Job profile
Legal assistant (m/f/d)

Legal assistant: wide range of tasks in everyday legal office life

Legal assistants have a real talent when it comes to organisation: They carry out administrative tasks and coordinate the processes in law firms or companies. The everyday legal office tasks of a legal assistant include coordinating appointments, not only appointments with clients, but also court dates, for example. Keeping track of deadlines, creating files as well as bookkeeping are also part of the tasks of legal assistants. The legal assistant is also the first contact for clients or courts, and functions as a lawyer's second in command. This provides the opportunity to specialise your skills in one area of law.

Legal assistant - Opportunities on the job market

The wide variety of tasks of legal assistants opens up numerous opportunities on the job market, and therefore provides excellent career prospects. The areas of activity include law firms, banks, insurance companies, the dunning departments of department store chains, auditing companies or debt collection agencies. The prospects of getting a well-paid job increase with the different training opportunities which are available. As a legal assistant, you will increase your chances of a career by developing your capabilities and competencies by gaining additional knowledge as a notary clerk. For example, you can qualify for a position as an assistant tax consultant, office administrator or business administrator with a main focus on law by taking a degree course or going to evening classes. Any further training brings a wide range of options for legal work in a company with it, which will make your everyday work even more varied. When you are looking for a new job, be sure to include your acquired qualifications in your CV.

Which hard skills and soft skills are important for legal assistants?

A legal assistant has a lot of responsibility for ensuring that bosses and clients can assert their rights. An excellent writing style and a good structure play an important role for potential employers during the selection process, even in the written application for an apprenticeship. Qualified legal assistants should also highlight their professional qualifications as well as their social skills during their career when they are looking for a suitable job.

In addition to hard skills such as specialist knowledge of the most important legal regulations, requests to courts and authorities, accounting, national and international law and IT applications, a wide range of soft skills is required for the legal assistant profession:

• Organisation talent
• A precise way of working
• Resilience
• Reliability
• Good communication skills
• Discretion
• Flexibility
• Friendly manner
• Empathy

What training does a legal assistant require?

Training as a legal assistant is regulated by ordinance (ReNoPat-training regulation - ReNoPatAusbBV).  This dual vocational training lasts 3 years. The requirement for this training occupation is the completion of secondary school. In most cases, law firms, a bar association or a legal department of a company serve as training partners (for the practical part). 

The trainee should have analytical skills, self-organisation and diligence.  The training salary starts at about 700 euros and rises to about 1000 euros. 

Legal assistant salary: How much do you earn in this profession?

Legal assistants earn an average gross monthly salary of EUR 2,350. The salary increases as they gain experience. The income also varies depending on the federal state, the size of the company and the field of activity. The tendency is for legal assistant salaries to be higher in large insurance companies and banks than in a small law firm. The assistant’s salary and qualifications can be further increased by taking part in further training. Find out more about the specialist area of lawyers and the job opportunities and potential. We can find you jobs all over Germany: from the far north to Frankfurt, Berlin and Nuremberg.

What are the employment opportunities for legal assistants?

As a legal assistant, you are an important part of a law firm or company. Hays offers you the option of a wide range of contract models. You can choose between permanent employment, temporary employment or our workforce management service. We will check together which type of contract suits you best.