Legal Assistant Market in Omaha
The legal assistant job market in Omaha, Nebraska is a promising one. As of 2022, the demand for legal assistants in the Omaha-Crete, NE-IA Metropolitan Area stands at approximately 1,600 positions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates. This specific area encompasses not only Omaha but also the nearby communities of Bellevue, Papillion, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, providing a broad range of opportunities for those seeking employment within the profession.
Omaha NE employs about 1 per 1,000 workers as legal assistants, which falls in line with national occupational employment levels. Overall, the number of jobs for paralegals and legal assistants in the state of Nebraska is expected to grow by about 2.6% over the next five years. While it may not be the fastest growing profession in the state , there are ample opportunities for those willing to take the plunge.
The compensation offered to paralegals and legal assistants in the Omaha-Crete, NE-IA area is competitive, with an average salary of $59,458 per year. This salary may vary, however, depending on experience, areas of practice, and the type of law firm or company employing the legal assistant. In general, the salaries for legal assistants in Omaha are consistent with the national average for the profession.
For many, the decision to pursue a career as a paralegal or legal assistant stems from an interest in law, justice, or advocacy. As the U.S. population continues to grow and evolve, so will the need for experienced legal professionals who can help navigate the complexities of law and society. Omaha, Nebraska offers a varied job market for those looking to join the ranks of legal assistants, making it an enticing option for those interested in the legal field.
Responsibilities of a Legal Assistant
The typical job duties of a legal assistant in Omaha include:
Researching and Preparing Documents
A legal assistant frequently spends a lot of time researching, preparing and filing documents. They draft pleadings, check citations, file documents and proofread transcripts. They also might be required to draft correspondence on behalf of attorneys, communicate with clients and witnesses and schedule meetings and interviews. During the course of all this work, legal assistants keep case files organized.
Coordinating Schedules
Legal assistants juggle real-time schedules to get people at the right place at the right time. They coordinate meetings between clients and attorneys, and they schedule depositions, court hearings and trials. If attorneys have to travel, the assistant makes the necessary arrangements.
Filing Pleadings
The legal assistant may physically draft all pleadings and serve them to the opposing side, or they might do it all electronically. They often spend a lot of time focusing on case management and looking for the most effective ways to create and manage files. It’s common for a legal assistant to become a crucial focal point for clerical work in a firm. In addition to assisting with document preparation and filing, legal assistants spend time doing legal research, drafting memoranda, reviewing files and conducting computer database research.
Billing
Legal assistants for both plaintiff and defense law firms do everything from tracking and computing billable hours to preparing bills and collecting payment from clients. Often, they’re responsible for making sure that the firm is compensated for its work.
Courtroom Assistance
On the rare occasion that a case goes to trial, legal assistants go to court as well, where they might be found taking notes or dictating a transcript. For smaller cases, with less courtroom work, legal assistants do a lot of research and writing on their own time, starting much earlier in the case.
Requirements and Skills
Qualifications and skills vary among positions, but a legal assistant will generally hold at least an associate’s degree in legal studies, paralegal studies, or a related field. Such programs are available at local schools like Bellevue University and the University of Phoenix. Courses commonly found in legal assistant programs include research and writing, contract law, family and probate law, legal terminology, civil and criminal law, and professional ethics. Offered at a number of local institutions, the Master’s Degree in Legal Studies is also available for those looking to get into the field or advance their position.
Specific certification may be granted by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), which offers the certification exam for Paralegal and Advanced Paralegal, as well as the Certified Legal Assistant and Certified Legal Professional credentials. An associate’s degree from an American Bar Association-approved program, combined with satisfactory work experience, is one of the requirements for taking the exam for certification. Similar programs and training options are offered online for those with busy schedules.
Leading Law Firms in Omaha for Employment
Several law firms in Omaha actively recruit legal assistants through online job postings. These leading firms typically process all applications online via a ‘careers’ portal with an online application form. It is rare that a law firm will require you to send a resume via email or to their physical office location. The applicant will first be required to register an account with their HR website to complete an application form online. The vast majority of the time, the recruitment staff will not follow up with you after the resumes are sent and you will have to check back frequently with your online application profile to learn if you have been selected for an in-person interview.
The pay for an entry-level legal assistant job at a large law firm in Omaha is around $28,000/year for general legal practice, with medical and dental benefits. Currently, Anderson, Creager & Wittstruck, Omaha’s largest law firm, does not appear to have any jobs open, but you can always check back on their website. Three other them large law firms in Omaha are Baird Holm, Koley Jessen and Kutak Rock. These three firms are all on par with Anderson, Creager & Wittstruck in terms of size and clientele. Another firm to check out would be Rembolt Ludtke, a mid-size law firm.
Compensation Overview for Legal Assistants
Omaha legal assistants earn on average an annual salary of $50,230, or a mean $24.15 an hour. Compared to the average expected pay for a Nebraska legal assistant ($57,280 per year), those in Omaha can expect to earn something just shy of the state mean. On the whole, this area of legal administration is compensated well for the cost of living. According to PayScale, the typical legal assistant salary in Omaha is considered to be around 2% lower than the state mean.
Factors that have a direct impact on a legal assistant’s salary range from job market demand, years of experience, level of education, and type of practice area in which a legal assistant works . For example, those specializing in real estate can expect to make upwards of $48,000 a year at the low end of the pay scale. In a commercial law environment, a legal assistant salary can be as high as $100,000.
Employers also provide bonuses, ranging from zero to $2,500 annually. Certain organizations in the Omaha area offer a benefits package that include paid time off for vacation and sick leave, paid health care, a retirement plan, and flexible work schedules. Although there are some employers who offer however many holidays legally required by the state (Nebraska has 10 mandated holidays), others offer industry-standard holidays as well as paid time off for bereavement matters.
Professional Development Opportunities
Career advancement is a key consideration for many legal assistants in Omaha, NE. For those with ambition, furthering their education through additional training or courses is often a major key to career growth potential. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists the career path of moving up to the role of paralegal as one of the most common opportunities for advancement in this field. The difference between these two roles is precisely the level of training received, which is imperative for paralegals who interpret and draft legal documents.
This means that at some point in the career of a legal assistant, it may be beneficial to return to school or pursue other education opportunities to boost your qualifications and get a license as a paralegal. This in turn may lead to increased salary. However, there are also many other ways to advance in this field, from moving up the ranks within a current firm or office to pursuing one of many other career opportunities.
Some legal assistant positions evolve into those of a private investigator, title examiner, or litigation specialist. Professionals in these roles tend to be more closely involved with the workings of the case than a typical legal assistant. A legal assistant also makes an effective legal secretary, which is a job somewhere in the middle in terms of level of involvement with any given case.
Of course, these roles also typically require additional training and education on top of the baseline requirements for a legal assistant, but they can also be an excellent route for those looking to progress down the legal assistant paralegal career path.
Application Procedures for Legal Assistant Opportunities
How to Apply for Legal Assistant Jobs in Omaha, NE
Applying for legal assistant jobs in Omaha typically requires submitting a resume and cover letter through a law firm’s website or job posting. Most firms include step-by-step instructions on where to send your application materials or an online portal for submitting them.
Law firms in Omaha may prefer an applicant with certain skills or qualifications and may provide a list of these requirements in the job listing. Common requirements for legal assistants include the ability to perform legal research, excellent written communication, the ability to draft legal documents, and familiarity with the rules of civil procedure and courtroom procedures. The work of a legal assistant may also require attending meetings or trial, so the ability to travel may also be a requirement.
A legal assistant must be knowledgeable about the law and proceed with a high degree of ethical responsibility , as they may be exposed to confidential or protected information during their work. Because of the sensitive nature of the position, employers may request a criminal background check before they consider you for employment. Many legal assistants are required to keep client information confidential, so if you have questions about potential legal culpability arising from prior criminal charges, it is best to consult with a personal injury lawyer before continuing the application process.
When completing your application materials, be sure to emphasize your skills that are most relevant to the work you will be performing as a legal assistant. For example, if you are applying for a position with a firm that represents clients in litigation matters, it may be helpful to highlight your experience taking trial notes, organizing billing files, or filing documents with the court. If you lack certain skills or requirements, it may be possible to explain your willingness and ability to learn these skills during the interview process.