Herzing Blog

Cheryl Michaud’s original plan was to become a teacher. But when she was partway through her education degree, a change in her personal circumstances made her realize she needed to get job-ready more quickly. So she enrolled in the legal assistant program at Herzing College.

That was back in 2004. Since then, she has supported lawyers in both small and midsize firms, worked as an executive assistant to a couple of chartered accountants, assisted a group of provincial court judges, and played a key role in the legal services department of city government.

Along the way, she kind of fell into office management, developing systems and processes to keep operations running smoothly. That eventually led her to management positions supervising other legal assistants. Today, as part of her position she’s in charge of hiring and training assistants for a firm that offers legal support in more than 20 different areas of law.

We interviewed Cheryl recently to learn more about her career journey and what advice she has for people considering this line of work. Read on for the highlights.

Updated January 2024

Legal assistants are highly skilled administrators who are an important part of the legal team.

In addition to maintaining files and scheduling appointments, they help prepare legal documents like statements of claim, petitions for divorce, wills, and transfers of land and mortgages. They may also assist a lawyer with case research.

In other words, they keep legal offices running smoothly. But it seems there aren’t enough of them to go around.

Considering a career in this field? Below, we explore the factors behind the growing demand for legal assistants and explain what you need to know about training, skills, earnings, and career opportunities.

Updated January 2024

If you’re leaning toward a legal career but aren’t interested in spending years in university and law school, a legal assistant role could be ideal.

Legal assistants provide indispensable support within law firms and legal departments. They take care of a wide range of tasks that keep the office running smoothly, from maintaining client files and scheduling meetings to conducting research and preparing legal documents.

So what does it take to launch a career in this field? How do you become a legal assistant in Canada?

Keep reading to learn about five simple steps that can help you get started.

Updated January 2024

Eager to work in the legal field without spending years in university? A legal assistant career may be the ideal alternative.

Legal assistants provide the kind of essential support every lawyer needs. They handle a wide range of tasks, from conducting research and preparing documents to scheduling meetings and communicating with clients.

But like any job, working as a legal assistant has both advantages and drawbacks. So you should see the whole picture before making any decisions.

In this post, we describe the major pros and cons of a legal assistant career. Find out what to expect in this role and see if it makes sense for you.

Updated January 2024

If you’re interested in law, good with people, detail-oriented and organized, legal assistant could be an ideal career path.

It’s an excellent time to become a legal assistant. Steady employment growth and waves of retirements are creating jobs in this field in every province. 

You don’t need a university degree, and college legal assistant programs are relatively quick. 

So, how do you get started? What’s involved in becoming a legal assistant?  And most importantly, how do you know if this career is right for you? 

Updated January 2024

Consider this your road map to becoming a legal assistant. We put this checklist together for anyone who is considering this career, and wants a clear picture of what to expect, right from day one. 

Find out what legal assistants do, where they work, how much money they make, and what training you need to enter this field. See the exact skills you’ll learn in class, what natural characteristics you’ll need to succeed, and the most common pros and cons of life in a legal office. 

Updated January 2024

Legal assistant training is an incredibly popular diploma program. There's no doubt that the rise of courtroom dramas (like Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder, and The Good Wife) play a huge part in this trend.

Updated January 2024

What draws students to legal assistant training instead of say, a business administration program? Why choose this career over other positions that also focus on office management?

Updated January 2024

College-level training is the fastest, most effective way to secure entry-level legal assistant positions at law firms, corporate legal departments, government offices, municipal, provincial, federal courts, and more.

And there is no shortage of legal diploma programs available to students who want to capitalize on available job opportunities. But which attributes should they look for when comparing schools? What key markers of quality are most important to consider when choosing a legal assistant program?

While narrowing down the options, students should be careful to notice—and ask about—these five indicators of a reliable legal assistant program.