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What is a Legal Secretary?
Legal Secretary Job 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.
Legal Secretary Responsibilities
- 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.
- Complete various forms, such as accident reports, trial and courtroom requests, and applications for clients.
- Receive and place telephone calls.
- Prepare, proofread, or process legal documents, such as summonses, subpoenas, complaints, appeals, motions, or pretrial agreements.
- Prepare and distribute invoices to bill clients or pay account expenses.
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What Every 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.
Related Job Titles
- Accredited Legal Secretary
- Legal Administrative Assistant
- Litigation Legal Secretary
- Judicial Administrative Assistant
- Litigation Secretary
Job Outlook for Legal Secretaries
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 194,700 jobs in the United States for Legal Secretary. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Legal Secretary. There will be an estimated 15,000 positions for Legal Secretary per 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.
Do Legal Secretaries Make A Lot Of Money?
The average yearly salary of a Legal Secretary ranges between $27,920 and $78,280.
Legal Secretaries who work in District of Columbia, Massachusetts, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
How much do Legal Secretaries make in each U.S. state?
| 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
Becoming a Legal Secretary
What kind of Legal Secretary requirements are there?
What work experience do I need to become a Legal Secretary?
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References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Nicholas Rau via Public domain
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