The steps to becoming a legislative assistant vary depending on where you live and the type of organization you want to work for, but they all require a university-level degree in government or law, as well as a passion for politics. Most of the time, the term “legislative assistant” refers to people who provide support and advice to elected government officials. Senators and congressmen in the United States are the largest employers of legislative assistants. Members of parliament (MPs) in much of Europe, Canada, Australia, and India are in the same boat. Working in the lawmaking or lobbying arm of an independent corporation or foundation may also qualify you to work as a legislative assistant in the private sector, depending on where you live.
Without a thorough understanding of how the legislative process works, becoming a legislative assistant is usually impossible. Senators and congressmen in the United States hire legislative assistants, also known as LAs, to assist them in researching and drafting potential new laws at both the state and federal levels. These LAs all have law degrees, with a few exceptions. Although practical experience is not always required, education is.
In order to work as a legislative assistant in the United States, you must first complete an undergraduate degree and then attend law school. Although most people in the position have backgrounds in government, politics, or communications, the topic of your undergraduate work has little bearing on your success as a LA. The most important thing is that you have formal training in the legislative process in the United States and a firm understanding of how to draft effective regulations.
From health care to the environment, most US legislators hire a different LA for each issue. To begin as a legislative assistant, you do not need to have demonstrated expertise in any specific area, but you must be able to quickly learn new information and become an expert on a variety of nuanced fields related to your assigned area. The majority of the time, new legislative assistants are given extensive training to help them understand the expectations.
In other parts of the world, legislative assistant requirements are similar, though educational requirements are often less stringent. For example, parliamentarian LAs with only a bachelor’s degree are more common. Individual members of parliament in most countries with parliamentary systems can hire legislative assistants to assist them with both drafting laws and researching areas where laws may be needed. Because most MPs only have one or two legislative assistants, if any, many of them cover multiple issues.
The majority of legislators, whether in Congress or Parliament, hire their legal assistants internally, through a confidential application and interview process. The majority of the time, the jobs are only advertised on the website of the hiring representative or committee. It can be just as difficult to find available legislative assistant jobs as it is to get them.
Working for an independent company or nonprofit organization that is involved in the lawmaking or lobbying process can also be a way to become a legislative assistant. Staff who assist companies in identifying legislative issues are sometimes referred to as “legislative assistants.” Getting this type of job usually requires demonstrating knowledge of the organization’s main issues as well as some specialized knowledge of the legislative process.