According to a recent survey from Robert Half Legal, 50 percent of the legal support jobs at law firms are hybrid positions, meaning that paralegal and secretarial positions are combining more frequently. Sharan Levine recently spoke to Michigan Lawyers Weekly about this trend. She said the notion of legal assistants doing more than providing secretarial support has likely existed as long as lawyers have been practicing.
“Technology and workload for lawyers require having astute, competent professionals in place to serve alongside the lawyer. If the lawyer is to continue to serve as counselor and advisor, keep up with the increased production demands, and consider a client’s needs and options, then support personnel who are capable of managing alongside the attorney are essential,” Levine said.