Learning legal research platforms such as Westlaw or Lexis/Nexis can give you a competitive edge. Medical Law Knowledge and practice go hand in hand. Top Things You Should Know About Legal Receptionists, What It's Really Like in a Private Industry Legal Practice Environment, highlight the skills above in your summary, demonstrate your ability to be clear and direct, Process of Packaging and Sending Legal Documents, Develop and Maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Examples of Legal Assistant duties include gathering information, determining precedents, drafting legal documents, answering to client questions, taking phone calls, handling correspondence, greeting guests, and performing basic accounting tasks. Teamwork is crucial to the role of legal secretaries in delivering legal services. The Balance Careers uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Typing Skills. The role of legal secretaries, also known as attorney administrative assistants or legal assistants, has evolved in the past two decades. See which skills correlate, and those are the ones your legal assistant resume needs to feature. A legal assistant is a key cog in the law industry, providing support to lawyers and working alongside them by performing important administrative and clerical duties. Writing is an integral part of the legal secretary’s job; those that develop strong writing skills will become indispensable to the attorneys they assist. They understand the nuance of legal procedure and know how to create and format pleadings, discovery and transactional documents. $50,940 per year (all paralegals and legal assistants)* Job Outlook (2016-2026) 15% growth (all paralegals and legal assistants)* Key Skills : Reading comprehension, critical thinking, time management, thorough researching, excellent written and spoken communication, decision making, clear judgment: Similar Occupations Today’s top 27 Legal Assistant jobs in Provo, Utah, United States. Since creating cover letters is a significant part of your job as legal assistant, stick to the point and demonstrate your ability to be clear and direct. What’s the difference between a secretary and a legal secretary? Since legal secretaries are the attorney’s “right-hand” man or woman, organizational skills are essential to efficiently manage a law practice or corporate legal department. They are required to have a strong knowledge of legal terms, procedures and documentation. When interviewing a legal assistant, it’s best to communicate with candidates using these three methods before making your decision; just because a candidate seems to possess great in-person communication skills doesn’t mean they’re great at communicating via email. Writing skills are paramount in any legal career path, and if your legal assistant excels in this area, you can feel confident they have potential to move up in their career later on down the road. ————————————. Listening and Communication Skills. We are looking for a self motivated Legal Assistant to ensure smooth running of the office and effective case management. Research Skills. Lawyers Aren't the Only Jobs. Legal Assistant requirements and skills. You will be responsible for building and maintaining client relationships, as well as for communicating important messages to and from clients. Topics covered include legal terminology, research and document preparation, the fundamentals of general and commercial law, and principles related to litigation and court procedures. Their tasks include research, filling in documents, helping lawyers to prepare for trials and assisting clients. Organisation and efficiency are both key with this type of skill. Legal Assistants provide support to lawyers and complete various administrative tasks. About PARALEGALS AND LEGAL ASSISTANTS TEST. Legal Assistant (Advanced) This test measures advanced skills related to working as a legal assistant. Attention to detail is critical in the legal profession. Draft briefs, complaints, summonses, motions, arbitration statements, subpoenas, trial documents, and appeals. Paralegals and legal assistants should also possess the following specific qualities: Communication skills. Good writing skills are essential, since you will be required to perform tasks such as: … This goes hand in hand with technology skills. An assistant with exceptional skills is a valuable asset to a legal office. Again, this is a general bare bones template of the tasks needed to assist any lawyer in any field. For example, typing $600,000 in a settlement offer instead of $60,000 could cost your firm a client. As such, attorneys and paralegals alike depend heavily on their legal secretaries. Compensation commensurate with experience. Do not be afraid to describe how you used the skills above in other roles outside of the legal world if the scenario is applicable to the role you seek. Performing multiple tasks simultaneously should be second-nature to a competent legal secretary. Problem Solving Skills. Your ability to relate and communicate with people from all walks of life is crucial to your efficiency. Screeners don’t have time to bother with lengthy paragraphs and page-long lists. Administration. An experienced legal assistant with excellent communication skill, proficiency in Microsoft Office, and the ability to type 60 wpm seeks the role of Legal Assistant at XYZ Inc. where exceptional organizing and written communication skills, and 6 years administrative experience will be effectively utilized in assisting attorneys with client communication and review of legal documents. Many attorneys have neither the time nor expertise to operate law office technology well. They are often responsible for drafting important documents, writing briefs, and taking minutes during meetings, all of which need to be legible, concise, and contain only pertinent information. Again, this is a general bare bones template of the tasks needed to assist any lawyer in any field. Legal secretaries are frequently responsible for drafting routine correspondence and file memos, in addition to proofreading legal documents for pleadings, briefs, discovery, and transactional purposes. Legal Assistant Advice. Kept case files up to date. These skills will help … We ranked the top skills based on the percentage of legal assistant resumes they appeared on. Focused and dedicated candidate possessing a degree in Paralegal seeks to expand skills working in the legal field serving as an assistant to attorneys. Realizing that there are literally millions of suggestions on how to improve your legal writing and reading skills on the Internet, I wanted to distinguish this article from the others. As such, they need to possess excellent communication skills in order to relay messages effectively, promptly, and without error. Occasionally, they may travel to gather information, collect and review documents, accompany … Legal Assistants provide support for lawyers in the process of delivering legal services. The best legal assistants provide integral support for attorneys and clients. Full list of legal administrative assistant duties, responsibilities and skill requirements for this job. Alison Doyle is the job search expert for The Balance Careers, and one of the industry's most highly-regarded job search and career experts. ... Legal Administration Skills, Litigation, Client Relationships, Organization, Planning, Attention to Detail, Confidentiality, Dependability, Client Confidentiality. What Legal Freelance Jobs and Careers Exist? Here’s a quick list of dos and don’ts: 1. Prepare pleadings and motions, organize documents, make filings with courts, and schedule depositions. With all the details that need to be handled across the board, it’s crucial that your legal assistant is organized in every area of their work life. Legal assistants interact with lawyers, courtroom staff, clients, witnesses, opposing counsel, judicial employees, and other third parties. It’s a court order for an interview. Types of Legal Secretary Skills. They know how to juggle multiple assignments and competing priorities and how to manage growing workloads in today’s busy law office where one person frequently performs the job of three. While paralegals often perform attorney duties under supervision from an attorney, legal secretaries must keep track of all details circling the law firm. With its prominent location just below your contact details, a resume objective is a great place to combine as much information as possible into one place. Legal assistants support lawyers with various tasks, including conducting legal research, drafting and reviewing documents, communicating with clients, preparing hearings, trials, and meetings, and organizing and maintaining files. As mentioned above, secretaries must be proficient in word processing applications and transcription equipment. With its prominent location just below your contact details, a resume objective is a great place to combine as much information as possible into one place. Attention to Detail. Legal Assistant qualifications and skills. Perfected and circulated documentation including affidavits, pleadings, subpoenas, interrogatories, deposition notices, and briefs for review by attorneys. Scheduled client appointments and consultations, leading to a 23% decrease in client wait times. You need to communicate efficiently with the lawyer, as … Legal secretaries must maintain paper and electronic files, manage projects, track multiple deadlines, maintain calendars, schedule meetings, organize events and keep everything orderly and accessible. In addition to face-to-face contact, secretaries communicate by email, telephone, and video conferencing systems. People Skills. Important Job Skills for Legal Secretaries. We focus on real estate, commercial financing, and venture capital transactions. They have to work with sensitive personal and business information on a daily basis, and it will be expected that they keep this information private. This legal assistant resume skills list files some great resume keywords, but— It doesn’t have them all. Therefore, legal secretaries who are proficient in a variety of computer software applications will have the most career opportunities. An organised Legal Secretary is an efficient one, so definitely include any examples of this skills within your CV. Lee is active at giving back to her community, and spends her down time with her husband and three beautiful daughters. There’s no need to cut corners when it comes to advancing yourself within your chosen career. Find out more about recruiting trends in the legal industry . Can your resume education section get you hired? Some of the most common technologies that legal secretaries must master include: Legal secretaries interact daily with attorneys, paralegals, staff, clients, opposing counsel, judicial personnel, vendors, and more. Legal Assistant qualifications and skills. resumeOn a piece of paper, write your soft and hard skills down. Working as a paralegal means that you will be physically and virtually surrounded by books and documents. When so much misinformation permeates the online world, finding credible sources is more important than ever before. A solid resume is crucial when it comes to finding jobs as a legal assistant. You may also want to include a headline or summary statement that clearly communicates your goals and qualifications. Writing Skills. Legal Assistant qualifications and skills Next, outline the required and preferred skills for your position. Writing Skills. You’ll Definitely Need Technical Skills. The average salary for a Legal Assistant with Administration skills in Canada is C$44,010. Detailed oriented. What steps to follow when adding skills to your legal assistant. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(2172992, 'ba86627a-0c1a-44ac-8c1e-9478379525b7', {}); Lee earned a degree in marketing from York University, which has helped her succeed in various roles in the staffing industry. But … Say what you need to say, but don’t go overboard when describing your experiences. They may even need to know their way around video conferencing systems, or at the very least be eager to learn. Examples of Legal Assistant Objective Statement for Resume. She has over 20 years of progressive staffing experience including Branch Management, Sales, Operations, and Marketing. 2. Not to be confused with paralegals, legal secretaries fill vital roles in law firms across the country. Accountants, architects, proof-readers and pharmacists, among others, will have developed the excellent observational skills required for the role. This means they are able to maintain both paper and electronic files in a readable, easily accessible system, manage projects, keep track of deadlines, schedule meetings, and even organize events when needed. Today’s legal assistants and paralegals need to be proficient in a variety of computer and technology skills. Communication Skills. We just released a new report, The Top 10 Skills of the Best Legal Assistants, and wanted to go ahead and discuss 3 of the 10 skills in this article. They rely on tech-savvy legal secretaries to perform a variety of computer-based tasks such as: building spreadsheets, preparing presentations, auditing timesheets, managing invoices, creating/typing documents, maintaining calendars, and tracking deadlines. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 10 Kingsbridge Garden Circle Suite 505 Mississauga, ON L5R 3K6, 6 Skills Your Legal Assistant Should Possess. Legal administrative support for trials; Job brief. These skills will help you succeed in single attorney offices and law firms. Much of today’s research is conducted via internet and requires analytical abilities as well. A degree in law isn’t always required. Check which skills the employer requires for the legal assistant position you want to apply for and write them down. This requires an exemplary level of attention to detail. Legal Assistant Interview Questions. Some lawyers would rather their legal assistants be hands-on with the technology so they don’t have to spend hours learning it themselves. So, whether your expertise is in Criminal Law, Administrative Law, or Contract Law, be sure to note it here. Write a Skills-Packed Education Section. Do condense. Continue to Invest in Your Legal Assistant Skills. Essential job duties of a Legal Executive Assistant are conducting research, investigating legal cases, preparing legal documents, solving customer issues, and … If you are managing a team, you can determine which abilities … Your legal assistant needs to not only be able to liaison face to face, but it takes excellent phone communication skills and email writing skills to excel in this position. 15 Skills and Qualities to be Best in Your Legal Secretary Job. We hope this article will help you see the value of your experience. You may also include soft skills and personality traits that you envision for a successful employee. Apart from duties such as maintaining files, they also conduct research and draft legal documents. As a legal assistant, you have to make sure you don’t miss anything that would help the lawyer you work for win a case. This may include education, previous job experience, certifications and technical skills. Whatever their previous day’s project was, they will continue it, but not before having a morning meeting with the attorney to coordinate their day.Often, a legal assistant Legal secretaries perform Internet research for a multitude of tasks such as finding directions, gathering client information, researching the competition and locating expert witnesses. You will have to effectively communicate with the lawyers in your firm, along with outside lawyers. Skills to Put in a Legal Assistant Resume Objective. This includes mentioning one or more hard and soft skills so employers get an idea of who you are as quickly as possible. As a legal assistant, your job is to fill in the gaps and help everyone as needed. For resume writing tips, view this sample resume for a legal assistant that Isaacs created below, or download the legal assistant resume template in Word. Legal Secretaries vs. Paralegals and Legal Assistants Many law firms call their legal secretaries “legal assistants” so they can justify billing clients for these employees' hours as well, but the duties of a legal secretary are typically more limited. Yes! It’s a legal assistant’s job to be the main point of contact between lawyers and clients. LEGAL ASSISTANT RESUME TEMPLATE (TEXT FORMAT) OBJECT: LEGAL ASSISTANT SUMMARY. Paralegals are an indispensable part of the legal system, providing support to attorneys, law offices, government agencies and corporations by researching legal precedent, performing investigative work on cases and preparing legal documents. 2 Knowledge of legal terminology to conduct basic legal research, including statutory, case law, legal reference, and cite-source research to assist attorneys in analyzing legal issues. As a legal assistant, you will be communicating with several different types of people. The resume examples below can help guide you in building an effective resume. Paralegals and legal assistants typically do the following: Investigate and gather the facts of a case Conduct research on relevant laws, regulations, and legal articles Organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing systems 1 Knowledge of legal concepts, terminology, principles, and procedures necessary to understand court filing requirements. So according to the ABA, a “legal assistant” is not a paralegal, but according to the BLS, a “legal assistant” is not a secretary! You can discover if this career is right for you, or find out which qualifications you should show off in a resume or an interview. Next, outline the required and preferred skills for your position. Highlight Skills in Your Cover Letter: Do not waste words in your letter. Having said all that, the job descriptions, qualifications and skills needed by paralegals and legal secretaries are similar. Organization is required to succeed in the other five skills mentioned above. Confidentiality. This can include word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, billing software, and an online calendar. $50,940 per year (all paralegals and legal assistants)* Job Outlook (2016-2026) 15% growth (all paralegals and legal assistants)* Key Skills : Reading comprehension, critical thinking, time management, thorough researching, excellent written and spoken communication, decision making, clear judgment: Similar Occupations Legal assistants typically work in law offices and firms. Transcription skills are foundational to secretarial practice. New Legal Assistant jobs added daily. Communication skills; As a legal admin assistant, you will usually be the main point of contact between your employer and his/her clients. Legal secretary roles have evolved over time. This may include education, previous job experience, certifications and technical skills. Legal secretaries must transcend conventional roles of typing and answering phones to overseeing high-value activities between attorneys and clients and with regards to legal proceedings. Legal Assistant Skills and Qualifications: Reporting Skills, Research Skills, Legal Administration Skills, Litigation, Client Relationships, Organization, Planning, Attention to Detail, Confidentiality, Dependability, Client Confidentiality ———————————— Find out more about recruiting trends in the legal industry. Jobs for legal assistants are projected to grow by 15% (or 41,800 jobs) from 2016 through 2026, which is much faster than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The first thing to consider is what you’ll expect to be doing on … Qualifications to get hired as a Legal Assistant. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(2172992, '071952f6-2fdc-437a-a097-f2662af9f1f8', {}); Here are six skills your legal assistant should possess, and how you can ensure your future hire has them all. Strong Interpersonal Skills. By using The Balance Careers, you accept our. Legal Assistant Job Description Sample. Number of questions: 45 . A modern legal assistant needs to be a master of all office software. For example, our legal assistant has worked for law firms specializing in Family Law. Terms like “subpoena,” “pro se,” and “voir dire” don’t confuse legal secretaries. Legal secretaries do what any administrative assistant might do, except that the legal world is a bit more convoluted. Law firms care about your experience and attention to detail, particularly in how you construct your resume. See examples of Legal Assistant job descriptions from real companies. Think again. Legal Assistant Job Essential Skills. by Jeffrey Hauck, JD, CPO, CII, LPI. Proofreading. You may also include soft skills and personality traits that you envision for a successful hire. Legal Assistants interact with lawyers, courtroom staff, clients, witnesses, opposing counsel, judicial employees and other third parties. In addition to a fast typing speed (employer requirements vary from 50 to 100 words per minute), active listening skills are required to comprehend voice dictation files. Organizing and managing documents to be produced in litigation. As the role of the legal professional changes and grows, a need for technology knowledge is high on the list of requirements for legal industry job positions. Morning preferred but willing to be flexible for the right candidate. Writing is an important part of the legal secretary job that everyone working in that … You may also include soft skills and personality traits that you envision for a successful hire. Most legal secretaries work for more than one person on more than one file. To land a legal assistant job, you’ll need the right education and training and a resume that shows your qualifications. The most efficient legal secretaries know how to get along with co-workers and collaborate with third parties to get the job done. Administration experience involves a great deal of multi-tasking. 7 Recession Proof Legal Specialties. That’s no mere legal assistant resume skills list. What Kind of Skills Do You Need to Be a Legal Secretary? Point #3. Legal secretaries handle the minutiae of daily law practice, and attention to detail is important in nearly every secretarial task from drafting and proofreading documents to scheduling meetings and calendaring deadlines. Legal Secretaries have to produce legal documents to a faultless standard. Familiarity With Legal Documents and Terminology, Learn What It Takes to Become a Legal Transcriptionist, Important Writing and Editing Skills That Employers Value, Important Employability Skills For Workplace Success, What Are the Differences Between Paralegals and Legal Assistants, 8 Skills You Need to Succeed as a Paralegal, Best Resume Formats With Examples and Formatting Tips, Skills That Can Help You Get an Office Manager Job, Considering Practicing Law? Legal Assistant Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Personal Characteristics Statements. Organizational Skills. Legal Assistant Job Description Sample. Law has been and always will be a world of red tape and semantics. Legal Assistant responsibilities include: Providing administrative support to lawyer and enhance office effectiveness; Handling communication with clients, witnesses etc. Attorneys must be fully prepared for each and every legal proceeding. Legal Executive Assistants work for private legal offices or legal departments of governments or corporations. Accountants, architects, proof-readers and pharmacists, amongst others, will have all developed the excellent observational skills required for the role. Organizational Skills – With all the details that need to be handled in a case, attorneys often need … Leverage your professional network, and get hired. A legal assistant or paralegal helps lawyers deliver legal services to their clients. As technology infiltrates every aspect of law practice, paralegals must master a growing array of word processing, spreadsheet, telecommunications, database, presentation and legal research software. Computer Skills. Their tasks include research, filling in documents, helping lawyers to prepare for trials and assisting clients. Legal Assistants provide support for lawyers in the process of delivering legal services. Legal Administrative Assistant Job Description. Hence, you must be able to relate and communicate with people from all … This includes mentioning one or more hard and soft skills so employers get an idea of who you are as quickly as possible. Experienced in performing in-depth research for cases. They are not permitted to perform or offer legal services on independently (with the exception of Ontario, Canada). Many legal secretaries, particularly those in small law offices, also perform paralegal duties, including legal research, cite checking and tracking down case law. About PARALEGALS AND LEGAL ASSISTANTS TEST. Attorneys are notoriously disorganized. Dedicated, reliable and able to handle a high volume of assignments. See what skills people typically need to work as a legal assistant in Canada. They have both an administrative and legal role. Paralegals are an indispensable part of the legal system, providing support to attorneys, law offices, government agencies and corporations by researching legal precedent, performing investigative work on cases and preparing legal documents. Law Offers Many Choices. This requires an exemplary level of attention to detail. Therefore, top-notch interpersonal and communication skills are essential. A legal assistant is busy from the time they enter the office until the end of the work day. Legal secretary roles have evolved over time. Use Skill Words in Your Job Interview: Be prepared to discuss types of projects you’ve managed in other roles without violating a client’s confidentiality at other law firms. The Essentials of Legal Writing & Reading Skills. 3 … All deadlines are priority, and a minor detail overlooked could jeopardize the case of a client or merit legal action from opposing attorneys. Strong grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and language skills are necessary as well an understanding of legal terminology. Capable of assisting the lawyers in high profile cases. Top Legal Assistant Skills Below we've compiled a list of the most important skills for a legal assistant. For example, 21.4% of legal assistant resumes contained legal documents as a skill. Legal Assistant Resume Examples [Skills] Of course you’ll show legal document prep, AV skills, and scheduling in your skills list, plus a couple more. Showcase Your Skills. And requires analytical abilities as well an understanding of the legal profession skills is a bit more.! Traditional law office technology well provide integral support for lawyers in the gaps and help everyone as needed legal. Also include soft skills so employers get an idea of who you are as quickly as possible care your! An assistant with exceptional skills is a valuable asset to a competent legal secretary is an important step your! 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