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Attorney's assistant vs assistant secretary

The differences between attorney's assistants and assistant secretaries can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an attorney's assistant, becoming an assistant secretary takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an assistant secretary has an average salary of $107,366, which is higher than the $52,855 average annual salary of an attorney's assistant.

The top three skills for an attorney's assistant include law firm, litigation and pleadings. The most important skills for an assistant secretary are telephone calls, payroll, and scheduling appointments.

Attorney's assistant vs assistant secretary overview

Attorney's AssistantAssistant Secretary
Yearly salary$52,855$107,366
Hourly rate$25.41$51.62
Growth rate14%-8%
Number of jobs6,42552,165
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4650
Years of experience122

Attorney's assistant vs assistant secretary salary

Attorney's assistants and assistant secretaries have different pay scales, as shown below.

Attorney's AssistantAssistant Secretary
Average salary$52,855$107,366
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $78,000Between $38,000 And $302,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Rhode Island
Best paying company-Elanco
Best paying industry--

Differences between attorney's assistant and assistant secretary education

There are a few differences between an attorney's assistant and an assistant secretary in terms of educational background:

Attorney's AssistantAssistant Secretary
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorLawBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaWestern Carolina University

Attorney's assistant vs assistant secretary demographics

Here are the differences between attorney's assistants' and assistant secretaries' demographics:

Attorney's AssistantAssistant Secretary
Average age4650
Gender ratioMale, 30.3% Female, 69.7%Male, 21.7% Female, 78.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 5.4% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%6%

Differences between attorney's assistant and assistant secretary duties and responsibilities

Attorney's assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage active caseload of labor arbitrations.
  • Assist patent attorneys by managing invention disclosure documentation and relate correspondence with outside counsel and USPTO.
  • Draft jury demands, discovery responses, subpoenas, and closing letters for the attorney's cases.
  • Draft legal complaints, summons and interrogatories.
  • Handle significant criminal, juvenile and probate cases.
  • Experience with presentation of software such as PowerPoint.
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Assistant secretary example responsibilities.

  • Manage and oversee all STO relate actions task to OSD impacting future and current operations in STO.
  • Assist main accountant with extra jobs and are trained in QuickBooks.
  • Proofread, edit & type legal briefs, business letters, case notes.
  • Book keeping, answer phone calls, run errands and handle billing using Quickbooks.
  • Assist in contacting and informing the parents of upcoming graduates about alumni programs and donations.
  • Serve as first point of contact for students, faculty, and alumni calling or visiting the main administrative office.
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Attorney's assistant vs assistant secretary skills

Common attorney's assistant skills
  • Law Firm, 10%
  • Litigation, 8%
  • Pleadings, 7%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Trial Preparation, 6%
  • Expense Reports, 5%
Common assistant secretary skills
  • Telephone Calls, 13%
  • Payroll, 9%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 9%
  • Financial Statements, 9%
  • Office Equipment, 7%
  • Computer System, 5%