Agricultural Legal Assistant
Overview
Agricultural legal assistants cannot give legal advice or represent individuals in court, but they play an important role in providing support for supervising lawyers.
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What responsibilities will I have?
- Draft contracts and other legal documents to submit to a lawyer for review so that the lawyer can verify that the requirements of the client and the law are met
- Perform legal research that will help support arguments in the court setting or in legal briefs
- Travel to farms or job sites in order to take photo documentation or conduct interviews if needed
- Assist in real estate closings, contract writing, filing articles of incorporation and partnership agreements
- Meticulously edit documents
- Provide customer service to clients
- Conduct preliminary interviews of clients and/or witnesses
- Take courses to expand knowledge and capabilities
- File and manage electronic contracts
- Draft correspondence to outside counsels and third parties
- Contact clients to discuss areas of concern and solve problems
- Assist in budgeting and invoice management
- Provide assistance in meeting planning and booking travel
What education and training is required?
Becoming an agricultural legal assistant requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field or a paralegal associate’s degree.
To pursue a career as an agriculture legal assistant:
The following high school courses are recommended: agricultural education, English, and computer courses.
Where can I work?
Agricultural legal assistants may work with an independent lawyer or may be hired by an organization or company.
Future Job Market / Outlook
The future outlook for an agricultural legal assistant will be good over the next five years.
Suggested Professional Organizations and Associations
- National Federation of Paralegal Associations
- State/Local Paralegal Associations (ex. Atlanta Paralegal Association)
- The Association of Legal Assistants and Paralegals