Types of Legal Secretaries

Basically, there is just one kind of legal secretary, and that is someone who works for lawyers or a single lawyer preparing and filing documents, doing research to finding information related to a legal case. In the United Kingdom, what is called a legal secretary in the US is called a paralegal. Though there is only one kind of legal secretary, bear in mind that there are lots of specialized type of lawyers and the stress level and nature of the role of the legal secretary will vary from say working for a criminal defense attorney versus a divorce or accident lawyer.

Requirements

There really are no specific requirements to enter this field of work, but you should display aptitude and be prepared to have a good phone personality, expect to have to write letters and emails, keep schedules and appointments in order, handle basic accounting duties, deal directly with clients and be a file clerk.

Educational Requirements

Most US states have no definitive educational requirement for the job of legal secretary, though a degree does help. A legal secretary should be and will eventually be versed in the law and legal procedures in general. College students intending to become legal secretaries often pursue degrees in criminal justice.

One example of a US state that does have a requirement is California, where
you become what is called a California Certified Legal Secretary, or CCLS. And there is a further requirement to take 15 hours of continuing education within 3 years to keep the certification. This is ongoing, every three years, and there is a fee involved. You should check your own state laws where you intend to work if you intend to enter this field.

Exam Preparation

There are a number of organizations that you can find that offer “certifications” for legal secretaries. There are courses that may be taken online, others are classroom study.

Salary

Legal secretaries are usually paid by the hour and wages vary widely based on location, as low as 10 to 12 dollars an hour in small markets to 30 dollars or more an hour in a large market such as New York City, where annual salaries range from 55 to 80K a year. It may even depend on the firm you work for.

Getting Started

Talk to your guidance counselor if you are still in high school and do not wish to pursue a law degree, but would like to be in the legal profession, in which case a degree in criminal justice may be right for you. There are also non-college preparation courses that will train you in becoming a legal secretary, some as short as three weeks. You must weigh your decision carefully. Being a legal secretary can be a rewarding yet highly stressful job at times, as you are working for lawyers who can have highly charged personalities in many cases.