National
| Median wages (2008) |
$19.16 hourly, $39,860 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
275,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Average (7% to 13%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
76,000 additional employees |
43-6012.00 - Legal Secretaries
Perform secretarial duties utilizing legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.
Sample of reported job titles:
Legal Secretary, Secretary
Tasks
- Prepare and process legal documents and papers, such as summonses, subpoenas, complaints, appeals, motions, and pretrial agreements.
- Mail, fax, or arrange for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses, and court officials.
- Receive and place telephone calls.
- Schedule and make appointments.
- Make photocopies of correspondence, documents, and other printed matter.
- Organize and maintain law libraries, documents, and case files.
- Assist attorneys in collecting information such as employment, medical, and other records.
- Attend legal meetings, such as client interviews, hearings, or depositions, and take notes.
- Draft and type office memos.
- Review legal publications and perform database searches to identify laws and court decisions relevant to pending cases.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Notebook computers — Laptop computers |
| Pagers |
| Personal computers |
| Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers — Personal digital assistants PDA |
| Special purpose telephones — Multiline phone systems |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Accounting software — Billing software; Intuit Quicken software; Sage Peachtree software |
| Document management software — Filing system software |
| Electronic mail software — IBM Lotus Notes; Microsoft Outlook |
| Information retrieval or search software — Legal research software; LexisNexis software; Thomson West WestlawPRO |
| Word processing software — Electronic diary software; Microsoft Word; Transcription software |
