Legal Secretary: Duties & Job Market

by Barbara Bellesi

Legal secretaries are an integral part of any law firm. In addition to performing regular administrative tasks, legal secretaries do a lot of work that requires specific knowledge of law terminology and procedures.

Duties of a legal secretary

Working under the guidance of a lawyer or paralegal, legal secretaries prepare correspondence, summonses, subpoenas, complaints, motions, responses, and a host of other legal documents. Those with more experience and education may also be asked to help with research or to review legal journals. Legal secretaries are also an invaluable resource for first-year lawyers who need to know the ins and outs of their new workplace, including how to properly prepare court documents and other paperwork.

Programs for legal secretaries

Like executive secretaries, many legal secretaries have bachelor's degrees. Additionally, legal secretaries can receive certification through organizations such as the National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS) and Legal Secretaries International. Those with a year of experience as a legal secretary or who have completed a training course can become an Accredited Legal Secretary (ALS) through the NALS.

The NALS also offers certification as a Professional Legal Secretary (PLS). Legal Secretaries International offers the designation of Certified Legal Secretary Specialist (CLSS) in specific areas of law, including litigation, probate, and intellectual property. To achieve this designation, legal secretaries usually need five years of experience as well as a passing grade on the examination.

Where to find legal secretary jobs

Most legal secretaries are employed in law firms. The work and responsibilities of a legal secretary vary according to the firm's size and specialties. It is common for larger firms to employ numerous legal secretaries, assigning them to one or two specialties for maximum efficiency.

Demand for legal secretaries

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, secretaries and administrative assistants make up one of the largest occupations in the United States. Legal secretaries hold fewer jobs than those who work in general administration, but job prospects are still good for those looking to pursue careers as legal secretaries.