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Are you interested in this legal admin position? Check out our look at what the job entails, the prospects for future hiring and related careers you might like to explore.
The Job
Legal secretaries perform many of the same tasks as other secretaries, such as answering telephones and typing letters. Many of the documents they prepare must follow strict guidelines, so legal secretaries need to know the specialized formats for legal documents. They also perform many critical office functions, including maintaining supplies and equipment, receiving, preparing and transmitting communications, planning conferences, receiving clients and instructing staff.
Legal secretaries prepare correspondence and legal papers such as summonses, complaints, motions, responses and subpoenas under the supervision of an attorney or a paralegal. They also may review legal journals and assist with legal research --for example, by verifying quotes and citations in legal briefs.
Skills
- Professional demeanor, good communication and organizational skills, and proficiency with computers, fax machines and multiline telephone systems.
- The ability to multitask and solve problems under tight deadline is critical.
- Knowledge of legal terms and procedures
Education
- Legal secretaries must have a high school diploma or GED.
- Specialized training programs are available at junior colleges and technical schools for students who want to become legal secretaries.
- Certification is optional for legal secretaries, but it is rarely required for employment or advancement. Legal secretaries who have less than three years of experience can become Accredited Legal Secretaries (ALS). Those who have three or more years of experience can be certified as Professional Legal Secretaries (PLS). Applicants for the PLS title must pass an exam. For more information, contact the National Association of Legal Secretaries.
Outlook
- Nationally, employment of legal secretaries is expected to grow at an average rate from 2004 to 2014.
- Many positions will be available each year as experienced workers transfer to other occupations or retire.
Related Careers
- Several other occupations call for a specialized understanding of the law and the legal system but do not require a lawyer's extensive training. These include law office receptionists, abstractors and title examiners, paralegals, claim examiners and tax preparers.
- Other similar careers include accountants and auditors, bookkeeping and accounting clerks, buyers, purchasing agents and secretaries.
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Source: HiringTools and Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition
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