How to Become a Legal Secretary
Step 1: Understand the job description and responsibilities of a Legal Secretary
What does a Legal Secretary do?
A Legal Secretary performs secretarial and administrative duties for an attorney or group of attorneys. Prepares legal documents, contracts, briefs, motions, summonses, complaints and general correspondence. Being a Legal Secretary maintains files and schedules. Utilizes document creation software and other legal reference software. Additionally, Legal Secretary may have some interaction with clients. Requires knowledge of legal terminology and standard formats and procedures. Requires a high school diploma. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. The Legal Secretary works under moderate supervision. Gaining or has attained full proficiency in a specific area of discipline. To be a Legal Secretary typically requires 1-3 years of related experience, or may need 0 years of experience with additional specialized training and/or certification.
A legal secretary plays a crucial role in the everyday workings of a law office.
Legal secretaries require extensive knowledge of legal proceedings and documentation.
Most legal secretaries converse directly with attorneys, clerical personnel, courtroom staff members, clients, expert witnesses and commercial vendors.
As legal secretaries tend to possess a specialized skill set across various computer programs, the tasks which they are responsible for can range from more traditional secretarial jobs such as answering phones and taking messages, to creating detailed spreadsheets, presentations, or preparing law documents.
Legal secretaries have to be extremely organized, sharp, personable, and self-disciplined, ready for an array of assignments and able to meet tight deadlines on a daily basis.
Step 2: Learn best tips to become a Legal Secretary
Best tips for those who want to become a Legal Secretary
Here are some tips to become a Legal Secretary.
Legal secretaries who demonstrate flexibility, resourcefulness and initiative are the most likely to be successful in their roles.
Gather information through your network.
Before you can successfully find jobs as a Legal Secretary, you need to make some sort of a plan.
Finding job opportunities is one thing, but you also have to make sure you are prepared for the interview.
One will executed by two or more persons with reciprocating provisions of consideration of each to the other.
Step 3: View best colleges and universities for Legal Secretary
Best colleges and universities for Legal Secretary
- Butler University
- Carroll College
- Providence College
- Rollins College
- Taylor University
- Amherst College
Step 4: Think about whether is it worth to be a Legal Secretary
Is being a Legal Secretary Worth it?
no.logo.altBreakthrough MediationLegal Assistant/SecretaryWest Palm Beach, FLEasy Apply 24hr experienced legal assistant who comes with strong recommendations from prior employer(s).
Minimum 1-3 years of experience as a Legal Assistant, preferably in the real estate sector.
The first gives a comprehensive list of courses that will help you qualify as a legal secretary.
Court of Protection Legal Secretary Tunbridge Wells This well-established Legal 500 and highly accredited practice are looking to recruit a Legal Secretary to join their highly regarded Court of Protection team to provide support and assist fee-earners in a busy role covering a range of Court of Protection matters.
Most legal secretaries also generally have fewer lawyers to support and have more involvement in the legal aspects of the work instead.
Step 5: Prepare relevant skills for being a Legal Secretary
What skills do you need to be a Legal Secretary?
Supporting level roles often require a broad range of skills to ensure jobs can be executed accurately and efficiently. Some of the more relevant day-to-day skills for this role include: Document Preparation, Filing Court Documents, Litigation Support. In this role, you should command of the following: Document Creation Software, General Office Software, Legal Case Management Software. Success in this function is highly dependant upon these skills, as well as others specific to each individual company.
They deal with a wide range of challenging legal and business issues, combining their skills with modern technology.
However, unlike an administrative assistant, a legal secretary must be familiar with legal procedures.
People can acquire the legal skills they need through training companies, local colleges or some law firms are willing to train people themselves.
To be best on your job as a legal secretary you need o develop certain skills and qualities.
Top 15 Legal Secretary Skills to be best on the Job.
Step 6: View average salary for Legal Secretary
How much does a Legal Secretary make?
The average salary range for a Legal Secretary is from $54,780 to $71,697. The salary will change depending on your location, job level, experience, education, and skills.
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Average salary for Legal Secretary jobs
Step 7: Find relevant Legal Secretary jobs, and apply.
Looking for Legal Secretary jobs?
Here are some Legal Secretary jobs in the United States.