Nov 14, 2021
Written By Robert Greene
Legal secretary job description
Nov 14, 2021
Written By Robert Greene
A legal secretary plays an integral role in ensuring that the office runs smoothly. They support lawyers in their day-to-day administrative duties and require a knowledge of the law and legal procedures. Here, we’ll look at what a legal secretary is, what a legal secretary does, and how to become a legal secretary.
What is a legal secretary?
A legal secretary provides administrative and secretarial support to lawyers, ensuring the smooth operation of the office. They also assist lawyers outside the office, by attending court or the police station, for example.
What does a legal secretary do?
The exact nature of a legal secretary’s work will depend on which practice area they specialise in, and what type of firm they work for. However, general duties include:
Transcribing interviews or meetings between solicitors and clients.
Proofreading legal correspondence and documentation.
Arranging transport for lawyers.
Conducting legal research.
Scheduling meetings with clients and organising lawyers’ diaries.
Drafting legal correspondence, including emails and letters.
Liaising with clients on behalf of lawyers.
Processing invoices.
Answering the phone.
Carrying out general administrative tasks, such as filing, photocopying, and faxing.
Filing documents with the court.
Attending court or police stations with solicitors.
Conducting legal research.
Legal secretaries aren’t just employed by private law firms, they may work for a range of different employers, including:
Banks
Barristers’ chambers
Courts
Estate agents
In-house legal departments
Local authorities
Legal secretary qualifications
There are no specific entry requirements to become a legal secretary. However, employers may require applicants to have a minimum level of academic and/or professional experience.
Applicants may benefit from completing a Level 3 course in business administration or a diploma for legal secretaries. They can then choose to specialise as a legal secretary by completing one of the courses offered by the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs (ILSPA) or CILEX.
Alternatively, applicants could consider applying for a legal secretary role through an apprenticeship in legal services or as a paralegal. There are minimum GCSE and English language requirements to study an apprenticeship, which vary depending on whether it is an Intermediate or Advanced Apprenticeship.
Legal secretary skills
A legal secretary requires a range of skills, including:
Administrative skills – filing, billing, answering phones etc
Legal knowledge, with an understanding of important legal terms and procedures
Written and oral communication skills
Interpersonal skills
Organisation skills.
Attention to detail
Multi-tasking skills
IT skills
Audio typing skills - at least 40-50 words per minute
A legal secretary also requires certain traits. These include:
Discretion
Integrity
Reliability
Methodicalness
Professionalism
Honesty
Legal secretary salary
The average salary for a legal secretary ranges from £18,000 for a starter to £45,000 for an experienced legal secretary.
Legal secretary working hours
A legal secretary can expect to work a 36-38-hour week or 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. However, there may be options to work part-time or do flexi-time.
Legal secretaries are likely to work from the office or home, but they may be required to attend other places like court or a police station to assist a solicitor or barrister.
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Legal secretary progression
A legal secretary may progress to a legal personal assistant (PA) or office manager.
Alternatively, if they are interested in the law, they could become a paralegal, with a view to qualifying as a solicitor or barrister. Applicants will be required to complete the relevant academic and professional qualifications for those professions.
To learn more about how to become a paralegal, read our article, Paralegal job description.
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