What Do Legal Secretary Do?
Career Description Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.
Life As a Legal Secretary
- Mail, fax, or arrange for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses, and court officials.
- Receive and place telephone calls.
- Schedule and make appointments.
- Make photocopies of correspondence, documents, and other printed matter.
- Review legal publications and perform database searches to identify laws and court decisions relevant to pending cases.
- Organize and maintain law libraries, documents, and case files.
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What a Legal Secretary Should Know
Legal Secretaries state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Legal Secretary Jobs
- Legal Secretary
- Litigation Legal Secretary
- Legal Administrative Assistant
- Coordinating Legal Practice Assistant
- Confidential Secretary
Job Opportunities for Legal Secretaries
In the United States, there were 194,700 jobs for Legal Secretary in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Legal Secretary. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 15,000 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Legal Secretary are Maryland, Montana, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, Wisconsin, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Legal Secretary
Legal Secretaries make between $27,920 and $78,280 a year.
Legal Secretaries who work in District of Columbia, Massachusetts, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
How much do Legal Secretaries make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $41,840 |
| Alaska | $48,260 |
| Arizona | $47,320 |
| Arkansas | $36,930 |
| California | $56,570 |
| Connecticut | $53,780 |
| Delaware | $52,270 |
| District of Columbia | $86,190 |
| Florida | $45,550 |
| Georgia | $45,680 |
| Hawaii | $48,140 |
| Idaho | $36,600 |
| Illinois | $51,140 |
| Indiana | $41,940 |
| Iowa | $38,680 |
| Kansas | $39,100 |
| Kentucky | $36,440 |
| Louisiana | $40,330 |
| Maine | $38,050 |
| Maryland | $52,950 |
| Massachusetts | $59,020 |
| Michigan | $45,140 |
| Minnesota | $53,000 |
| Mississippi | $40,080 |
| Missouri | $44,130 |
| Montana | $34,130 |
| Nebraska | $38,900 |
| Nevada | $46,350 |
| New Hampshire | $49,230 |
| New Jersey | $50,660 |
| New Mexico | $37,640 |
| New York | $55,920 |
| North Carolina | $47,030 |
| North Dakota | $44,350 |
| Ohio | $46,060 |
| Oklahoma | $37,150 |
| Oregon | $49,960 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,980 |
| Rhode Island | $48,220 |
| South Carolina | $39,670 |
| South Dakota | $35,540 |
| Tennessee | $43,480 |
| Texas | $46,430 |
| Utah | $42,240 |
| Vermont | $46,540 |
| Virginia | $46,400 |
| Washington | $54,590 |
| West Virginia | $38,460 |
| Wisconsin | $44,380 |
| Wyoming | $42,140 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Legal Secretaries
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Legal Secretaries:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Visio
- Database software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- LexisNexis
- Sage 50 Accounting
- Presentation software
- IBM Lotus Notes
- ADP Workforce Now
- Desktop publishing software
How do I Become a Legal Secretary?
What education is needed to be a Legal Secretary?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Legal Secretaries Work
Below are examples of industries where Legal Secretaries work:
Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Legal Secretary might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Nicholas Rau via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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