What does a legal assistant do?
A legal assistant performs delegated substantive legal tasks under attorney supervision to support case preparation and office operations. This role investigates facts, researches applicable laws, and organizes complex document sets for active matters. You draft routine legal materials and manage the administrative flow of information between clients, courts, and counsel.
- Conduct legal research using platforms like Westlaw or Lexis to find statutes, regulations, and articles relevant to a specific case. Compile these findings into clear summaries with proper citations for attorney review and strategy development.
- Draft correspondence such as confirmation letters and prepare initial versions of legal documents including contracts and affidavits. Ensure all drafts follow firm formatting standards before submitting them for final approval and signature.
- Gather, organize, and maintain physical and digital case files to keep evidence and records accessible. Manage exhibit lists, track trial transcripts, and coordinate scheduling for depositions, meetings, and court appearances.
How to hire a legal assistant on Upwork
Step 1: Post a job
Define the specific legal support tasks you need completed. Use the Job Post Generator powered by Uma™, Upwork's Mindful AI to draft your listing. Describe your needs in a few sentences and Uma drafts a job post for the role. You can write a new post, update a saved draft, or reuse an existing post.
- Specify whether the freelancer must conduct legal research using platforms like Westlaw or Lexis, or if they will focus on organizing case files and evidence.
- List required deliverables such as drafted confirmation letters, contract reviews, or prepared exhibits for upcoming proceedings.
- Clarify if the role involves substantive legal tasks under attorney supervision or general administrative support like scheduling depositions.
Step 2: Evaluate candidates
Review portfolios for examples of organized case materials and clear legal writing. Uma can run instant video interviews and build shortlists with side-by-side comparisons to help you assess fit quickly.
- Look for work samples that demonstrate accurate citation formatting and concise research summaries for attorney review.
- Check for experience with e-discovery tools like RelativityOne or document management systems relevant to your practice area.
- Verify their ability to maintain strict confidentiality while handling sensitive client data and court filings.
Step 3: Interview your top choices
Discuss their approach to fact-gathering and document organization. Interviews can be scheduled and conducted within Upwork Messages with an immediate transcript and summary after each one.
- Ask how they verify the accuracy of legal articles and regulations before submitting research findings to you.
- Request examples of how they manage deadlines for multiple cases simultaneously without missing filing dates.
- Confirm their proficiency with Microsoft Office for drafting contracts and formatting complex legal documents.
Step 4: Agree on scope and begin work
Set clear milestones for research outputs or document drafts. Use Upwork Messages and the contract workroom for communication and project management, plus identity verification, payment protection, hourly tracking, and project funds for security.
- Define the volume of case files to organize or the number of research memos to generate per week.
- Establish protocols for sharing sensitive exhibits and trial transcripts securely within the platform.
- Agree on a review process for drafted correspondence to ensure it meets your firm’s standards before submission.
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The rates and information provided in this article are based on current data and industry sources available at the time of publication. Freelance rates can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, project scope, and market conditions. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research to confirm current rates and trends, as this information may change over time.