What Do Legal Secretaries Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Legal Secretaries 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. They also prepare, proofread, or process legal documents, such as summonses, subpoenas, complaints, appeals, motions, or pretrial agreements.

Other tasks include:

• Mail, fax, or arrange for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses, and court officials.
• Receive and place telephone calls.
• Schedule and make appointments.
• Organize and maintain law libraries, documents, and case files.
• Make photocopies of correspondence, documents, and other printed matter.
• Assist attorneys in collecting information such as employment, medical, and other records.

We asked Legal Secretaries how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

72% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 40% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Legal Secretaries make photocopies of correspondence, documents, and other printed matter. They mail, fax, or arrange for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses, and court officials.

A typical day for a Legal Secretary will also include:

• Receive and place telephone calls.
• Schedule and make appointments.
• Organize and maintain law libraries, documents, and case files.
• Complete various forms, such as accident reports, trial and courtroom requests, and applications for clients.
• Prepare, proofread, or process legal documents, such as summonses, subpoenas, complaints, appeals, motions, or pretrial agreements.

We asked some Legal Secretaries a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Legal Secretaries also submit articles and information from searches to attorneys for review and approval for use. They may also prepare and distribute invoices to bill clients or pay account expenses.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Legal Secretaries Make travel arrangements for attorneys. They might also Review legal publications and perform database searches to identify laws and court decisions relevant to pending cases.

In addition, they Assist attorneys in collecting information such as employment, medical, and other records.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Attend legal meetings, such as client interviews, hearings, or depositions, and take notes.

To some Legal Secretaries, it is also their responsibility to Schedule and make appointments.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Legal Secretary, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers