Legal Secretary Job Description | LinkedIn Talent Solutions

Since the day-to-day work a legal secretary performs can vary significantly from company to company, the more specific and detailed your job description is, the better. What type of law does your company specialize in? Will your new hire support a single lawyer—or several? Give candidates a feel for what the role will be like on a daily basis and you’ll be more likely to attract highly qualified applicants who’d be a great addition to your company.

To make your job description easy to read, break it up into sections, including job responsibilities and requirements, using no more than six bullets per section.

Legal secretaries work in a variety of settings, providing administrative support to lawyers and judges. This requires them to have a firm grasp of legal terminology and proceedings, in addition to strong clerical and people-facing skills. While they perform many tasks expected of traditional secretaries, such as compiling complex document files, they might also be involved in preparations for complicated transactions or court appearances.

Since they are a primary point of contact for clients and co-counsel, legal secretaries must have excellent communication skills and a polite and professional demeanor. They also need to possess a strong sense of discretion.

Sample Legal Secretary Job Description

Job Description

At [Organization X], we pride ourselves on providing unparalleled service to our clients. We are looking for an experienced and passionate legal secretary to help us achieve this goal. As the newest addition to our team, you will play a pivotal role in keeping our office functioning efficiently, from coordinating meetings to maintaining complete and accurate files. You’ll build collaborative working relationships with our lawyers—and earn clients’ trust.

Our ideal candidate is organized, diligent, and can work both independently and as part of a team. If you’re looking for challenging and varied work and meaningful career progression opportunities, we invite you to apply and learn more about our organization.

Objectives of this Role

Ensure the smooth running of the office
Support one or multiple attorneys to help them optimize their time
Track deadlines to ensure documents are filed in a timely manner
Represent the company well when dealing with clients and officials
Maintain confidentiality at all times

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities

Communicate with clients in person, over the phone, and via email
Draft, proofread, and file or send legal documents, such as motions or letters of intent
Perform secretarial duties, including maintaining lawyers’ calendars, scheduling appointments, making copies, and compiling complex documentation
Create and maintain case files, including producing and editing transcripts
Screen, direct, and prioritize incoming calls and emails to lawyers
Perform legal and background research when requested

Skills and Qualifications

Experience working in a relevant, fast-paced legal environment
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
A typing speed of approx. 50-80 words per minute—with a high degree of accuracy
Excellent attention to detail
Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (or other requisite word processing software)
Strong organizational skills

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or Legal Secretary Certificate
Knowledge of online court filing systems
Experience working with multiple lawyers simultaneously
Experience using dictation and transcription software

How to Write a Legal Secretary Job Description

What Does a Legal Secretary Do?