asistente legal
/asistente leɡal/from spelling rules
The English word 'paralegal' is translated into Spanish as asistente legal.
This term refers to a person who assists a lawyer in their professional duties.
Meaning: one who assists a lawyer (noun)
Which one should you use?
While asistente legal is a common way to express this, you can also use the formal term técnico jurídico.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase asistente legal is gender-neutral for the person, though the article used before it will change based on the person's gender (el asistente legal or la asistente legal). To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must be pluralized, resulting in asistentes legales.
How do you pronounce it?
/asistente leɡal/
Did you know?
- In highly formal Spanish legal documents, you might see the term secretario judicial used, which implies a much higher level of authority than the English 'paralegal'.
- The word legal is a doublet of the word leal, meaning 'loyal'. Both words share the same Latin root lēx, meaning 'law'.
- In Spain, someone performing these duties might be called a graduado en derecho if they have a law degree but are not yet licensed as a lawyer.
Examples in context
- Juan trabaja como asistente legal en un prestigioso bufete de abogados.Juan works as a paralegal at a prestigious law firm.
- María está estudiando para convertirse en técnico jurídico.María is studying to become a paralegal.
- Laura trabaja como auxiliar de abogado y ayuda con la preparación de los casos.Laura works as a paralegal and assists with case preparation.
- Roberto encontró trabajo como ayudante jurídico en un pequeño despacho de abogados.Roberto landed a job as a paralegal in a small law firm.
- Ella trabaja como asistente legal.She works as a paralegal.
- Necesitamos contratar a un asistente legal.We need to hire a paralegal.
- El asistente legal revisó los documentos.The paralegal reviewed the documents.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are discussing a new hire at the office.
- MateoElena, ¿ya encontraste un asistente legal?Elena, did you find a paralegal yet?
- ElenaSí, Mateo, entrevisté a alguien ayer.Yes, Mateo, I interviewed someone yesterday.
- MateoTiene mucha experiencia como asistente legal.Does he have a lot of experience as a paralegal?
- ElenaSí, trabajó cinco años en una corte.Yes, he worked for five years in a court.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries legal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
