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Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about how to become a legal secretary.
Are you interested in the legal field, but don’t want to become a lawyer? A career as a legal secretary might be the right fit for you! It’s a promising career that can equip you with valuable legal knowledge and a multifaceted skill set. Below, we’ll discuss the ins and outs of this path, including the primary responsibilities, salary expectations, and more.
The requirements for becoming a legal secretary vary considerably, so naturally, there are different routes you can take to become one.
The path you take can have a significant impact on how well you perform as a legal secretary and the salary you’re eligible to achieve. It’s important to put thought into your decisions to set yourself up for success.
While there are no formal educational requirements for becoming a legal secretary, it is highly recommended to complete an associate degree program or certification if you’re serious about becoming a legal secretary.
Gaining a formal education will strengthen your resume, skill set, and fundamental knowledge. Working as a legal secretary requires a high degree of legal comprehension, professionalism, and attention to detail.
While the demand for legal secretaries is high, you want to make sure you stand out as a qualified candidate. Formal education will help you land a good position and earn a competitive salary. It also contributes to increased job security and makes employee benefits and insurance more accessible.
The following majors will help you gain knowledge, skills, and experience for a legal secretary career:
Each of these majors will help you refine your critical thinking, communication and research skills, which will come in handy as a legal secretary.
There are numerous avenues you can take to gain a formal education as a legal secretary. The following courses can help you on your way:
These courses will equip you with the technical skills and specialized knowledge needed in your career as a legal secretary.
It’s also a good idea to strengthen your resume with relevant work experience. Some firms and organizations even offer apprenticeship or trainee programs. Gaining on-the-job experience can help provide valuable insight into what it’s like to work as a legal secretary. It can also help you appeal to employers and secure a great job.
Legal secretaries provide administrative and technical support to attorneys and legal teams. The level of support and expertise required varies depending on the role, practice, and area of law. Their duties consist of the following:
By completing these duties as a legal secretary, you’ll play a vital role in the smooth running of legal offices and practices.
To become a legal secretary, it’s essential to continually refine your skills. Legal secretaries must have a multifaceted skill set to perform their job effectively. Succeeding within the legal industry requires a great deal of professionalism and proficiency.
Legal secretaries are trained on the specific methods, terminology, and technology used in their workplace. The following skills will help you succeed in your career as a legal secretary:
Legal secretaries need to be highly organized to perform their job well. Legal secretaries often have to manage multiple ongoing projects and deadlines at the same time. It’s a dynamic, fast-paced role. You’ll need to complete your work efficiently and on time.
Legal secretaries must be highly meticulous. You will be required to prepare and review legal documents that are accurate and error-free.
Legal secretaries must communicate with clients, colleagues, and other professionals clearly and effectively.
Legal secretaries need to have a fast typing speed and make minimal errors when transcribing notes. Law firms generally require you to have a typing speed of 50 to 100 words per minute.
An important component of being a legal secretary is conducting fundamental research to assist lawyers, paralegals, and other legal professionals. Legal secretaries may be required to gather background information on cases, verify legal citations, or locate precedents.
Legal secretaries routinely handle sensitive information and data. They must exercise tact to ensure that clients' information is protected at all times.
A legal secretary’s salary depends on factors such as their education, experience level, geographical location, and area of law. The average salary is $50,968 per year, and the range typically falls between $45,272 and $60,501.
Legal secretaries are in high demand. The profession is projected to grow by 1% within the next decade, much lower than the growth rate of 4% for other occupations. The employment growth for this career has been significantly impacted by technologies such as AI.
If you have additional questions on how to become a legal secretary, you’re in the right place! Take a look at our answers to these frequently asked questions.
Becoming a legal secretary can take anywhere from a few weeks to over four years, depending on the chosen path and desired qualifications. Most paths typically require one to two years of education.
A legal secretary primarily handles administrative tasks like scheduling, filing, and document preparation, typically requiring a vocational certificate (AVS) of about 450 hours. In contrast, a paralegal performs substantive legal work, including legal research, drafting documents, and case preparation, requiring more extensive legal education.
The average annual salary of a legal secretary is $50,968, with top legal secretaries making up to $58,513.
Becoming a legal secretary is a fulfilling career choice that provides valuable insight into the legal field. You’ll play a critical role in helping law firms, barrister chambers, and legal departments function efficiently. With the potential to make a high income, now is the time to consider a career as a legal secretary!
Reviewed by:
Former Head of Northeastern University's Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University
