Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Office & Administrative
• O*NET-SOC code: 43-6012
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.
• Assist attorneys in collecting information such as employment, medical, and other records.
• Complete various forms, such as accident reports, trial and courtroom requests, and applications for clients.
• Receive and place telephone calls.
• Schedule and make appointments.
• Draft and type office memos.
• Submit articles and information from searches to attorneys for review and approval for use.
• Make travel arrangements for attorneys.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Word, A1-Law, ADP Workforce Now, AbacusNext HotDocs

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Paralegals and Legal Assistants
• Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
• Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
• Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
• Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners
• Correspondence Clerks
• Office Clerks, General
• Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.