Legal Office Assistant Job Description

Legal office assistants must be skilled at taking notes during meetings.

A legal assistant or secretary performs administrative duties using legal terminology, documents and procedures. They are responsible for preparing legal correspondence, such as complaints, subpoenas, summons and motions. Legal research may also be part of the job. Legal assistants may have to make and receive calls, schedule appointments, draft and type office memos and organize and maintain law libraries, documents and case files.

Duties

The duties of a legal assistant include making photocopies of correspondence and documents, processing invoices, preparing tax reports, maintaining inventory of office forms and filling out purchase requisitions. Legal assistant also have to file documents in court, take dictation, keep telephone logs, take messages, prepare corporate minute books and enter time sheet information. Using computers and planning meeting and conferences may also be a part of the job.

Skills

The skills required to become a legal assistant include active listening skills, reading comprehension skills, time management skills and speaking skills. Being able to listen effectively is important when taking notes in meetings is crucial. Reading comprehension skills are great for understanding written information in legal documents. It helps to have time management skills in order to coordinate the week’s appointments and activities. Speaking skills are required to convey information effectively. Oral expression skills, speech clarity and oral comprehension skills are also required to be able to listen and understand verbal information, speak clearly so that people can understand you and to effectively communicate information verbally.

Requirements

Some of the requirements of becoming a legal assistant include obtaining at least a high school diploma. Some legal assistants are required to be familiar with software applications, like spreadsheets, word processing and database management. Legal assistants are required to be proficient in keyboarding and good at grammar, spelling, punctuation and oral communication. Having good customer service skills and interpersonal skills is also something employers value, since legal office assistants need to be careful when dealing with people. They must also be organized, have good judgment, practice discretion and work independently. Many legal assistants obtain their skills through vocational training programs that teach office skills and keyboarding.

Working Conditions

Legal assistants generally work in office settings and their job involves sitting for most of the work day. Most legal assistants use computers to complete the day’s tasks, which could cause eyestrain, stress, headaches and repetitive motion ailments, like carpal tunnel syndrome. Most legal assistant work a standard 40-hour work week. Understanding legal terminology is a condition of the job on a daily basis.

Salary

As of 2010, legal assistants make an average annual salary of $41,640, according to My Plan's website.

References

• My Plan: Legal Secretaries Job Description