San Francisco Legal Assistant Jobs Overview
Lawyers and attorneys rely on skilled legal assistants to assist them with trial preparation, document organization, and research. If you’re passionate about the rule of law, Monster can help you find tons of legal assistant jobs that are right up your alley. To succeed as a legal assistant, you must have a knack for research, possess organizational skills, be a good communicator, and be computer savvy.
Legal assistants typically take on these day-to-day responsibilities:
- gathering facts and evidence for legal cases.
- researching laws and regulations.
- organizing, maintaining, and retrieving documents.
- drafting contracts and other legal documents.
- handling exhibits, taking notes, and reviewing transcripts during trials.
- filing briefs, appeals, and exhibits with the court or opposing counsel.
- interviewing or speaking to clients, witnesses, lawyers, and outside vendors.
Most legal assistants work directly for legal offices, while some work for government agencies, financial institutions, and insurance companies. While most legal assistants work full-time, some work more than 40 hours per week to meet deadlines.
You can expand your search for legal jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in San Francisco, California
San Francisco lays claim to many food firsts. The country's first craft brewery was founded there. An alcoholic coffee served at an Irish airport was recreated and dubbed "Irish coffee" at the Buena Vista Café. Add to that the Mission-style burrito and the martini. Despite this, not all San Francisco jobs are in the food industry. Jobs in San Francisco banking have a long, successful history, too. While financial institutions throughout the U.S. were hit hard by the Great Depression, San Francisco's Bank of America was able to finance building the Golden Gate Bridge, creating hundreds of jobs in San Francisco for ironworkers. Sitting on the bridge girders watching the mist roll in may have sparked the idea for vodka made from San Francisco Bay fog.
If that doesn't tempt you to look for San Francisco jobs, we could also talk about the city's famous Ghirardelli chocolate, local coffee, cable cars, and Victorian homes. If you want to relocate a little further from the fog but still enjoy the taste of San Francisco, you might look at Daly City, South San Francisco, and Oakland.
Update Your San Francisco Legal Assistant Resume
Before hitting that “apply button,” make sure your resume has a list of your key skills, credentials, and accomplishments, along with a career summary that briefly describes what you have to offer professionally. Take a look at Monster’s sample legal assistant resume to see what legal skills you should include and how to write your career summary.
We also suggest breaking the ice with a compelling cover letter, even if it’s not required when you apply. It’s vitally important that you open and close your cover letter with enthusiasm for your legal career. Start out by introducing yourself. Then, delve into your professional background and briefly discuss your key accomplishments. Lastly, end your cover letter by mentioning potential next steps. For help with putting it all together, see our paralegal cover letter sample.
How Much Do Legal Assistant Jobs Pay in San Francisco, California?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in legal assistant jobs in San Francisco, California, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median paralegal pay in San Francisco is $62,854 per year, which is 28% higher than the national average.
Find Your Next San Francisco Legal Assistant Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in legal assistant? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those legal assistant jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in San Francisco, how to nail your job interview, and more.