Localize Your School Search
Career Rating and Comparison
| Category | This Career | All Rated Careers |
|---|---|---|
| Career Satisfaction |    | |
Degrees and Schools
Many community colleges and vocational schools offer 2-year certificate and associates degree programs designed to prepare students for careers as a legal secretaries.
Classes
A student in a legal secretary / legal administrative assistant degree or certificate program usually spends time in class, computer lab and getting supervised experience. Course topics typically include:
- legal terminology and transcription
- processing legal documents
- preparing and distributing correspondence
- maintaining legal files
- using legal office software
- using word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and other office software
- managing databases and updating websites
- office professionalism and communication skills
- other general secretarial skills
Online Classes and Programs
Online classes in legal terminology and degree programs for legal secretaries are readily available. Those programs that are offered by schools that are campus-based are more likely to coordinate internships and job placement.
Online courses should be part of an institution with accreditation from agencies approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or United States Department of Education (USDE).
Employment Requirements
Most employers require that legal secretaries and legal administrative assistants have an associate's degree or certificate from a program that provides them specialized training. Vocational schools and communities colleges that offer these programs often require that applicants have a high school diploma or equivalent. Some may require SAT scores.
The National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS) offers the voluntary certification of Accredited Legal Secretary (ALS) to legal secretaries with one year experience in the field or who have completed an approved educational course. Certification is also offered through the International Association of Administrative Professionals and Legal Secretaries International, Inc.
How to Evaluate Schools
Asking the following questions can be helpful when evaluating certificate and associates degree programs for legal secretaries:
- Classes and focus- Does the curriculum emphasize terminology, preparing legal documents and other legal skills, or does it focus more on general office skills?
- Practical experience - Does the program require and coordinate substantial practical experience through internships? Are internship opportunities plentiful and appealing?
- Financial aid and expenses - What resources are offered to students who wish to take advantage of grant, student loan, scholarship and other financial aid opportunities?
- Graduate success - Does the school offer a job placement assistance program? How successful has it been over the past several years?
Legal Secretary Job Description
Lawyers and legal departments of companies, organizations and governments rely on legal secretaries to handle administrative tasks. Although they do perform some of the tasks that secretaries in any field do, legal secretaries are trained in the terminology and procedures that are specific to the legal industry. Their responsibilities, which are supervised by attorneys or paralegals, often include:
- Handling communications by letters, phone, email and memos
- Preparing legal papers such as motions, summonses, and subpoenas
- Helping with legal research and reviewing legal journals
- Maintaining a law library
- Teaching new lawyers how to prepare documents for submission in court
- Orienting new employees and other HR-related tasks
- Transcribing, copying, scanning and faxing
- Negotiating with vendors and ordering supplies
- Managing file systems
- Updating spreadsheets and websites
- Following legal billing practices and office procedures
- Maintaining office equipment; troubleshooting minor computer problems
- Processing incoming and outgoing packages and mail
- Planning and scheduling meetings, catering and travel
Career Profiles
To help career searchers evaluate their options, BrainTrack has asked hundreds of workers to profile their jobs with a review and ratings. See below for a summary of this career compared to all rated careers and for detailed reviews.
| Category | This Career | All Rated Careers |
|---|---|---|
| Career Satisfaction | | |
| Opportunity for Promotion | | |
| Career Flexibility | | |
| How Cool Is The Career | | |
| How Stressful | | |
| Social Orientation | | |
| Earnings Potential | | |
| Task Variety | | |
| Job Security | | |
Job Title: Legal Secretary
Attended: George Mason University • Fairfax, VA
Studied Philosophy (completion in 2004)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 1/24/2012
"The work is not the most challenging. However, I do enjoy the people I work for."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | I loved the philosophy program at George Mason. Every semester I looked forward to learning new material in the courses I signed up for. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | There are opportunities to increase one's pay by moving to larger law firms. However, within a law firm there are not that many opportunities for advancement. |
| Job Security | 8 | Living in the metropolitan area that I do, there are plenty of small, medium, and large sized law firms. There always seems to be openings for legal secretary positions. |
| Earnings Potential | 6 | The earnings potential is slightly above average. After about 10 years in the field, depending on the law firm and attorney you work for (managing partner), one could be making close to six figures. |
| How Stressful | 3 | Most days I am not stressed out. However, whenever a deadline is near it is always, always highly stressful. |
| Task Variety | 5 | Daily tasks vary depending on where cases have progressed. During discovery, trial, etc. the daily tasks vary greatly. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 1 | Nobody grows up thinking they want to be a legal secretary. This is not the most prestigious position and I am constantly getting asked if I ever want to become an attorney instead. |
| Career Flexibility | 1 | There is no flexibility regarding hours. I work from 9am until 5:30pm and am expected to be there the entire time. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | I am in constant contact with other staff and secretaries. The attorneys are also fairly social and ask about the goings on in my life. |
Job Title: Paralegal
Attended: University Of Tennessee • Knoxville, TN
Studied Paralegal (completion in 2008)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 1/20/2012
"The work is always interesting. The clients can be a bit much, though."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | It taught the basics. It really could've been more challenging. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 8 | I am in law school now. They have offered me a position upon graduation. |
| Job Security | 8 | I'm the only assistant and work is steady. My bosses appreciate me. |
| Earnings Potential | 6 | I make decent money now as an assistant. I'm not sure of how that will change once I finish law school. |
| How Stressful | 3 | I really enjoy my work. My bosses are very laid back and stress free people. |
| Task Variety | 7 | Tasks are similar but each case adds new twists and turns. There is always something new to learn. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | There is always something new going on that keeps things exciting. People are living real life soap operas and you are in the middle of it. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | The bosses are very laid back and understanding. They are always willing to work with my school schedule or out of town trips. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | My bosses and I get along great. We just moved to a new office, though, and the other attorneys and assistants aren't that friendly. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary
Attended: Rutgers University • New Brunswick, NJ
Studied Sociology (completion in 2006)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 1/23/2012
"The paralegal in my office is the head lawyer's sister and she is very condescending and unpleasant to be around. Additionally, filing paperwork is tedious and boring. I would rather be doing more research."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 7 | Rutgers did not provide enough opportunities to find research positions within the field. I would have had liked to have had more assistance in this area. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 1 | At least in the firm that I am at, there are no opportunities to be promoted. In fact, the pay, I have recently found out, is subpar compared to others within the industry. |
| Job Security | 6 | It is a very small firm with not a large turnover. The lawyers are in subrogation so there is always work. |
| Earnings Potential | 1 | As I previously stated, I am severely underpaid. I am looking for more work, but within this economy it is pretty difficult. |
| How Stressful | 8 | The job itself is not very stressful, but it is the paralegal that makes it that way. She is always in my work and always condescending. It is as though no one can do anything correctly according to her. And don't ever expect a compliment!! |
| Task Variety | 3 | It is rare that the tasks are ever different. However, sometimes I am allowed to reconcile the Escrow accounts which I find rewarding and fun. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 2 | It is nice to be able to learn the medical terminology and coding, but there is nothing "cool" about it. Perhaps if it were more hands-on I would feel otherwise. |
| Career Flexibility | 5 | I currently work part time, splitting the position with another young female. We are able to work out our schedules together. |
| Social Orientation | 2 | There are only three other people who work within the office besides me, so there is not much opportunity to interact. The only outside interaction I get is from the mailman and the lawyer's wife who occasionally stops by. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary
Attended: ITT Technical Institute • Jackson, MS
Studied Legal Secretary (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 1/25/2012
"I enjoy my job. However, it is enormously frustrating seeing paralegals getting so much more money for doing the same exact work that I do."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 7 | I'd say we were well prepared. The fact is that in MS you don't even need the certificate, but they made sure we were prepared no matter where we might be in the future. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | Normally I'd say my chances were great. David loves my work, and I get a bonus every year. But he is 66 years old and even if I get promoted it won't be long until the offices close. |
| Job Security | 6 | My boss is nearing retirement age and I only work for one attorney. I am having to take a look at other options. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | Earnings are okay. Like I said, options aren't great unless you have the paralegal cert. |
| How Stressful | 2 | I rarely have stress. If I do it is with insane bankruptcy clients who just refuse to understand the law. |
| Task Variety | 5 | Same old thing, usually. Occasionally interesting new things come up though. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 5 | I think it is okay to say you work for a lawyer. However, unless you ARE a lawyer, the cool quotient isn't super high. |
| Career Flexibility | 7 | I am VERY lucky I have a boss who works with me. He offers me flexible hours when I need them, and even gave me paid maternity leave. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | My office has a good rapport. We don't have a lot of time to waste on socializing, though. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary II
Attended: Truckee Meadows Community College • Reno, NV
Studied Criminal Justice (completion in 2013)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 1/20/2012
"I just love knowing that I am a key component in making sure that a case is properly prepared (trial ready) and my Attorney has everything he or she needs to present their case. I also like knowing that even though my part is technically insignificant, if I do my job correctly, the cycle runs much smoother for all parties."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | I like learning, so the coursework itself was no problem. The instructors in the legal department, however, were as a whole, lacking in any personable or likeable traits. One teacher couldn't even be bothered to use the correct year! |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 10 | I can go anywhere in the US where there are people committing crime. As long as there are criminals and crime, I have a job that is needed for the defense/prosecution teams to represent their clients. |
| Job Security | 9 | I believe that as long as there is crime, there will be a need for people to represent, prosecute and monitor those committing the crimes. There will never be a shortage of criminals, so the workforce must be at least half as strong. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | I have great earning potential in my profession. I do ok now, but would probably make more working for a private attorney. |
| How Stressful | 10 | Sometimes it can be hard to leave my work at work. Certain cases have a tendency to linger in the mind. |
| Task Variety | 10 | Some tasks are routine and done daily. But the cases are always at least a little bit different. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | I love my job. I feel like I am playing a key part in a big production. |
| Career Flexibility | 5 | The calender follows the Government standards. I can conduct my work anywhere I have internet access, so I can work from home when needed. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I always meet new people: clients; court staff; attorneys; support staff; law enforcement. There is never a dull or boring day in the DA's office. |
Job Title: Contracts Specialist
Attended: The Evergreen State College • Olympia, WA
Studied Business (completion in 1994)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 1/22/2012
"Demanding level of accuracy and timeliness in completing the job. Not easy to assign others to help with the job when you need time off. Stress builds over time. Difficult on the body due to sitting, looking up and down and concentrating. Eye strain and back aches and strains are common everyday complaints."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | Focus was on business in general. Needed more on contract law. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 1 | I was thrown out like trash by the people I worked over twenty years for. I will not find work in this area for a long time. Have to retrain or something. |
| Job Security | 2 | I work for state government and because of legislature over spending on social programs, there is not any money for construction which funds my salary. I was squeezed out into a terrible job and ended up quitting and received no unemployment benefits. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | $45,000 after twenty years service - not that great in Pacific Northwest where housing is expense. State government is slow to adjust wages to be comparable with outside industry and if there is no money (which there is not today), they will not adjust the salary. They have forced state workers to take a 5% salary reduction for this biennium. |
| How Stressful | 7 | Turnaround times for assignments given are usually short. Personalities of staff can be less than desirable. Time off is difficult to take. All adds up on the stress you experience over time. |
| Task Variety | 5 | Some items are routine, like scheduling bid openings, reading bids, recording bids, filing. Documents that need to be produced vary depending on project. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | Legal secretary is not a very sexy position. You are not in the spotlight for receiving the glory if things go well. The attorney or project manager has to give you kudos or you receive none. Conversely, if something goes wrong, you are the first to be blamed. |
| Career Flexibility | 2 | Demanding turn around times for documents mean all absences must be planned. Difficult to find anyone who can help with work, either because of proprietary knowledge about a case, contract or project manager. Not enough experienced staff willing to help get the job done to highest standard of quality. |
| Social Orientation | 3 | Work only with program staff. Very little direct personal contact with outsiders. Some telephone contact with others, but only regarding business. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary/Paralegal
Attended: The College Of Charleston • Charleston, SC
Studied English, Women's And Gender Studies (completion in 2007)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 1/31/2012
"This job is challenging but enriching, and I enjoy having different duties each day. While lawyers, especially opposing counsel, can be difficult to work with, I thoroughly enjoy the opportunities this role has provided."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | I did not participate in a paralegal or Legal Secretary-track program. However, my English degree has given me many of the tools and skills necessary to succeed in this role. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 3 | I took this job knowing that there would be little room for advancement without attending law school. While I may be promoted to working with different attorneys, it is likely that I will remain in this role for my whole tenure with the company. |
| Job Security | 8 | I feel I have proven myself a valuable member of my legal team. Even when the economy is down, lawyers and paralegals are always needed (sometimes even more so) and I feel confident that I am secure in my role. |
| Earnings Potential | 9 | One very enjoyable aspect of this position is the salary that comes with it. I work very hard, but I am also rewarded very well for that effort, and my bonus/raise potential continues to increase. |
| How Stressful | 8 | Deadlines and attorney tempers are often very stressful factors in my daily responsibilities. However, keeping on top of deadlines and completing tasks as requested alleviate this. |
| Task Variety | 9 | Tasks can vary from the mundane/simple, such as getting mail and answering calls, to the very rushed and hurried, come trial/hearing time. Especially when working for multiple attorneys, no two days will be alike, which keeps life very interesting within a law firm. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 4 | I did not take this position for its "coolness," nor have I ever sought a career with "coolness." I took this job for the responsibilities and pride I get from it, neither of which are generally considered "cool." |
| Career Flexibility | 4 | I work as a Legal Secretary within a litigation-track firm, so there are often court dates/hearings looming over me, which create steadfast deadlines I must adhere to. There are few opportunities for part-time or at-home work. |
| Social Orientation | 8 | My most constant interactions are with the attorneys I directly work for. However, I am speaking with other secretaries and attorneys, opposing counsel, and court staff constantly, as well. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary
Attended: University Of Cincinnati, Clermont College • Batavia, OH
Studied Legal Assisting Technology (completion in 2004)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 1/26/2012
"I enjoy working in this field. However, there is little room for advancement in this field and it gets monotonous."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | Jeff Rubel is a very committed director. I enjoyed the program and learned a lot. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 4 | There are very few opportunities for promotion in this field, especially working for a small firm. |
| Job Security | 2 | I work for older lawyers who will retire soon. There is not much work available at this time, even in this large city. |
| Earnings Potential | 6 | The pay is decent when you work for decent attorneys. I have worked for attorneys who make millions and pay pennies, though. |
| How Stressful | 8 | I think it's an extremely stressful job. The lawyers expect you to take care of all the details, and even when they fail to let you know of changes, you need to keep track! |
| Task Variety | 4 | Most days are not exactly the same. But I'm always dealing with the same things. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 3 | It used to be exciting. However, I have become very jaded of the whole legal system and process. |
| Career Flexibility | 4 | Very little flexibility in my schedule. I am usually the only one who HAS to show up at the office. |
| Social Orientation | 3 | I work for a small firm, so there is almost no social interaction. And there is no one I'd want to interact with socially even if there was! |
Job Title: Legal Secretary
Attended: Salem State College • Salem, MA
Studied Professional Writing/English (completion in 2007)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 1/26/2012
"I had hoped to work in a different, more creative field. Although I don't mind working as a legal secretary, it's not what I wanted out of life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 7 | It's a state college. You get what you pay for, I suppose. You got what you put into the program. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 3 | I would need to get a paralegal certificate in order to get promoted, really. It's a small office so there's no opportunity to become office manager. |
| Job Security | 8 | My attorney relies on me pretty heavily. If he fired me, he'd have to spend a lot of time training someone, and many legal secretaries are not as technologically skilled as I am. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | Legal secretaries are a bit better off than typical secretaries. That said, it's not exactly a job you need a master's degree for, so I'm not going to be able to make a lot of money. |
| How Stressful | 7 | When the pressure gets heavy, my boss often becomes stressed as well. I have to put in a lot of hours trying to get stuff done. |
| Task Variety | 5 | Our cases are pretty interesting, so it's different most of the time. That said, eventually all legal work gets pretty similar after a while. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 3 | I sit behind a desk. Sometimes our office deals with exciting cases, but it's not like I'm the lawyer or anything. |
| Career Flexibility | 7 | Because I work with a solo-practitioner, I have a very flexible schedule. If I need to take time off, he's definitely willing to work with me. |
| Social Orientation | 7 | We don't deal with clients too often in the office, but I do talk to them on the phone frequently. I have to have some level of social skills to maintain the proper aura of a law office. |
Job Title: Legal Executive Assistant
Attended: California State University, Fullerton • Fullerton, CA
Studied Anthropology (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 1/30/2012
"I am somewhat satisfied with my career because it typically pays well, but you are overworked and undervalued. Also, the majority of attorneys I have worked for are unappreciative and have an unprofessional office demeanor (control/power issues)."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | The University I attended had qualified professors and small class sizes, which was better than most CSU's. However, there were limited options for internships and the degree did not prepare me for the field of Anthropology. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 1 | There are no opportunities for promotion in this company for my position. If I request to transfer to a different department, I run the risk of a power play between my current manager and the other department and would most likely be fired. |
| Job Security | 1 | The company I work for has a high turnover rate and does not have a qualified HR office to handle issues that come up for employees. The employees are at the mercy of fickle personalities of immediate managers. The company values the executives and pays better salaries and also gives yearly bonuses and stock options to executives, but not to regular or salaried employees. |
| Earnings Potential | 6 | The earnings potential for a legal secretary is good depending on the type of firm you work for. If you work for a large, established firm, you are likely to receive yearly pay increases and bonuses. |
| How Stressful | 10 | Working with attorneys alone is a stressful situation. They are often overworked and take it out on you. Also, the deadlines between filings and calendaring can be stressful if a mistake is made. Unless the law firm you work provides a professional support system for copying, filing and other things, most of the work will fall on the legal secretary to complete. |
| Task Variety | 5 | The variation of the day-to-day tasks depend on which type of law your firm practices. In construction litigation, the work can be very repetitious. In patent work it can also be repetitious, but working for General Counsel in a Corporation may have various work assignments day to day. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 1 | Working as a legal secretary is not a very "cool" career. I suppose, however, it can be cool depending on the company you work for, but that would be the company being "cool" - not the career. |
| Career Flexibility | 5 | There are options for me to work as a word processor or legal transcriptionist for firms on varying shifts. Also, some firms and companies hire part time, but it is difficult to find something like that in the area I live in. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | I tend to socially interact with other assistants and secretaries, but this is still difficult to do as there are often issues of competition between them. Other legal secretaries will often refuse to help when needed which creates animosity. Also, there are issues with confidentiality. Lastly, socializing in the office is difficult with attorneys because often attorneys do not have outgoing personalities and if they do, not with their secretaries. There seems to be a strict "class" system within law firms, sometimes even between assistants, paralegals, receptionists, and mail staff. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary
Attended: Legal Studies Institute At FIU • Miami, FL
Studied Legal Secretary (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 1/27/2012
"I enjoy my career mainly because I enjoy working with attorneys. I will be going to law school this year and this job is exciting for me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | I obtained the Legal Secretary Certification from the Legal Studies Institute at Florida International University. It has a very good program with qualified and experienced instructors who are themselves workers in the legal field. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 2 | I believe I have no opportunity for promotion because I work for such a small firm (2 attorneys). The only possibility would be to graduate from law school and work as an attorney at the firm. |
| Job Security | 10 | I feel very secure working for this company because of the financial stability of the firm. I believe I perform all my tasks as I should and therefore believe there is a high level of job security. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | There is not much of an earning potential mainly because it is paid by the hour. If you work 40 hours per week and have an hourly salary, you will end up making the same amount in wages every week. |
| How Stressful | 9 | It is a very stressful job having to deal with many things at the same time. It requires a lot of patience (when dealing with clients), memory skills, and being able to multitask. |
| Task Variety | 2 | The tasks in this job barely vary. It is usually the same thing every day: answering the phone, maintaining the calendar, setting motions, etc. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | My job is very flexible when it comes to time schedules. They are usually able to adjust it depending of my school schedule, sick days, or vacation. |
| Social Orientation | 8 | It is a career in which you have to be constantly interacting with different types of people, both in person and over the phone. Those may include clients, attorneys, judges, and assistants, among others. |
Job Title: Sr. Legal Administrator
Attended: University Of Washington • Seattle, WA
Studied Business (completion in 2007)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 1/29/2012
"I could be making better money. The pace of the work is good though."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | The teachers were mostly business rejects. The networking was worth it. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | There's no other position above mine. I'm kinda stuck. |
| Job Security | 8 | I'm good at what I do. If I left, nobody would be able to run the show. |
| Earnings Potential | 3 | Kind of a dead end. No other avenue up. |
| How Stressful | 8 | High pressure. Lots of incoming calls. |
| Task Variety | 2 | I answer calls and file. That sums it up. |
| Social Orientation | 9 | All of my time is spent with people. My only break is when I file. |
Job Title: Administrative Assistant, Legal
Attended: Rutgers • New Brunswick, NJ
Studied English (completion in 2011)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 1/30/2012
"The work flow is constantly keeping me busy, but it can get monotonous at times. Sometimes, I also feel like I go above and beyond without the compensation I deserve."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | The English program was lush. There were many classes of varying topics, and the professors were very knowledgeable. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 2 | I can only see myself getting a title shift to an executive or senior admin. There's not much room for growth. |
| Job Security | 5 | It seems stable right now. However, you never know what can happen down the line. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | The pay is pretty good. Since I work in corporate law, incentives like bonuses exist. |
| How Stressful | 9 | The office is constantly busy, and I really need to keep on top of meetings, paper work, etc. With law, being meticulous is a must, and any misstep can lead to one irate lawyer! |
| Task Variety | 5 | There are general tasks that are required daily. Sometimes I'll receive an urgent task (e.g. contract to proofread), but the work is mostly the same. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 5 | It's not especially glamorous. The only glamor is saying you work with lawyers - people respect the hard work. |
| Career Flexibility | 3 | It is not especially flexible. Legal admins work long hours. |
| Social Orientation | 7 | I deal with many clients. Most of my time is spent behind a desk doing paperwork, however. |
Job Title: Legal Assistant/Legal Secretary
Attended: Cornell University • Ithaca, NY
Studied Communication Arts (completion in 1985)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 1/31/2012
"It isn't what I was trained to do. I went into it because I needed the money, but I like the responsibility and challenge, and so I am reasonably satisfied."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | I didn't go to school for this. The university did not have this type of program anyway. | |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 1 | It's a dead end job. You can end up a secretary to a partner, but you'll never be promoted in the administration. |
| Job Security | 5 | The job market is bad. A lot of people were laid off, and firms are only now starting to slowly hire again. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | You start out with a decent wage. It's higher than a regular secretary, and you can rise to a relatively high level. But there's a cap and you'll never go higher. Your raises will be one or two percent, and you're not allowed to negotiate, even if you're spectacular at what you do. |
| How Stressful | 7 | You're always told to speed up. You get things last for typing and mailing, so you have lots of responsibility. You get blamed when things go awry even if your lawyer is at fault. |
| Task Variety | 2 | Get used to typing, filing, and answering phones. That's pretty much what you do every day. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 1 | You spend all day filing, answering phones, and typing. You don't work "with" people; you work "for" them. You're considered secondary, even though you're essential to keep the firm running. |
| Career Flexibility | 1 | A secretary is expected to be at the desk and available at all times. Associates get a lot of leeway, but secretaries are second-class citizens. |
| Social Orientation | 7 | Secretaries hang out together. They desk visit and have lunch together. |
Job Title: Office Assistant
Attended: Georgia College & State University • Milledgeville, GA
Studied English (completion in 2011)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 2/8/2012
"I enjoy the challenge of working in this new field. I have been in this career for three months and find that each day brings a new task."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | I attended a Liberal Arts University. It prepared me for quick and rational thinking. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 10 | I am afforded many opportunities for advancement. I just need to maintain focus and energy and keep learning more about the field. |
| Job Security | 10 | I am the most recent in a long line of attempts to hire a permanent employee. They like me and I work well in this environment. They intend to keep me. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | I make a decent wage and there are opportunities for bonuses for a job well done. I enjoy what I do and the money is enough for me to get by. |
| How Stressful | 7 | Pretty stressful when we are on deadline. My boss is great at lessening the stress at other times. |
| Task Variety | 10 | Daily tasks are different everyday. I have yet to be bored. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | I work in a converted theatre. How much cooler can it get? |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I can go from this to virtually any position for a Federal Contractor. I can focus on the marketing aspect of the job. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I constantly engage with clients, fellow staff, and potential clients. I enjoy the constant stream of communication. |
Job Title: Secretary/Administrative Assistant
Attended: Johnson County Community College • Overland Park, KS
Studied Liberal Arts (completion in 2013)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 2/9/2012
"I personally just don't enjoy the work. It's monotonous and I don't enjoy my fellow employees."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | I enjoy school, but it's hard to make time for it. Especially because for my career I don't see it getting me much farther than I am now. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 7 | Currently, I don't see much opportunity for it. However, in the future I could see many doors open for me to get promoted. |
| Job Security | 9 | I've never been concerned about losing my job. I work hard when I'm here and get along well with my bosses, so I don't see any reason that I'd ever be let go. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | I started off at a higher pay than most going into an entry level position. However, I don't see that my earnings will ever grow much. |
| How Stressful | 2 | My particular job isn't very stressful unless you count the drama with co-workers. But many others that I work with do get stressed out a lot about their jobs. |
| Task Variety | 2 | Some days things get shaken up a bit and I have a new project to work on. But for the most part it's just moving from one boring job to something just as monotonous. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 1 | I don't consider my job to be 'cool' or 'glamorous' in any way, shape, or form. Doing the same boring work day after day isn't something I consider to be very prestigious. |
| Career Flexibility | 7 | I actually started full time and recently switched to part-time. My boss is very good about working with me on my schedule. We have numerous employees that work from home or work part-time. |
| Social Orientation | 7 | I do get to talk to many people during the day and I get to interact with my co-workers. However, with me being so young (21), I don't connect much with the people I work with on a daily basis. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary
Attended: Everett Community College • Everett, WA
Studied Business Technology (completion in 2013)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 2/18/2012
"I am happy with the business employment choices I have made; however, Legal Reception is much more demanding than most other jobs."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | My school is very hands-on and there are never moments when you feel unable to ask a question. Instructors are always there to guide you. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 9 | I am sure promotion is also not an issue to worry about. I am very good at what I do. |
| Job Security | 9 | The legal reception job route is pretty open. I do not feel any threat of lacking a job when I am out of school. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | I feel that the level of income for this position is just right. Not too little, not terribly high. |
| How Stressful | 10 | In this job field, everything must be completely perfect, at all times. I do feel it is somewhat stressful. |
| Task Variety | 5 | It is the same set of tasks, day to day. Nothing really changes. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 4 | It's not exactly a rockstar job. I do enjoy it though! |
| Career Flexibility | 5 | I do not think my job field is very time-flexible. I am sure it is likely to be the same hours every day. |
| Social Orientation | 9 | I am sure I will be seeing many more people,as time goes on in this job. So far, it appears that one does not merely sit behind the desk all day. There is a lot of meeting and greeting going on. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary
Attended: Penn Foster Career School • Scranton, PA
Studied Legal Secretary (completion in 2012)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 2/20/2012
"I would like to be more involved in the cases that they have. I open cases and close them, but I would like to be more hands-on with the case."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | It gave me a lot of insight on what to expect from my position. The school taught me a lot of terms that I had no idea what they were previously. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | I would have to continue my education in the legal field in order to get promoted. I do believe that if I were to be with this company for 2 years or more, that they would promote me to a legal assistant, just from the knowledge I have. |
| Job Security | 10 | I am secure in this position because the lawyers here depend on the things I do daily. They cannot answer the phones themselves, they know that I will screen the calls, and make them aware of who it is that is calling. I also am the one who opens the cases when we get them, and close them when they are done. That takes a lot off of their plates. |
| Earnings Potential | 1 | For what I do, I feel like I should be getting more money. The people I work with are very dependent on me and what I do, so more money than what I am making now is very realistic and reasonable. |
| How Stressful | 2 | My position is not stressful at all. I answer phones, I order supplies, and I open mail. Opening and closing cases is not hard, and there are different ways that you can open a case based on what type of case it is, but it is repetitive work. |
| Task Variety | 2 | Everyday I come to work I answer phones, open mail, and screen phone calls. We don't get new cases everyday, but when we do I open them, and whenever a case closes I close it out of the system, but that's not everyday work either. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 7 | We have prestige in this office simply because of who we do work for and how well it gets done. There is no glamor to the job, though. You have to dress professionally, but not all the time. |
| Career Flexibility | 5 | I cannot work from home simply because I am the person who answers the lines here. My work schedule is alright, but I understand that I have to be here the times that I do work. If I ever need time off they are very understanding and don't have a problem with it. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I talk to people every day on the phone. I gather the correct information from them to pass the call through. Interaction within the company is also great. We talk about personal things more so than business. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary
Attended: Temple University • Philadelphia, PA
Studied English Literature (completion in 2006)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 2/27/2012
"Although I enjoy my job for the most part, I am a legal secretary in divorce court, and the clients usually are not very pleasant. I also find that I don't get to use my writing skill very much; I make a lot of photocopies, generate forms, and generally don't have a lot of creative freedom in my job."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | Temple was a large school, and I did not receive much individual attention while there. I also studied English Literature, which is something that most schools can teach in a decent manner but aren't really known for. Everyone wants someone who can write and communicate well though, so having this degree did help. I did not go to paralegal school, so I have no rating on that. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | Unfortunately, there aren't very many positions above mine. Any moves I make will be lateral and not upward. |
| Job Security | 8 | People will always get divorced, and the judges and magistrates that I work for do not want to do their own paperwork. People also have a lot of questions that their attorneys may not answer for them, so they call and talk to me. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | I feel I get paid a decent amount of money for the work I do. I haven't gotten a raise in the past four years though because the county I work for is not in a good financial situation. I know I could make more if I went to private practice, but then I may have to work longer hours and not have benefits. |
| How Stressful | 9 | Things need to be done quickly because clients are not willing to wait around for decisions and decrees. Oftentimes it is hard to do everything that needs to be done in one day. Attorneys, clients, magistrates, and judges can be breathing down my neck as well. |
| Task Variety | 6 | Every case is just a little bit different. The forms and documents that need to be filed are almost always the same. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 7 | Truthfully, I don't think my job is that cool, but people seem to think it is when I tell them what I do. I think people see being a legal secretary as something not many people do, so it becomes a cool job to have. |
| Career Flexibility | 6 | I have very set hours and do not work weekends. This gives me flexibility with my social life; however, I do not have the option to work from home. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | There are days when I don't talk to many people, but there are other days when I get a lot of telephone calls, walk-ins, and other things. I tend to talk to my coworkers quite a bit, but often it is in short snippets as we work. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary/Paralegal
Attended: West Los Angeles College • Culver City, CA
Studied Legal Secretary (completion in 2008)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 2/25/2012
"The legal field can be difficult. A legal secretary has more pressure than a general secretary. I feel a lot of pressure in my job."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 7 | The school has a good program. There are not a lot of schools with programs for legal secretaries. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 8 | Legal secretaries can become paralegals by getting a paralegal certificate, which I have done. |
| Job Security | 8 | I believe law firms will always need legal secretaries. We perform many tasks that cannot be absorbed. |
| Earnings Potential | 9 | Legal secretaries make very good earnings. If you work for a good firm and put in a number of years, you will make a good living. |
| How Stressful | 9 | Due to court dates there is much pressure to get documents filed and meet deadlines on a constant basis. There are also personalities under pressure with trials, mediations, etc. |
| Task Variety | 3 | Tasks are usually similar most days, although they can differ depending on the situations in the cases. If a case is interesting, the tasks are interesting. However, most tasks are routine. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 3 | I wouldn't say it's the least cool job in the world, but it's definitely not considered a "cool" job, unless you do criminal law. That might elevate it. |
| Career Flexibility | 3 | There is not much flexibility in this career. You must be at the office with the attorneys you work with. |
| Social Orientation | 9 | Much social interaction. We work very hard, but we're together all day long. There is plenty of opportunity to socialize, but it's important to keep focused on the work. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary
Attended: Brookdale Community College • Lincroft, NJ
Studied Criminal Justice And Paralegal Studies (completion in 1991)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 2/25/2012
"I love the satisfaction I get from helping a client through a difficult time in their life. I like the fact that I make a good salary even though I only had to go to school for 2 years. In my job I assist attorneys and oftentimes get interesting cases and clients to interact with."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | My school was not accredited at the time I attended - the program was still going through the process of being accredited as a formal Paralegal Program. Although it did not hinder my obtaining a career, it was difficult for some of my classmates. I was lucky enough to procure my first job with a Professor at the school, which then led me to a much bigger firm where I have been for 17 years. While the school was helpful, the best education is on the job training. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 6 | There are not too many instances when a promotion is granted. You are pretty much either a secretary to an associate or a partner and there is no increase in pay where I am. I was recently given the duties of helping the Business Manager as a part time assistant, though. |
| Job Security | 6 | I believe the legal field is going through a lot of trying times right now with the current economic down trend. However, where I am my firm is continuously expanding. All of my co-workers and I are at will employees so you never know what will happen. As I am part time, I would be one of the first to go even in light of my work experience and years on the job, so I rate my stability as only slightly better than average. |
| Earnings Potential | 9 | I am limited in salary at the firm I work for, but if I chose to move to a more metropolitan area, my salary could easily double. However, when the firm does well, we all do well, so hopefully when the economy stabilizes, we will see better results. |
| How Stressful | 9 | Depending on the area of law you work in and WHO you work for, the stress level can be very difficult to deal with. The stress also can come and go on a daily basis depending on the work load, i.e. an upcoming trial or an emergency with filing a pleading. I am working in the overflow department mostly as a floater so I usually get the rush jobs and the emergencies. |
| Task Variety | 9 | Again, for me, I am an overflow/floater so I deal with a different department every day. My duties with the Business Manager also offer a break from the daily grind. However, in the past I was stuck in one area and that can be quite draining. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | Although not considered an exciting career, it does have perks. I have met politicians and celebrities (local), and I have been able to attend quite a few lavish dinners for charitable organizations my firm is active with. My firm is also very well known in our county so the mere mention of where I work sometimes can turn heads. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I am very lucky that I can work flexible hours, which fluctuate every week. I also can work from home and on weekends. |
| Social Orientation | 9 | Our firm is very social, both inside and outside of work. We have many luncheons, firm gatherings, parties, and charitable events. We have a large cafeteria where break time is very casual and social. We also get together often for dinners and parties as groups outside of work. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary And Paralegal
Attended: Roger Williams • Providence, RI
Studied Paralegal Studies (completion in 2007)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 3/6/2012
"I went into this work looking to work with people. I get to do that, but often I have to do lots of doc review."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | Roger Williams provided a good, broad overview. That said, it didn't let me specialize as much as I'd have liked. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 7 | Depending on what you want to do, you can become a paralegal. Beyond that, however, and you'll need to go to law school. |
| Job Security | 5 | The market is only getting more saturated. It doesn't help that some of my work can be outsourced. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | You can only earn so much as a legal secretary. If you want to make it big, you'll need at least to be a paralegal. |
| How Stressful | 6 | Once you get into the swing of things, it becomes easier. When you start out, it can be stressful. |
| Task Variety | 6 | It honestly depends on the case. I've spent weeks on the same doc review project, but at the same time I've interviewed multiple witnesses for multiple cases in the same day. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 2 | I stare at a computer all day looking at documents. Otherwise, I'm scheduling things. It's pretty boring. |
| Career Flexibility | 5 | I can move around within a narrow band of specialties. That said, I'd need to train up a lot more if I wanted to move from, say, corporate law to criminal law. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | I work in a small office without a large peer group. That said, I've made friends with area paralegals, so it's been nice so far. |
Job Title: Law Clerk
Attended: SUNY Oswego • Oswego, NY
Studied English (completion in 2006)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/9/2012
"On some days I feel useful with the amount of research produced. On other days I feel helpless when the work piles up and there is no appreciation for the results."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | They train you with communication and english skills. They do not tell you what fields you will or will not succeed in. It took me a long time to find this job and settle in. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 2 | The most a secretary in the legal world can be promoted to is assistant researcher. I currently do a mixture of both jobs. |
| Job Security | 9 | Nothing is ever 100%, but I work for a firm where the partners opened the place. Not to mention I have a contract that requires me to stay on board for at least 5 years. |
| Earnings Potential | 6 | I started at minimum wage, and got a raise after 6 months. I consider my 32k a year salary to be average. |
| How Stressful | 8 | The deadlines are set, but something always changes. You have to be on top of your toes, so to speak. |
| Task Variety | 6 | I answer phones, get lunches and coffees, and reply to email. Somedays I do research with a paralegal, and that's the most variation I get. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 5 | I get to dress fashionably. Other than that, it's an everyday job. |
| Career Flexibility | 1 | You are there when the partners tell you to be there. Lawyers don't work weekends. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I am always on the phone with a client, or sending mail to a client. In addition, the partners are very friendly and we all go to lunch together. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary/Paralegal
Attended: Becker College • Worcester, MA
Studied Legal Studies/Paralegal Studies (completion in 1998)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/7/2012
"I have been working in my field for the same employer since shortly after graduating, almost 14 years ago. While the job comes with a great deal of stress at times, I enjoy what I do. I am fortunate to work in a small, family owned law office that has provided me with the opportunity to learn on the job and grow professionally. I feel like a valuable and important part of the office."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 9 | The program I was enrolled in was a 2 part program. You first obtained an Associates Degree after 2 years, and then a Bachelors Degree after another 2. So, technically, I have an Associates Degree in Legal Studies and a Bachelor's Degree in Paralegal Studies. The program provided access to paid internships which allowed students, myself included, to get real world experience in the selected field. For me, it helped me to narrow the type of law I was interested in working in upon graduation. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 7 | In my current position, I have reached the highest level of promotion. If I were to change employers, work in a larger firm, or in different type of law, I could possibly find work where there was more room or availability for growth. For me, this is not a priority as I am happy and secure in my current employment position. |
| Job Security | 10 | There will always be a need for lawyers, and as such always a need for legal assistants and secretaries. I work in the family law field of law, and given the divorce rates in our country, the demand for quality legal assistance is on the rise. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | I think that there is a wide range of earning potential in this career, and it depends on a number of factors. Education and experience are first and foremost. It also matters what geographical area you work in, and the type of law. Large cities, large firms, and corporate law firms tend to provide higher salaries. |
| How Stressful | 9 | People do not hire attorneys when they are happy. Most people who come to see an attorney are in a bad place emotionally, medically, or financially and therefore are not always pleasant to deal with. You are often seeing people at their worst, and unfortunately they can and often do take their frustrations with the situation or process out on you. |
| Task Variety | 4 | I don't think there is a lot of variation in the day-to-day tasks. Occasionally, you will come across something new or out of the ordinary. However, a majority of the time you have certain items that are necessary for each case, each client, each hearing, etc. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 5 | Most of the time, it is not a glamorous job, and with the exception of some high profile cases, not usually very exciting. By contrast, it is usually a lot of the same, and being the "support" staff you do most of the work and don't get any (or much) of the glory. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | Personally, I have been able to have a great amount of flexibility in my job. It is certainly a benefit to working for a small firm for a number of years. I have had the ability to take an extended maternity leave, and come back on a part-time basis and job-share with another employee. I know this is not necessarily the case in all offices, but I do believe that, given the fact that a large volume of our work load is done on computers and electronically, technology certainly allows for the ability to work part-time or outside of the office. Additionally, there are jobs in this field available anywhere. There are lawyers of all types in every state and in most cities in the country, in various specialties. There is a great deal of flexibility in deciding the type of law you wish to work in, which provides many options in deciding what type of law interests you. |
| Social Orientation | 9 | There is a great deal of time spent communicating with others. This is the case whether it is meeting with or speaking to clients, either in person or by phone, or speaking with opposing counsel, their support staff or Court personnel. With email, communication is now done much quicker and more efficiently. Also, there are several opportunities, if a person is interested, to network outside of the office through paralegal groups. Personally, working in a small office, the support staff often socialize outside of work. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary/Admin Assistant
Attended: Lonestar Tomball College • Houston, TX
Studied Business (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 3/7/2012
"It is very interesting work, but it can get tedious. I like the flexibility, but the pay isn't great."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 3 | I received an associates and certificate in business. It is not really related to the legal world. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 1 | There are no opportunities to get promoted. The only way I would move along is to go back to school and become a lawyer. |
| Job Security | 5 | The job is fine for now, but I need more money in the future. I need more money in the future because I plan to have a family. |
| Earnings Potential | 4 | No real potential for growth. Therefore, no real potential for future earnings. |
| How Stressful | 5 | I think the stress level is average. It is just like any other job. |
| Task Variety | 7 | Because the cases are different, the tasks will vary. I do have my everyday jobs, though - for example, some accounting tasks. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | I think legal work is pretty cool. The field is very interesting, which in my opinion makes it "cool." |
| Career Flexibility | 9 | My career is very flexible. I am able to take time off when I need to. |
| Social Orientation | 4 | The office is a little slow. I do not get a large amount of interaction with people. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary And Transcriptionist
Attended: University Of Southern Maine • Portland, ME
Studied Political Science (completion in 2014)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/8/2012
"I like my job, but sometimes feel like working with attorneys is less than satisfying."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 7 | USM is a great school with quality instructors. I do not feel like my degree was a necessity to working in the field as I had done this work straight out of high school. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 3 | In a small, office growth is limited. Corporate offices may offer more growth or a job family. |
| Job Security | 8 | I have never been laid off. There are no foreseeable layoffs in the future. |
| Earnings Potential | 6 | I am able to make ends meet, but it does depend on where you work. Some offices require long hours for salaried wages. |
| How Stressful | 8 | This career can be very stressful depending on who you are working with. Finding friendly managers and attorneys to work with is essential. |
| Task Variety | 8 | I get a lot of the same types of tasks but often with different names, topics, or requests. You will deal with lots of different types of people in this field. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 3 | Not very glamorous, but you do get the occasional thank you outing or gift. No one grows up saying they want to be a legal secretary! |
| Career Flexibility | 5 | It depends on who you work for. I work for myself so I have fairly good flexibility, but it does depend on client demands and deadlines. |
| Social Orientation | 7 | I've met a lot of people in this field. There are lots of opportunities for networking. |
Job Title: Legal Secretary
Attended: Bryant & Stratton Institute • Buffalo, NC
Studied Executive Secretarial (completion in 1972)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 3/9/2012
"I've worked over 30 years in legal in various capacities (secretary, paralegal and office management). It has changed significantly during those years and the stress level has grown due to the great amount of responsibility being forced on secretaries/paralegals. A secretary used to work for maybe one partner and an associate. Now they are assigned up to four attorneys which is ridiculous."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 3 | It was a business school that charged outrageous fees and had outdated equipment. I learned much more when I left and joined the real world. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 1 | In a law firm you are either an attorney, a paralegal or a legal secretary. Even though many legal secretaries do paralegal work, most larger law firms require a four-year degree plus a 2 year certificate. Not too many secretaries are promoted without this educational backup. |
| Job Security | 3 | Legal secretaries used to be in great demand, but law firms were hit very hard by the bad economy. I have never seen so many cutbacks in this field and it has had a very negative impact on job security. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | I've seen great increases in salaries for legal secretaries ($60,000 for an experienced litigator) which does help compensate for the increased level of stress. Although secretaries are usually "salaried,” they qualify for overtime when approved, so that's also a nice increase. Most firms are also offering good benefits such as medical, 401(k) matches, and generous vacation (I get nearly 6 weeks). |
| How Stressful | 10 | Deadlines, unreasonable amount of work/responsibility, overtime, documentation, etc., only add to an already high stress level. Litigation is the worst since dealing with the courts with the all rules and regulations is overly taxing. |
| Task Variety | 6 | Every day is different because I work for four attorneys who practice in various fields of law. Family law involves so many different aspects that it changes every day, and that's the same for most areas of law. The most boring legal field, to me, is real estate. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 4 | I was proud to be in the field since I always worked for the heads of departments, firms, etc. However, now I'm working for four partners and it's not so "cool" or prestigious. Like I stated previously, I believe the legal field has changed significantly in the past few years and it's not fun anymore. |
| Career Flexibility | 4 | It has become more flexible than it was when I started out. I see young women who start an hour or so earlier and end an hour or so earlier for childcare issues. There are also more job shares/flex time offerings, but these are difficult to work out and are not offered enough. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | I have wonderful friends at work and interact when time permits (lunches, cocktails, etc.). The firm also has functions that include staff and attorneys so that helps keep everyone on a nice social level. |
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