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Legal Assistant

ANZSCO 599112

A Legal Assistant collaborates with legal professionals, preparing documents, assisting clients, conducting research, and managing administrative tasks.

  • This role has a low level of AI exposure. Core skills such as adaptability, social intelligence, and complex physical tasks remain beyond the capabilities of current AI.
      • NSW
      • WA
  • 10,000 people employed in Australia
AI exposure data adapted from Felten, Raj & Seamans (2021). Shortage data sourced from Jobs and Skills Australia (2024).

How do I become a legal assistant

Get qualified to work as a legal assistant with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.

Related career opportunities

Browse occupations related to Legal Assistant.

Common questions

In Australia, a full time Legal Assistant generally earns $1,400 per week ($72,800 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.

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While there are 9,100 people in the legal administrative industry in Australia, only a small percentage of these are hired as Legal Assistants. The number of people in this industry has decreased slightly in recent years. Legal Assistants can find work in all regions of Australia.

Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights

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If you’d like to become a Legal Assistant you could enrol in a Diploma of Legal Services. A Certificate IV in Legal Services or a Certificate III in Business Administration (Legal) would also be suitable qualifications.

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Related fields of study

Law and Legal Services

Law and legal services courses are the ideal pathway for students who want to move into the industry or enhance their professional knowledge base. Start today!

All Law and Legal Services

Paralegal

Make a significant impact in law as a paralegal, developing skills in research, documentation, and various legal fields. Pathways for domestic and international students.

Career opportunities

Legal Services

Gain the skill to make a meaningful impact in the legal sector, specialising in roles such as paralegals, court administration, and law firm support.

Career opportunities

Further reading

How to start a career as a Paralegal

20th July 2021

How to start a career as a Legal Secretary

19th April 2021

How to start a career in Legal Services

17th June 2021

All legal assistant courses

Legal Assistant careers

A Legal Assistant works with other legal professionals in a court or lawyer’s office. Your daily activities will be varied but could involve helping to prepare legal documents, assisting clients to get ready for a court appearance or gathering information needed for a legal case. You might have to do some research to help with an upcoming trial and will need a strong knowledge of the legal system. Legal Assistants will also have to perform some administrative tasks during their day.

Legal Assistants need to be thorough and have good attention to detail. It’s important that you can follow instructions and work well as part of larger team. You’ll need good people skills and you’ll have to be a good communicator. Legal Assistants will usually be working with many clients at any one time so you’ll need to have good time management skills and be able to multi-task.