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.
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
SOC: 43-6012 O*NET: 43-6012.00
Median Salary
$54,140
per year
Job Growth
📉 -5.8%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
19.6
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Job Zone 3
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 does a Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$35,530
10th percentile
Early Career
$42,720
25th percentile
Median
$54,140
50th percentile
Experienced
$72,090
75th percentile
Top Earners
$87,660
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$35,530
25th
$42,720
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$54,140
Mean: $60,320
75th
$72,090
90th
$87,660
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $52,130 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $42,720 and $72,090
- •Salary spread is 54.2% around the median, showing high variation
- •Total national employment: 154,540 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:156,300
Top Industries
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services81.4%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services81.4%
Legal Services80.7%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-5.8%
Annual Openings:19,600
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)156,300
Current
2034 (Projected)147,300
-5.8%
-9,000
Employment Change
-5.8%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Decline
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 50 locations
California
23,960 jobs$61,3201.32x
New York
15,430 jobs$74,4001.61x
Florida
10,970 jobs$53,7901.11x
Texas
9,900 jobs$49,1500.71x
Illinois
8,860 jobs$58,0701.46x
Pennsylvania
6,440 jobs$49,3301.07x
Ohio
5,170 jobs$46,7100.93x
North Carolina
4,460 jobs$43,8300.91x
Washington
4,090 jobs$59,6801.15x
New Jersey
3,910 jobs$60,4000.92x
Massachusetts
3,880 jobs$61,4401.06x
Tennessee
3,440 jobs$44,2801.05x
Arizona
3,320 jobs$47,9901.04x
Michigan
3,070 jobs$56,0300.70x
Virginia
2,800 jobs$51,0100.69x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Active Listening
100%
#2
Reading Comprehension
94%
#3
Writing
86%
#4
Speaking
80%
#5
Time Management
74%
#6
Critical Thinking
66%
#7
Monitoring
60%
#8
Social Perceptiveness
54%
#9
Service Orientation
46%
#10
Coordination
40%
Skills Overview
Active Listening
advanced5.0
100%
Reading Comprehension
advanced4.7
94%
Writing
intermediate4.3
86%
Speaking
intermediate4.0
80%
Time Management
intermediate3.7
74%
Critical Thinking
intermediate3.3
66%
Monitoring
intermediate3.0
60%
Social Perceptiveness
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Active Listening
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Reading Comprehension
advancedImportance94%
abilities
4.7/5.0
Writing
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Time Management
intermediateImportance74%
skills
3.7/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance66%
abilities
3.3/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
basicImportance54%
skills
2.7/5.0
Service Orientation
basicImportance46%
skills
2.3/5.0
Coordination
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Counter and Rental Clerks100%
5 shared skills
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks100%
5 shared skills
Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks100%
5 shared skills
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers100%
5 shared skills
File Clerks90%
5 shared skills
Office Clerks, General90%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Writing
- ✓Speaking
Learn on the Job:
- →Monitoring
- →Social Perceptiveness
- →Critical Thinking
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Writing
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Reading Comprehension
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Active Listening
- ★Writing
- ★Speaking
- ★Reading Comprehension
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Technology Intensity
Very High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires expert digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Advanced software proficiencySystem architecture understandingAutomation and scriptingEmerging technology adaptationTechnical problem-solving
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Intuit QuickBooks
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Access
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Acrobat
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Visio
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Intuit QuickBooks
Microsoft Access
Adobe Acrobat
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
14
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (9)Documentation & Record-Keeping (4)Operations & Execution (1)
1
Mail, fax, or arrange for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses, and court officials.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Receive and place telephone calls.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Schedule and make appointments.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Make photocopies of correspondence, documents, and other printed matter.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Organize and maintain law libraries, documents, and case files.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping88% perform92%
6
Assist attorneys in collecting information such as employment, medical, and other records.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping85% perform90%
7
Attend legal meetings, such as client interviews, hearings, or depositions, and take notes.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Draft and type office memos.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Review legal publications and perform database searches to identify laws and court decisions relevant to pending cases.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Operations & Execution76% perform84%
10
Submit articles and information from searches to attorneys for review and approval for use.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •50% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants professionals typically have a CEI Holland code and highly value relationships
CConventional
EEnterprising
IInvestigative
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Attention to Detail
CriticalAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.66
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.41
Integrity
Very ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level4.37
Self-Control
Very ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level4.27
Stress Tolerance
Very ImportantStress Tolerance
Importance Level4.27
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Importance Level4.26
Complete Work Styles Profile
Attention to Detail
4.7
Dependability
4.4
Integrity
4.4
Self-Control
4.3
Stress Tolerance
4.3
Cooperation
4.3
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.2
Achievement/Effort
4.1
Independence
4.0
Persistence
4.0
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Typical duration: Varies
Preparation Level
Job Zone 3
Medium Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience required
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training:
Training of more than one year
💼 Experience Requirement
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience required
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Associate degree programs
- • Apprenticeships (1-2 years)
- • Vocational training with related experience
3
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Associate degree programsApprenticeships (1-2 years)Vocational training with related experience
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