How To Become A Legal Secretary
|
|
Go Over and Above Simple Clerical Duties as a Legal Secretary
A legal secretary or legal assistant is not simply an administrative role that implies various clerical duties. Although answering phones, entering data and filing can be part of the job description, a legal secretary is required to be trained in the law to perform functions that go over and above any other secretary. With a drastic increase of about 28% in the field according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are many more positions for legal secretaries being created compared to other careers in criminal justice
Job Duties
A legal secretary is the right hand man of the lawyer preparing a case, because aside from the administrative duties, they research details for the case, investigate the evidence presented and prepare the case for the attorney to present. They will work to maintain spreadsheets and databases where they index legal documents like pleadings and contracts, and they schedule site inspections, hearings and depositions. They are also in charge of creating written documentation in the form of legal invoices or deposition notices. They will work closely with the attorney on all aspects of the case and need to be reliable to meet strict deadlines and perform a multitude of tasks at once.
Required Training
Although a legal assistant cannot do all parts of a lawyer's job, they must be skilled in all areas of the law in order to be able to understand the work and research they perform. Post-secondary education is therefore required, but it is sufficient to earn a 2 year associate's degree. There you will learn legal terminology, basic legal policies and proper state and federal filing systems. You can also obtain these skills online by pursuing online courses at places like Colorado Technical University Online or South University. If you have started your education in another field and obtained a degree already, you can make the switch to paralegal studies by getting a certificate that can be completed in only a few months. This will teach you the same basic skills you need to start your new career. The bottom line is that a legal secretary must be precise, organized and hard-working because it can be a tedious job that you will need to dedicate a lot of time and patience to. Evaluate your skill set to see if you are a suitable candidate before seeking a criminal justice degree program.
Criminal Justice Degree |
|
