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.
Interests
- Conventional
- Enterprising
Work Values
- Relationships
- Support
- Working Conditions
Work Styles
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Self-Control
Tasks
- Organize and maintain law libraries, documents, and case files.
- Mail, fax, or arrange for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses, and court officials.
- Prepare and distribute invoices to bill clients or pay account expenses.
- Prepare, proofread, or process legal documents, such as summonses, subpoenas, complaints, appeals, motions, or pretrial agreements.
- Make photocopies of correspondence, documents, and other printed matter.
Work Activities
- Performing Administrative Activities
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Working with Computers
- Processing Information
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Detailed Work Activities
- Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Technology Skills
- Accounting software
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Document management software
- Word processing software
Abilities
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
Skills
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Speaking
- Time Management
Knowledge
- Administrative
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Certified Legal ManagerCertifying Organization
Association of Legal Administrators
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Excel 2016: Core Data Analysis, Manipulation, and PresentationCertifying Organization
Microsoft Corporation
Type
Product/Equipment
Certificate name
Certified Specialist in E-DiscoveryCertifying Organization
Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Word 2016 Expert: Creating Documents for Effective CommunicationCertifying Organization
Microsoft Corporation
Type
Product/Equipment
Certificate name
Certified Legal Secretary Specialist: Real EstateCertifying Organization
Legal Secretaries International Inc.
Type
Specialty
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $41,937 |
| Median (50%) | $57,306 |
| High (90%) | $96,765 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $52,077 |
| Mid Level | $73,784 |
| Senior Level | $91,246 |
| Expert Level | $100,979 |
Employability
There are currently 154,200 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to decrease to 146,300 positions, reflecting a projected decline of -5%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of -5%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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