Office & Administrative Support
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Also called: Confidential Secretary, Legal Administrative Assistant (Legal Admin Assistant), Legal Administrator (Legal Admin), Legal Coordinator
US median pay
$55,570
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-5.2%
declining
Openings a year (US)
18,100
157,600 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- Organize and maintain law libraries, documents, and case files.
- Mail, fax, or arrange for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses, and court officials.
- Prepare and distribute invoices to bill clients or pay account expenses.
- Prepare, proofread, or process legal documents, such as summonses, subpoenas, complaints, appeals, motions, or pretrial agreements.
- Make photocopies of correspondence, documents, and other printed matter.
- Assist attorneys in collecting information such as employment, medical, and other records.
- Complete various forms, such as accident reports, trial and courtroom requests, and applications for clients.
- Receive and place telephone calls.
- Schedule and make appointments.
- Draft and type office memos.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management3.2/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Service Orientation3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.8/5
- Persuasion2.4/5
- Negotiation2.1/5
Knowledge
- Administrative4.5/5
- English Language4.4/5
- Law and Government4.2/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
- Computers and Electronics3.9/5
- Administration and Management3.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Associate's degree48%
- High school diploma17%
- Post-secondary certificate14%
Who this job suits
Mostly Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.