Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.

Also Known As:

Confidential Secretary Legal Administrative Assistant (Legal Admin Assistant) Legal Administrator (Legal Admin) Legal Coordinator Legal Management Assistant Legal Office Support Assistant Legal Practice Assistant Legal Secretary Litigation Secretary Magistrate Assistant

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in United States

Job Outlook Below Average

New job opportunities are less likely in the future

United States 2034 Projected Employment

147,300

-6% Change From 2024

Explore Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.

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