Legal Secretary
A Legal Secretary is a specialized administrative professional working primarily within the legal field, responsible for a variety of tasks that support lawyers and law firms. Their duties extend beyond general office work, involving the preparation of legal documents such as motions and subpoenas, conducting legal research, and managing trial dates. Legal secretaries often handle billing for clients and assist with the organizational tasks that ensure the smooth operation of legal offices. The profession is expected to see a modest growth of 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, highlighting its ongoing relevance in the evolving legal landscape.
Typically requiring at least a high school diploma and some industry-specific training, individuals in this role benefit from strong organizational and interpersonal skills, as well as proficiency in office technology. Work environments can vary, with many legal secretaries employed in law firms, while others may work remotely as virtual secretaries. The position is characterized by a fast-paced atmosphere and involves significant interaction with attorneys, clients, and colleagues. Overall, legal secretaries play a crucial role in facilitating legal processes and helping attorneys focus on their primary responsibilities.
Legal Secretary
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Business, Management & Administration
Interests: Business, law, office technology, organizing information, detail analysis
Earnings (Yearly Median): $56,330 per year $27.08 per hour
Employment & Outlook: Expected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032
Entry-Level Education High school diploma or equivalent; industry-specific training
Related Work Experience General administrative experience
On-the-job-Training Short-term on-the-job training
Overview
Sphere of Work. Legal secretaries have specialized skills and knowledge specific to the legal profession and do much more than perform general administrative duties. They typically work in law offices drafting common legal documents, recording trial dates, conducting research, and billing clients. As information technology has evolved, legal secretaries increasingly have taken on tasks that many attorneys may not have the time to address. A key responsibility of legal secretaries is doing preparatory work to save time for lawyers, such as research prior to legal proceedings.
Work Environment. Legal secretaries generally work in small or large law firms. Some work from home as virtual legal secretaries. Because legal secretaries work in close proximity to lawyers or teams of lawyers, their work environment is typically fast-paced and involves a significant amount of interaction with others. The legal profession tends to attract assertive individuals, so legal secretaries should be able to respond to challenges, meet expectations, and be flexible enough to respond to a variety of requests throughout the day.
Occupation Interest. Because of advances in information technology, legal secretaries perform a wider range of duties than in the past. As a result, legal secretaries help run law firms more efficiently and are accorded the respect due to roles integral to the success of an organization. Individuals attracted to this profession tend to be well-organized and detail-oriented. They are versatile, demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, and are proficient in the use of common office technology tools. Legal secretaries find satisfaction in helping attorneys be successful in their jobs.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. A legal secretary’s typical workday includes the preparation of legal documents such as correspondences, complaints, motions, and subpoenas, usually under the supervision of a paralegal or attorney. Legal secretaries frequently review legal journals and conduct legal research through fact-checking. They understand technical legal terminology and procedures well enough to be able to assist lawyers in completing some of the more routine legal paperwork, research, and other tasks. They conduct Internet research for a variety of projects, such as gathering client information, learning about the opposing counsel, and locating expert witnesses.
Tasks specific to their role include completing forms and reports for clients, taking dictation, managing files at courthouses and large legal firms, knowing legal procedures, and helping with legal proceedings. New legal secretaries can gain experience working under the guidance of more experienced legal secretaries or paralegals and eventually work more independently on handling files and legal procedures.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Legal secretaries usually work in comfortable office environments where they may sit for long periods of time. They typically work a standard forty-hour week, some part-time, and some on a temporary basis. Some are self-employed and work from home. Sometimes, legal secretaries conduct work at courthouses or work extra hours as needed to support lawyers or meet case deadlines.
Human Environment. Regardless of the size of the law firm, legal secretaries are usually surrounded by attorneys who need secretarial support. Excellent interpersonal skills are useful in this job since legal secretaries work with many different types of people. Self-employed legal secretaries may work more independently from home, where it is essential to be highly motivated. Legal secretaries interact not only with attorneys but with clients, other employees, and colleagues.
Technological Environment. A legal secretary’s technological environment includes computers, word-processing and spreadsheet software, and legal transcription software. These are used to create documents and spreadsheets, prepare presentations, track deadlines, maintain calendars, enter data, and draw up bills and invoices. Legal secretaries should be familiar with document management and desktop publishing programs, as well as videoconferencing. Legal secretaries should also be proficient in file-sharing and using the Internet for research and communication.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. Legal secretaries must have at least a high school diploma and some office training. High school students interested in pursuing a career as a legal secretary should prepare themselves by building good study habits and learning technology skills such as computer word processing, accounting, filing, and record keeping. Correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar are essential. They should also try to learn about the legal field through research, part-time work, volunteering, or internships.
Postsecondary. Students can pursue formal training to become legal secretaries through one- or two-year college programs that focus on legal topics such as family law, criminal law, civil litigation, intellectual property, or wills and probate. Relevant degrees would be in business or industries in which students are interested, as legal help and advice crosses all fields. Because writing is an integral part of a legal secretary’s job, student coursework should focus on developing strong skills in reading, writing, proofreading, and use of legal terminology. Typing and computer software skills are considered equally valuable. Colleges can train students to understand the minutiae of legal practices and how to create and format pleadings and transactional documents.
Related Occupations
− Administrative Support Supervisor
Bibliography
"Legal Secretary." The University of Law, 2024, www.law.ac.uk/employability/career-finder/legal-secretary/. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.
"Secretaries and Administrative Assistants." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 6 Sept. 2023, www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/secretaries-and-administrative-assistants.htm. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.