How to Type for Lawyers

Busy attorneys work on deadlines and often need a typist to draft documents for them.

Attorneys often hire paralegals and legal support staff to help the attorney prepare legal documents. Some legal documents may be lengthy; it is not uncommon for an attorney to need to have multiple 50-page documents written for different cases each week. The busier the lawyer is, the more that lawyer typically needs someone to type for him or her. If you are a fast typist and have excellent writing skills, consider working for a lawyer as a typist.

Things You'll Need

• Typing test certification showing wpm
• Writing sample

Instructions

1. Prove that you can type quickly. According to testedok.com, the average workplace typing speed is between 50 and 60 words per minute. Take a typing test to see if you at least fall into this range. Obtain a certified copy of your typing speed to prove your skills as a typist.

2. Complete a self-study in legal writing or take a legal writing course. While you will probably receive on-the-job training in this area, it increases your chances to land a job as a typist for a lawyer if you have some legal writing experience.

3. Prepare a writing sample. Write a sample brief to show prospective attorneys.

4. Send resumes, copies of your typing speed certification and your writing sample to law offices and firms in your area. If you have a fast typing speed and a well-written writing sample, an attorney in need of a typist may contact you.

References

• Testedok.com: Typing Speeds
• BLS.gov: Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Resources

• TypingCertification.com: Online Typing Certificate
• TypingTest.com: Prove Your Typing Skills with an Official Certificate