Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
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.
Also called: Confidential Secretary · Legal Administrative Assistant (Legal Admin Assistant) · Legal Administrator (Legal Admin) · Legal Coordinator · Legal Management Assistant · Legal Office Support Assistant
Median pay (national)
$54,140
$35,530–$87,660 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
154,540
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-5.8%
~19,600 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for legal secretaries and administrative assistants shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $87,660 versus $35,530 at the bottom 10% — 2.5x. The median of $54,140 leaves roughly 62% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -5.8% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 19,600 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 53 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $101,170, +87% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $32,810 — a 208% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Mail, fax, or arrange for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses, and court officials.
- Prepare, proofread, or process legal documents, such as summonses, subpoenas, complaints, appeals, motions, or pretrial agreements.
- Assist attorneys in collecting information such as employment, medical, and other records.
- Schedule and make appointments.
- Organize and maintain law libraries, documents, and case files.
- Prepare and distribute invoices to bill clients or pay account expenses.
- Make photocopies of correspondence, documents, and other printed matter.
- Receive and place telephone calls.
- Draft and type office memos.
- Complete various forms, such as accident reports, trial and courtroom requests, and applications for clients.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Visio
- A1-Law
- AbacusNext HotDocs
- Aderant CompuLaw
- ADP Workforce Now
- Amortization calculation software
- Appointment scheduling software
- Billing software
- Case management software
- Chrome River Expense
Knowledge areas
- Administrative
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
- Public Safety and Security
- Communications and Media