What it means to “be a legal assistant” has changed — dramatically.

Once upon a time, it meant hauling stacks of pleadings to the courthouse. Spending hours in the law library making copies. Labeling manila folders. Lugging redwells back and forth between your desk and a records room.

Now? It might mean spending six hours straight reviewing documents in a digital evidence portal, jumping between screens to redact and bookmark discovery for production. It might mean e-filing urgent pleadings at 4:59 p.m. in two different counties, then troubleshooting a failed service notification.

In other words — the job has changed. But the need for sharp, reliable legal support? That hasn’t gone anywhere.

Let’s talk about The titles get tossed around all the time — sometimes interchangeably, sometimes carelessly.
"Paralegal."
"Legal Assistant."
"Litigation Support Specialist."
Same job? Different job? Who decides?

Here’s the truth: titles don’t always match the responsibilities. And that disconnect can leave you confused, underpaid, or stuck in a role that no longer fits.

But once you understand what separates these roles — and more importantly, how they intersect — you start to see the bigger picture of your career in law. A picture that includes growth, pivot points, and yes, some hard-earned pride.

It all begins with an idea.f you’ve worked in legal support for more than a few years, you already know: the work looks very different than it used to.

Filing is electronic. Hearings are scheduled online. Redwells are gathering dust while PDFs take center stage. And behind all of this are real rule changes — updates to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure that directly impact how legal assistants do their job.

Whether you’re brand new to the legal field or you’ve been in it for a decade, staying current on these shifts isn’t just smart — it’s necessary. Here's what’s changed, and what it means for your daily workflow.

If you were around when Florida’s court system transitioned from paper to electronic filing, you’ll remember what a shift it was.

Gone were the days of running to the courthouse with stacks of pleadings. Suddenly, Adobe became just as important as Westlaw. Knowing your way around formatting, bookmarks, and PDFs wasn’t just helpful — it became essential.

That moment widened the field. It gave a new wave of legal support professionals a seat at the table — not because they had 20 years of legal experience, but because they had the tech skills firms suddenly needed.

Well, here we are again.

Only this time, it’s not e-filing — it’s artificial intelligence.
And it’s moving faster than many firms can keep up with.