Legal Secretary Job Description

Legal secretaries perform the clerical duties required to operate a legal office efficiently. Also known as legal assistants or administrative assistants, they carry out the secretarial and administrative functions to the people working in the legal profession. However, in some cases, they are also referred to as paralegals or legal assistants. They cannot give out legal advice to a client, which only an attorney can do.

Although most legal secretaries work in law firms, they can also get employment in legal departments of large private corporations, government agencies, the judiciary, and public interest firms.

What are the duties and responsibilities of a legal secretary?

Legal secretaries have a broad range of administrative and office management duties. The main responsibility of a legal secretary is to assist lawyers and provide administrative support, which may involve specialized duties and direct contact with clients.

Specific tasks and duties of a legal secretary may include:

• Communicate with experts, attorneys, opposing counsel, suppliers and other staff
• Prepare correspondences and legal documents, such as pleads, subpoenas, appeals and motions
• Proofread reports and letters
• Attend court, client meetings and police stations to take notes
• Assist with legal research
• Gather information such as employment, medical and personal information
• Maintain and organize law libraries, documents, and case files
• Keep accounts and filing records
• Organize functions, travel itineraries, and appointments
• Schedule depositions, site inspections, hearings, closings and meetings
• Receive and make telephone calls
• Handle regular mails and emails
• Take dictation and transcribing records

What are the requirements to become a legal secretary?

There is no specific educational requirement for legal secretaries in the United States. Many colleges and universities offer programs geared toward legal secretarial; however, there is no specific degree associated with that of a legal secretary. Some community colleges, career schools, and technical centers offer legal secretarial programs that can be completed in 1 to 2 years.

Most legal secretaries have diploma in business, finance, management, and administration, but those who have formal training in legal secretarial programs have better career opportunities. A certification from the National Association for Legal Professionals (NALS) may also enhance employment opportunities.

Legal secretaries must possess specialized skills unique to the legal profession. They must be interested in administration and law, accurate, discrete, detail-oriented, polite and helpful. They must also have excellent computer and organizational skills.

Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, legal research, time and billing software and applications is a necessary skill for legal secretaries. They must also have an excellent command of the English language, grammar, spelling and punctuation.

A legal secretary may start by working as an apprentice and then progress to become a senior secretary or office manager. With additional training and experience, some legal secretaries become legal executives or paralegals.

How much does a legal secretary earn?

The average annual salary of a legal secretary depends on experience, education, geographical location and industry or practice setting.

According to PayScale, the salary of an entry level legal secretary range from $28,139 to $39,861 each year while a senior legal secretary with more than 20 years of experience receive an annual salary between $39,130 and $58,338.

Earn Your Legal Secretary Degree Online

Explore the Legal Secretary Certificate and Degree Programs below and request more information today. The respective college or university will assist you in making sure that a particular program is the best choice for your educational and career goals.

We recommend getting information from several schools so you can compare the programs, costs, time commitments and financial aid options.

Stratford Career Institute

Legal Assistant/Paralegal

Legal assistant courses and paralegal training from Stratford can help you join the high-powered, high-paying field of law. Created by legal professionals, our innovative Legal Assistant/Paralegal Training program will prepare you for an exciting career working in a law firm, corporate legal department or government agency.

Everest University Online

Associate in Science Degree in Legal Assistant/Paralegal

The Associate in Science Degree in Legal Assistant/Paralegal provides you with the skills to interview, gather, review, and analyze factual situations; research the law; prepare and interpret legal documents; conduct day-to-day operations of a legal office.

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