. However, their duties and responsibilities are substantially different.

A legal assistant may be assigned administrative duties and legal tasks. Generally, legal assistants perform more secretarial work. Hence, they may also be called administrative assistants or legal secretaries. Most often, legal secretaries schedule consultations, send invoices, collect and print evidence for attorney review, and send client documents that have been reviewed by an attorney. Legal secretaries cannot provide legal advice.

A paralegal is an unlicensed employee who supports a Supervising Attorney. A paralegal’s work must be overseen by an attorney. A paralegal cannot establish the relationship with the client nor set fees to be charged. A paralegal may not split legal fees with an Attorney. A paralegal may be qualified through education and/or training. A paralegal may have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Daily tasks of a paralegal may include collecting facts for client intake, completing forms for review, conducting research, and administrative tasks. Paralegals can provide legal services but cannot offer legal advice.

An attorney is a licensed and practicing legal professional who has studied the law. Most attorneys spend seven years in school, resulting in a bachelor’s degree and a juris doctor. Thereafter, attorneys must pass a state bar examination and be sworn into practice in order to practice law. Attorneys must also complete continuing legal education courses throughout their careers. Attorneys may provide legal advice to clients. The term attorney and lawyer are often used interchangeably.