Legal Secretary
What is a legal secretary?
A legal secretary is someone who provides administrative and clerical support to lawyers and legal professionals in a law firm or legal department.
What does a legal secretary do?
Usually, a legal secretary does the following:
- Assists lawyers with drafting and preparing legal documents, such as contracts, briefs, and court forms.
- Organizes and maintains legal files and documents, ensuring they are up-to-date and easily accessible.
- Communicates with clients, scheduling appointments and arranging meetings.
- Conducts legal research and compiles information for cases.
- Handles administrative tasks like answering phone calls, managing emails, and managing calendars for attorneys.
- Assists with billing and invoicing processes.
What does the day-to-day life of a legal secretary look like?
A legal secretary usually works between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Their day-to-day tasks may include:
- Assisting lawyers with drafting and editing legal documents.
- Answering phone calls and directing them to the appropriate legal professional.
- Managing calendars and scheduling appointments.
- Organizing and maintaining legal files and documents.
- Conducting research on legal topics.
- Assisting with administrative tasks as needed.
Where does a legal secretary work?
Legal secretaries are commonly employed in law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. They can work in large firms or smaller practices. Some legal secretaries also work as virtual assistants, providing remote support to lawyers and legal professionals.
What tools/software/hardware does a legal secretary use?
A legal secretary uses a variety of tools, including:
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word is commonly used for drafting and editing legal documents.
- Case management systems: Tools like Clio or MyCase help legal secretaries to organize and track cases.
- Legal research databases: Platforms like Westlaw or LexisNexis provide access to legal resources for research purposes.
- Dictation equipment: Lawyers may dictate their notes or documents, and legal secretaries use dictation software or equipment to transcribe them accurately.
What do I need to become a legal secretary?
There are a number of ways you can become a legal secretary, including:
- Legal Secretary or Legal Administration courses: Some colleges and training providers offer specific courses in legal secretarial skills or legal administration. These courses provide knowledge of legal terminology, document preparation, and office procedures.
- On-the-job training: Some law firms and legal departments offer entry-level positions with on-the-job training, allowing you to learn the necessary skills while working. This is a common starting point for many legal secretaries.
- Administrative experience: Gaining experience in general office administration and developing skills like organization, attention to detail, and communication can be an advantage when applying for legal secretary roles.
What career paths are available?
There are several career paths available to you as a legal secretary, including:
- Senior Legal Secretary: With experience and further training, you can progress to a senior level role, taking on more complex tasks and responsibilities.
- Paralegal: A legal secretary can choose to become a paralegal by gaining additional legal knowledge and qualifications. Paralegals have a more in-depth understanding of legal procedures and may assist with case management and legal research.
- Legal Administrator: Legal secretaries with excellent organizational and management skills can pursue roles as legal administrators, overseeing administrative operations within a law firm or legal department.
What jobs are similar to a legal secretary?
- Legal Assistant: Similar to a legal secretary, a legal assistant provides support to lawyers and legal professionals, but may have additional responsibilities such as preparing court documents and conducting legal research.
- Executive Assistant: Executive assistants also provide support to professionals, but in a broader context beyond the legal field. Many of the skills required for a legal secretary are transferable to this role.
- Office Administrator: Office administrators handle general administrative tasks in various settings, including law firms. They may have some legal-specific responsibilities but are not exclusively focused on the legal field.
What made you want to become a legal secretary?
How did you get your first legal secretary job?
What was the one thing that surprised you the most about being a legal secretary?
Are you a legal secretary? We want you to share your experiences with those looking to start or change their careers to legal secretary. If you're interested, contact us at mail@calumchilds.com.