Article by Elizabeth Martinez
Think legal assistants are limited in their job choices? Think again. Legal secretaries are filling positions far away from law firms. Many are finding lucrative careers working corporations, hospitals, government agencies, schools and even real estate companies.
The primary difference between an administrative assistant and a legal assistant comes down to a thorough understanding of legal procedures. They know how to properly prepare legal notices, court documents and contracts. They’re competent to handle even the smallest legal tasks, including formatting legal documents, documentation efforts and confidentiality issues. While a legal secretary also conducts traditional administrative tasks, such as typing and filing, those in the legal field must remain focused and detailed oriented. He or she is often entrusted with a client’s deepest secrets and most private information. It’s no surprise then that experienced legal secretaries can do quite well from a financial standpoint. They must be detail oriented, flexible, creative and a strong penchant for working well under pressure.
Many, regardless of which sector they ultimately choose, might discover they spend a lot of time in a courtroom, says LawCrossing.com founder, A. Harrison Barnes. He continues, “The level of responsibility these professionals have goes far beyond what the traditional role of secretary once was”. Legal secretaries ensure resources are available for the lawyers in their firms, records are found and court cases are pulled from time to time. Further, they follow state and federal laws to ensure their employer is current with contemporary changes in the law.
Legal secretaries will also meet with clients, either with the attorney or alone, depending on the dynamics. Often, bankruptcy lawyers hire legal assistants to handle all aspects of gathering the necessary paperwork and client meetings. It’s not until the client is due to appear in court that an introduction is made. This only reiterates the importance of the role.
The educational requirements vary from state to state and from one law firm to another. Experience is often more of a consideration than education and those who have proven track records are sometimes preferable over those just entering the job market, regardless of their educational levels. A. Harrison Barnes, who is also an attorney, agrees that many law firms simply don’t have the time or resources to spend any considerable amount of time in training new employees.
“This”, says Barnes, “is exactly why we developed LawCrossing.com”. The purpose was to provide the brightest talent complete access to those law firms and other industries that need someone to step in and run with it. Barnes has more than met the challenge and as a result, has grown his network to include sites such as EmploymentCrossing.com, Hound.com and LegalAuthority.com. Each site has its own unique characteristics and each brings certain elements to both employers and job seekers. Think you have what it takes to become a sought after legal secretary? Visit LawCrossing.com today for the latest in position announcements and a ton of great resources, including a resume service that works with you to make your resume shine.
About the Author
Matinez Betheliza – Ph.D. – Organizational Psychology. Provides you with a deep level of insight into your career direction and career development.
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