JOB PROFILE
What Is a Legal Secretary?
IN THIS JOB PROFILE
You Will Learn.
- What a Legal Secretary is.
- What the responsibilities of a Legal Secretary are.
- What qualifications a Legal Secretary needs.
- Average salary of a Legal Secretary.
- What skills a Legal Secretary needs.
- Who employs a Legal Secretary.
- Where the latest Legal Secretary jobs are and how to apply for them.
What Is a Legal Secretary?
A Legal Secretary is someone who plays an important role supporting a legal team with tasks to ensure the smooth running of the department. They take time consuming tasks off lawyers' hands varying in complexity from providing valuable administrative duties to managing diaries. The role can vary depending on the employer and the area of law.
What Are the Responsibilities of a Legal Secretary?
While working as a Legal Secretary, you will be required to:
- Liaise with clients.
- Attend court when requested.
- Produce legal documents.
- Manage expenses.
- Carry out administrative tasks such as maintaining client records, filing, scanning and faxing documents.
- Type professional correspondents from dictation.
- Manage diaries and appointments.
- Take phone calls.
- Update case management system.
- Assist other team members when required.
- Handle confidential information in line with the firm’s data security protocols.
- Ensure compliance procedures are adhered to.
- Build and maintain relationships with the team and clients.
- Support with legal research.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Qualifications Do Legal Secretaries Need?
To work as a Legal Secretary, there are no set qualifications required but an employer will usually request 5 GCSEs at grade C or above.
Routes to becoming a Legal Secretary can be a progressive one, starting from a more administrative role.
You can also complete a Legal Secretaries Diploma course which will teach you about different areas of the law and the day-day tasks involved with the role.
Having a Legal Secretary qualification can be an advantage, but it is not always essential
What Is the Average Salary of a Legal Secretary?
The average salary for a Legal Secretary is between £20,000 to £35,000 per year. However, this can vary depending on a number of factors such as location, experience, and the size of the law firm.
In London, for example, the average salary tends to be higher due to the higher cost of living. Additionally, Legal Secretaries with more experience or those working in larger law firms may earn higher salaries.
Who Employs a Legal Secretary?
Due to the scope of the role, a Legal Secretary may find work with a range of different employers. A Legal Secretary often has the ability to choose the sort of working environment that best suits them.
Employers include law firms, courts, banks, estate agents, in-house legal departments, Local Authorities and being self employed.
What Skills Does a Legal Secretary Need?
Key skills of a Legal Secretary include:
- Good attention to detail.
- Audio typing skills.
- Familiarity with office procedures.
- Ability to multi-task and take initiative.
- Accurate and fast typing speed.
- Organised.
- Understanding of legal procedures and the law.
- Computer literate and use main computer software confidently.
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
- Ability to work well with others.
- Patience with the ability to remain calm in high pressure environments.
- Customer service skills.
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