Legal assistants, or paralegals, first arose in the late 1960s. Since then, they have taken on much of the regular work that lawyers used to do themselves. Except for appearing in court, setting legal fees, and providing legal advice, paralegals do practically everything that attorneys do. Many spend their time searching for information in law libraries or on-line computer systems in order to prepare for trial. Contracts, affidavits, and other papers may also be prepared by paralegals. 

They may prepare reports to assist an attorney in determining how to proceed in a given situation after researching the facts and interpreting the law. Some employers give on-the-job training, so formal training is not usually required; however, a wide range of paralegal programmes are readily available. Individuals who pass the National Association of Legal Assistants Certifying Board Exam obtain the designation "certified legal assistant" and the initials CLA after their names. 

Working as a paralegal is a fantastic method to prepare for a career as a lawyer, but many people find it fulfilling in and of itself. In an increasingly competitive market, paralegals assist law firms in providing outstanding legal services to clients at a cheaper cost. As a result, a good paralegal is a vital member of a firm's legal team.