AAS in Legal Administrative Assistant

Legal Administrative Assistants' work in the many areas of law such as bankruptcy law; business and corporate law; civil litigation; criminal law; divorce and family law; wills, trusts, and estates; government law; patent, trademark, and copyright law; personal injury and property damage; probate; and real estate or worker’s compensation. Legal Administrative Assistants perform and coordinate office activities and ensure that information is delivered in a timely fashion to staff and clients. Attorneys, managers, professionals, and other support staff rely on them to keep administrative operations under control.

RESPONSIBILITES

Legal Administrative Assistants' responsibilities include having legal ethics, confidentiality and professionalism; legal terminology and court structure; how to prepare legal documents using word processing, spreadsheet and database software; billing and managing financial records; and telephone techniques.

Legal Administrative Assistants are responsible for a variety of administrative and clerical duties that are necessary to run and maintain organizations. They use per-sonal computers to create spreadsheets, compose correspondence, scheduling, word processing, manage databases, and create presentations, reports and documents by using desktop publishing software. Legal secretaries prepare legal papers such as summons, complaints, motions, responses, and subpoenas under the supervision of an attorney.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Law firms, corporate legal departments, real estate, insurance companies and various governmental agencies employ legal secretaries. Legal secretaries generally work a standard 40-hour week. As they gain experience, legal secretaries usually assume more varied tasks with additional responsibilities.

EMPLOYMENT

Legal secretaries, administrative assistants and secretaries held about 4.1 million jobs in 2002, ranking among the largest occupations in the U.S. economy. Changes in the office environment have increased the demand for legal secretaries who are adaptable and versatile.

Knowledge of computer software, law, legal transcription, and legal documentation preparation are increasingly important and most employers require it.

ADVANCEMENT

High school graduates who have basic office skills may qualify for entry-level legal secretarial positions. However, employers increasingly require extensive knowledge of software applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, and database management.

NOTE: Key to your success in the career is a firm grasp of the English usage and an ability to express yourself orally and in writing. You should be proficient in spelling, punctuation, grammar, vocabulary and proofreading, have a pleasing telephone personality, and an ability to work under pressure. A strong personal and professional code of ethics is essential.