What are today’s law firms really looking for?
The legal support space has evolved rapidly in recent years. Law firms are no longer hiring Legal Assistants solely for clerical tasks. They are investing in adaptable, client-facing professionals who can contribute to practice performance, culture, and operational continuity.
Whether you are aiming to become a Legal Assistant, seeking a promotion, or hiring into a legal support role, this guide outlines the key expectations driving recruitment in 2025.
Legal Assistant Duties: What the Role Involves
Across corporate, mid-tier, and boutique firms, Legal Assistants are expected to manage high volumes of tasks with accuracy and confidence. Their contribution sits at the core of legal team performance.
Some Key Legal Assistant Duties and Responsibilities:
- Drafting, formatting and proofreading legal correspondence and court documents
- Diary and deadline management across multiple fee earners
- Liaising with courts, registries, clients and opposing counsel
- Preparing briefs and discovery materials
- Supporting billing, matter opening, and compliance procedures
- Handling confidential and often commercially sensitive information
These Legal Assistant tasks require a strong grasp of legal terminology, firm systems, and daily workflow. Law firms increasingly see Legal Assistants as brand representatives and workflow anchors. According to MJD’s 2025 Market Insight Report, firms want assistants who can “own their corner of the practice” with professional maturity and accountability.
Legal Assistant Job Requirements: What Firms Now Consider Essential
Hiring managers are sharpening their expectations. Rather than relying on a “legal admin all-rounder” label, firms are defining job scopes more clearly and hiring against specific functional and cultural needs.
Typical Legal Assistant Job Requirements:
- 1 to 3+ years in a legal support position
- Solid experience with legal systems (Affinity, LEAP, Aderant, etc.)
- High attention to detail and typing speed (60+ wpm preferred)
- Familiarity with legal terminology and court protocols
- Experience supporting one or more practice areas (litigation, property, commercial)
MJD’s report highlights an increase in skills-based screening and requests for assistants who demonstrate proactivity, initiative and polish, particularly in front-of-house or client-exposed roles.
Legal Assistant Qualifications: What Helps You Stand Out
While experience remains king, qualifications can set candidates apart, especially those newer to legal support.
Recommended Legal Assistant Qualifications:
- Certificate III or IV in Business Administration (Legal)
- Legal Studies diplomas or short courses in legal systems
- Paralegal qualifications if targeting hybrid support roles
If you are looking to become a Legal Assistant, pairing these credentials with entry-level law firm exposure gives you the strongest foundation.
What Skills Are Law Firms Really Looking For in 2025?
Beyond technical accuracy, firms are prioritising interpersonal capability, adaptability and the ability to contribute to a high-performance legal team.
Top Legal Assistant Skills Sought by Law Firms:
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Prioritisation and time management across busy caseloads
- Emotional intelligence and resilience
- Ability to learn new systems and AI-driven tools
- Client service orientation and confidentiality
In the words of one of our MJD clients:
“We don’t need someone who types fast. We need someone who thinks fast and moves professionally across everything they touch.”
Legal Assistant Career Path: What Comes Next
One of the most significant shifts highlighted in the 2025 Market Insight Report is the increased mobility within legal support careers.
Many Legal Assistants are now progressing into:
- Senior Legal Assistant or Team Coordinator roles
- Legal Executive Assistant positions (supporting Partners or GCs)
- Paralegal roles in litigation, leasing, family or IP
- Legal Operations or Compliance positions in-house
Clearer career mapping and firm investment in learning and development are allowing Legal Assistants to build long-term, future-ready careers.
Legal Assistant Salary Insights: What You Can Expect
Salaries can vary depending on experience, location, and practice area. If you’d like detailed salary information, you can request a copy of our 2025 Market Insight Report, which includes salary guides for legal support positions, by emailing info@mjdrecruitment.com.au.
Assistants supporting high-pressure teams or with paralegal crossover skills tend to fall at the higher end of salary bands.
Legal Assistant Recruitment Trends for 2025
The legal support hiring market remains active, but firms are becoming more selective. According to MJD’s insights, firms now assess candidates across four key criteria:
- Cultural compatibility
- Long-term intent and growth mindset
- Technical capability and legal systems knowledge
- Presentation and confidence with clients
There is growing demand for Legal Assistants who can grow with the practice and think commercially, particularly in roles supporting fee earners across multiple matters. A demonstrated ability to manage complex legal assistant tasks under pressure is now a key differentiator.
Specialist legal assistant recruitment agencies like MJD are now seen as essential partners in navigating this nuanced talent market.
Final Advice for Candidates
If you are seeking a Legal Assistant position or planning your next step:
- Ensure your resume shows impact, not just tasks
- Include details on systems used, matter types supported and billing exposure
- Highlight your attitude, communication skills and capacity to learn
- Work with a recruiter who understands legal support hiring beyond the job description
For Firms: The Right Hire Elevates the Entire Practice
Hiring the right Legal Assistant affects client outcomes, fee earner performance and cultural cohesion.
At MJD Recruitment, we partner with law firms across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to deliver high-calibre legal support talent, backed by behavioural interviews, role benchmarking and an extensive passive candidate network.
📞 Call us on 1300 251 905 or contact the MJD team to discuss your next Legal Assistant hire.
