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Clerk specialist vs legal clerk

The differences between clerks specialist and legal clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a clerk specialist, becoming a legal clerk takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a legal clerk has an average salary of $35,152, which is higher than the $34,038 average annual salary of a clerk specialist.

The top three skills for a clerk specialist include data entry, office equipment and customer service. The most important skills for a legal clerk are litigation, legal correspondence, and subpoenas.

Clerk specialist vs legal clerk overview

Clerk SpecialistLegal Clerk
Yearly salary$34,038$35,152
Hourly rate$16.36$16.90
Growth rate-5%14%
Number of jobs90,96774,069
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4746
Years of experience212

What does a clerk specialist do?

A Clerk Specialist is an information clerk that people can refer to when they have inquiries. Businesses place the Clerk Specialist under the umbrella of a receptionist and are often highly knowledgeable of company policies, provide solutions to problems, and handle customer complaints. A Clerk Specialist's main requirements are strong interpersonal communication skills and a high tolerance when under pressure.

What does a legal clerk do?

A legal clerk is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to legal offices and organizations to ensure smooth legal business operations. Legal clerks sort and distribute documents to the appropriate personnel, update information on the database, schedule appointments, respond to clients' inquiries and concerns, and document meeting objectives. They may also coordinate with other offices and institutions to acquire files and research data according to the needs of the managing department. A legal clerk must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in monitoring business transactions and submitting reports timely and accurately.

Clerk specialist vs legal clerk salary

Clerks specialist and legal clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clerk SpecialistLegal Clerk
Average salary$34,038$35,152
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $43,000Between $24,000 And $49,000
Highest paying CityProvidence, RINew York, NY
Highest paying stateMassachusettsNew York
Best paying companyLifespanDiodes Incorporated
Best paying industryEnergyProfessional

Differences between clerk specialist and legal clerk education

There are a few differences between a clerk specialist and a legal clerk in terms of educational background:

Clerk SpecialistLegal Clerk
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorBusinessLaw
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Clerk specialist vs legal clerk demographics

Here are the differences between clerks specialist' and legal clerks' demographics:

Clerk SpecialistLegal Clerk
Average age4746
Gender ratioMale, 22.7% Female, 77.3%Male, 39.9% Female, 60.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 7.3% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.8% Asian, 5.4% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage6%9%

Differences between clerk specialist and legal clerk duties and responsibilities

Clerk specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage orthopedic accounts regarding payment posting through IDX medical systems.
  • Assist in preliminary budget, preparation; prepare departmental payroll, statistical data and reports.
  • Check visitation/meeting rooms for cleanliness; print daily visitation/meeting room schedules; and escort parents/attendees to visitation/meeting rooms.
  • Answer phones with the ability to provide accurate information and education on the communicability and disease process of tuberculosis.

Legal clerk example responsibilities.

  • Complete accounting and payroll functions.- gather and process client documents.- manage daily operations of office.
  • Maintain and organize litigation materials; litigation management; process correspondence, and various clerical duties, including filing/copying/package assembly.
  • Process civil, probate and small claims cases, issue writs, abstracts, summons, defaults and judgments.
  • Assist or draft wills, power of attorney, revocable living trusts, probate, adoptions, ERISA and Medicaid eligibility.
  • Serve subpoenas and notice and draft related affidavits.
  • Conduct conference calls independently with clients to gather information to answer interrogatories.
  • Show more

Clerk specialist vs legal clerk skills

Common clerk specialist skills
  • Data Entry, 18%
  • Office Equipment, 15%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Front Desk, 5%
  • Payroll, 5%
  • Computer System, 5%
Common legal clerk skills
  • Litigation, 13%
  • Legal Correspondence, 9%
  • Subpoenas, 7%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Trial Preparation, 5%
  • Law Firm, 5%

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