How to Become a Litigation Legal Secretary
Litigation legal secretaries, who deal with matters that are often taken to court -- or "litigated" -- are highly specialized, and they perform administrative tasks that differ from those performed by other legal secretaries. A litigation legal secretary should have knowledge of the legal system's terminology, legal procedures and document preparation, in addition to excellent communication and organizational skills. While a college degree or certification is generally not a necessity, it is an asset. Litigation legal secretaries learn their trade with on-the-job training and continuing education, sometimes advancing to a supervisory role or becoming a paralegal or court officer.
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Instructions
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Improve your administrative skills by becoming more proficient with computer programs and software, as well as gaining competency in word processing, document preparation, spreadsheets, research and tracking billable hours. Local vocational/technical schools and adult learning centers often offer courses in these subjects.
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Familiarize yourself with legal terminology, including spelling and definitions. Purchase a copy of "Black's Law Dictionary" or refer to an online legal dictionary like the one at Law.com. Legal terminology flashcards are another way to study difficult legal terms; purchase the cards through your local bookstore or online at sites like Quizlet.
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Develop an understanding of basic legal procedures and court filing rules for county, state and/or federal levels. Although this knowledge is typically acquired through experience and on-the-job training, taking a couple of legal courses through a local community college or an online workshop can give you an advantage. Another way to gain experience and understanding is to shadow a legal professional for a few weeks or sign up for a law firm's mock trial team.
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Complete a legal secretarial program through a local community college or vocational/technical school. These programs usually offer a one-year certificate program or a two-year associate degree specifically designed to prepare students for a career as a legal secretary. As a perk, these campus-based programs often provide job placement services.
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Earn your certification online as an alternative to attending a college campus. You can obtain an Accredited Legal Secretary (ALS) certificate through the National Association for Legal Secretaries (NALS) or a Certified Legal Secretary (CLS) certificate through Legal Secretaries International, Inc. Although certification is generally not a requirement for litigation legal secretaries, it can enhance employment opportunities, especially for individuals who have less experience or do not have a college degree.
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Consider working as an intern at a law firm. While the pay will be negligible, if anything, you will gain valuable experience with on-the-job training. The internship will also look impressive on your resume and give you much-needed credibility.
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Decide what type of office environment you would like to work in, such as a law firm, government agency, local court or corporation. If you are looking to gain more experience, small law firms are typically more relaxed, and they offer hands-on experience while allowing you to engage in a broader spectrum of litigation. Large firms have departments that focus on specialized areas of the law, more on-site resources and higher pay scales. Private industry legal departments defend ongoing lawsuits, mitigate the bottom dollar and typically require a shorter workday than a law firm does.
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Choose what area of the law you would like to specialize in. There are many different types of litigation such as civil, criminal, corporate, personal injury and real estate. Once you have established an area of expertise and become proficient in that specialty, your services will be in greater demand. Legal secretaries, as of May 2009, earned a median annual salary of $41,080, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Tips & Warnings
Prepare yourself to work long hours and deal with challenging caseloads. A litigation legal secretary must be flexible to meet critical deadlines and help attorneys accomplish their goals. Making yourself available for overtime will also improve your chances for salary increases and/or promotions.
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