Although many may have heard about a legal secretary, what exactly do they do? What sort of training, if any, do they need? How much money can the make?
A legal secretary’s job is to assist lawyers in their work. While that may seem simple at first, it is a broad-reaching profession. Their duties can be split between secretarial duties and legal duties, although there can be some overlap. The secretarial side of things can include organizing office business, filing, faxing and answering the phone as well as printing up motions for attorneys and filing these same motions with the respective court or with other attorneys. The legal side of their work may include fact finding before a trial or doing the same for hearings or motions. They may be called upon to perform legal research or assist a lawyer in interacting with clients.
The one thing a legal secretary absolutely cannot do is give legal advice. This is because they are not required to have a law degree or training of any kind, although many will have some legal knowledge through courses they have taken or on the job experience. Secretarial experience gained either through training or work history is vital to them performing their duties. Familiarity of legal proceedings will greatly assist a person on their quest to become a legal secretary. Many colleges offer classes and programs that can focus on the legal secretary position, although no degree is required or offered for legal secretaries. There is a National Association for Legal Secretaries which offers a certification exam open to those who have completed a business course or law course or have at least one year of general office experience.
The average salary for legal secretaries in the United States will depend on where the person lives and what type of company or organization they work with. Average across the US is around 39,000 with starting salaries running as low as 22,000 and some earning as much as 75,000 dollars per year. Years of experience and training levels will obviously affect this.
Being a legal secretary can be a good way to move beyond being a basic secretary into a more exciting career. It can also be a good way for someone looking to join the legal or law enforcement field to gain a deeper understanding of how the field works.
Legal secretaries provide administrative support to lawyers by preparing legal documents, organizing files, scheduling appointments, and handling incoming calls. They often assist with legal research, maintain databases, and help with billing and invoicing. Additionally, they may coordinate meetings, manage correspondence, and handle other general office tasks within a legal setting.
Some possible careers in the legal profession include lawyers, judges, paralegals, legal assistants, legal secretaries, court reporters, and mediators. Other roles may involve legal researchers, law professors, or compliance officers. Each of these roles plays a crucial part in the legal system and require different skills and qualifications.
On average, legal secretaries tend to earn a higher salary compared to medical secretaries. This is due to the specialized knowledge and skills required in the legal field, as well as the higher demand for legal secretaries in certain industries.
The hourly wage for a legal secretary can vary depending on factors such as location, experience, and type of law firm. On average, legal secretaries in the United States earn between $15 to $30 per hour.
Legal secretaries in the United States earn an average of $48,430 per year, with variations based on experience, location, and employer. Salaries can range from around $30,000 to over $65,000 per year.
There are specific legal secretary courses available through vocational schools, community colleges, and online platforms. These courses cover topics such as legal documentation, legal terminology, and office procedures in a legal setting. Additionally, some professional organizations offer certification programs for legal secretaries.
Virginia Schoepfer has written: 'Desk companion for legal secretaries' -- subject(s): Handbooks, manuals, Legal secretaries
legal secretaries
Mary Ann Altman has written: 'Self-administrating course for legal secretaries' -- subject(s): Handbooks, manuals, Legal secretaries
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Legal administrative assistants and secretaries go above and beyond traditional administrative staff.There is no specific educational requirement to become a legal secretary, but legal secretaries are expected to be knowledgeable of legal procedures and terminology.Also, legal secretaries who pursue higher education in the legal field are more marketable and more likely to find well-paying satisfying employment. In addition to the office management duties of an administrative assistant, legal administrative assistants and secretaries prepare and file legal documents, perform research, and interview witnesses.Legal administrative assistants and secretaries are likely to have a higher rate of pay and more responsibility than other administrative assistants.As a result, many find their work more rewarding. There are a variety of paths towards a career as a legal administrative assistant or secretary.An associate’s degree in paralegal studies combined with experience in an administrative position, or a bachelor’s degree with a certificate in paralegal studies should be sufficient for a career as a legal administrative assistant.Volunteering at a legal organization may be an effective method of gaining experience for those new to the profession. Online degrees in paralegal studies and in criminal justice are widely available.An online associate degree or bachelor degree can qualify legal administrative assistant for new employment, promotions, and raises.Accredited paralegal studies programs often make legal administrative assistants and secretaries eligible for certification. Legal administrative assistants and secretaries can find work at law firms, corporate legal departments and government agencies.With experience and education, legal administrative assistance and secretaries can be promoted to management positions.Also, according to Salary.com, the top 1 percent of paralegals earn salaries of $65, and above.
They are usually called paralegals or legal secretaries/assistants. Paralegals must usually complete a designated course of study and pass a qualification test. Legal secretaries or assistants are just people hired by an attorney to assist him.
Marian Cornell has written: 'Principles and practices for the legal secretary' -- subject(s): Handbooks, manuals, Legal secretaries
Legal Secretaries, Paralegals, Interns, transcriptionists...
Really there is no difference.
Training for a legal secretary isn't hard at all. Also, the income for legal secretaries varies by state and employer but they average around $53000 a year with experience.
Some possible careers in the legal profession include lawyers, judges, paralegals, legal assistants, legal secretaries, court reporters, and mediators. Other roles may involve legal researchers, law professors, or compliance officers. Each of these roles plays a crucial part in the legal system and require different skills and qualifications.
Many of the legal secretaries will make amounts close to $25,000. The amount will vary depending upon the experience, education and who they work for.