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What does a legal office assistant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Sharon Sawyer
What does a legal office assistant do

A Legal Office Assistants serves as the apprentice of lawyers. They are responsible for doing daily clerical works inside a law office. They gather relevant information like pieces of evidence and organizes all the needed data. They also prepare subpoenas and summonses, review legal documents, and take down notes in a courtroom. Unlike the Lawyers, this career handles a more significant caseload. They must also have good communication skills with clients regarding their cases.

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Legal office assistant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real legal office assistant resumes:

  • Gather and prepare documents for binders/notebooks for depositions, arbitration, hearings/trial; manage incoming document production mostly for litigation purposes.
  • Compile information for and prepare all probate documents.
  • Lead liaison between legal staff and probate courts.
  • File pleadings and correspondences and present documents to courthouse personnel.
  • Provide file copies for litigation purposes and distribute to appropriate personnel.
  • Digitize case files for storage/submission; prep files and exhibits for current/pending litigation.
  • Serve subpoenas to obtain records such as medical and employment information and initiate surveillance.
  • Assist with investigations by drafting subpoenas, identifying issues, and communicating with detectives regarding assign tasks.
  • Answer and propound discovery/mandatory disclosure/financial affidavits.
  • Provide orders of the court, such as probation orders, release documentation, sentencing information, or summonses.
  • Assist district attorneys in the courtroom, create and maintain files, prepare civilian, local and state police summonses.
  • Transcribe and prepare correspondence and legal documents using Dictaphone and personal computer.
  • Answer and propound discovery/mandatory disclosure/financial affidavits.

Legal office assistant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 9% of Legal Office Assistants are proficient in Management System, Legal Correspondence, and Litigation. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Computer skills, and Research skills.

We break down the percentage of Legal Office Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Management System, 9%

    Converted hundreds of archived hard files to electronic Document Management system.

  • Legal Correspondence, 8%

    Reviewed outgoing legal correspondence / documents to ensure proper signature and conformance to style / format requirements and procedural instructions.

  • Litigation, 8%

    Maintained files for 911/Lower Manhattan Master Litigation and handled discovery related requests with outside counsel.

  • Data Entry, 8%

    Perform criminal history/criminal records checks and bureau specific data entry.

  • Legal Research, 5%

    Conducted legal research on pertinent university issues for the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel.

  • Office Equipment, 5%

    Ordered supplies, maintained office equipment, provided Notary services, receipted payments, and ran errands.

"management system," "legal correspondence," and "litigation" are among the most common skills that legal office assistants use at work. You can find even more legal office assistant responsibilities below, including:

Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a legal office assistant to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "paralegals must be able to document and present their research and related information to their supervising attorney." Legal office assistants often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "provided phone support, legal correspondence, transcribing letters and assisting with legal documents; communication with potential customers. "

Computer skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling legal office assistant duties is computer skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "paralegals need to be familiar with using computers for legal research and litigation support." According to a legal office assistant resume, here's how legal office assistants can utilize computer skills in their job responsibilities: "performed data entry, computer reports, and various other paperwork-related clerical tasks. "

Research skills. legal office assistants are also known for research skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to legal office assistant responsibilities, because "paralegals gather facts of the case and research information on relevant laws and regulations to prepare drafts of legal documents for attorneys and help them prepare for a case." A legal office assistant resume example shows how research skills is used in the workplace: "created and updated client files - case research - data entry - accounts receivable - general office duties"

Interpersonal skills. For certain legal office assistant responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "interpersonal skills." The day-to-day duties of a legal office assistant rely on this skill, as "paralegals spend most of their time working with clients and other professionals and must be able to develop good relationships." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what legal office assistants do: "demonstrated outstanding interpersonal skills in answering, relaying, screening, and placing telephone calls. "

Organizational skills. Another crucial skill for a legal office assistant to carry out their responsibilities is "organizational skills." A big part of what legal office assistants relies on this skill, since "paralegals may be responsible for many cases at one time." How this skill relates to legal office assistant duties can be seen in an example from a legal office assistant resume snippet: "managed front desk and attending duties prepared files and discovery docs for attorneys filed detailed legal documents requiring exceptional organizational skills"

Most common legal office assistant skills

The three companies that hire the most legal office assistants are:

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Compare different legal office assistants

Legal office assistant vs. Office worker

An office worker is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support the daily operations of the business. Office workers assist in receiving calls to respond to the clients' inquiries and concerns, as well as welcoming visitors, verifying their appointments, and leading them to the appropriate personnel and department for their business needs. They also do data processing, sorting mail, and filing documents for easy retrieval and reference, especially during meetings and company activities.

If we compare the average legal office assistant annual salary with that of an office worker, we find that office workers typically earn a $6,870 higher salary than legal office assistants make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both legal office assistant and office worker positions are skilled in data entry, office equipment, and word processing.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a legal office assistant are more likely to require skills like "management system," "legal correspondence," "litigation," and "legal research." On the other hand, a job as an office worker requires skills like "payroll," "customer service," "computer system," and "computer programs." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Office workers really shine in the education industry with an average salary of $40,267. Comparatively, legal office assistants tend to make the most money in the non profits industry with an average salary of $41,921.On average, office workers reach similar levels of education than legal office assistants. Office workers are 1.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 2.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Legal office assistant vs. Office clerk

Office clerks are administrative employees who handle clerical activities for the organization. They are in charge of managing company records, organizing and storing documents, filing and sorting hard copies of documents, and liaising with other departments or external partners. They are also in charge of handling and scheduling meetings and appointments, managing the reservation of office meeting rooms, and manning telephone lines. Office clerks may also be in charge of ordering office supplies, preparing purchase requisitions for office needs, sending out and receiving official company documents, and other correspondences.

On average, office clerks earn a $3,206 lower salary than legal office assistants a year.A few skills overlap for legal office assistants and office clerks. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "data entry," "office equipment," and "word processing. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real legal office assistant resumes. While legal office assistant responsibilities can utilize skills like "management system," "legal correspondence," "litigation," and "legal research," office clerks use skills like "customer service," "payroll," "direct calls," and "hr."

Office clerks earn a lower average salary than legal office assistants. But office clerks earn the highest pay in the transportation industry, with an average salary of $31,504. Additionally, legal office assistants earn the highest salaries in the non profits with average pay of $41,921 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Office clerks tend to reach similar levels of education than legal office assistants. In fact, they're 3.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for legal office assistants in the next 3-5 years?

Sharon SawyerSharon Sawyer LinkedIn profile

Program Coordinator of Justice Studies, Assistant Professor, University of Maine at Augusta

Our Justice Studies paralegal students worked in virtual internships for social justice organizations and law firms. Our students were already very comfortable working online with video conferencing tools when law firms and non-profits moved online. In fact, they found that they had an advantage because of the skills they developed here at UMA in their online courses. If you think about it, most law-related office work involves research, document preparation, email, sending signed documents, and face-to-face meetings. We have found that all of this is easily done with secure signature and document editing software, email accounts, and video conferencing. While personal meetings in an office are desirable, they are not strictly necessary and might be unsafe in the current circumstances.

Legal office assistant vs. Legal clerk

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.

On average, legal clerks earn higher salaries than legal office assistants, with a $1,019 difference per year.legal office assistants and legal clerks both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "management system," "legal correspondence," and "litigation," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from legal office assistant resumes include skills like "data entry," "scheduling appointments," "office procedures," and "bank deposits," whereas a legal clerk is more likely to list skills in "computer system," "legal memos," "legal process," and "legal proceedings. "

Legal clerks earn the highest salary when working in the professional industry, where they receive an average salary of $39,441. Comparatively, legal office assistants have the highest earning potential in the non profits industry, with an average salary of $41,921.Most legal clerks achieve a similar degree level compared to legal office assistants. For example, they're 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 9.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Legal office assistant vs. Administrative office specialist

An administrative office specialist helps offices to run efficiently and smoothly by performing clerical support tasks. Their responsibilities often include preparing and processing documents, arranging meetings and appointments, monitoring the budgets and expenditures, answering calls and correspondence, handling the inventory and procurement of office supplies, and developing strategies to optimize office operations. They may also address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and professionally. Furthermore, as an administrative office specialist, it is essential to coordinate staff, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Administrative office specialists tend to earn a higher pay than legal office assistants by an average of $1,044 per year.According to resumes from legal office assistants and administrative office specialists, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "management system," "data entry," and "office equipment. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A legal office assistant uses "legal correspondence," "litigation," "legal research," and "law firm." Administrative office specialists are more likely to have duties that require skills in "customer service," "payroll," "phone calls," and "hr. "The technology industry tends to pay the highest salaries for administrative office specialists, with average annual pay of $36,820. Comparatively, the highest legal office assistant annual salary comes from the non profits industry.The average resume of administrative office specialists showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to legal office assistants. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 2.2%.

Types of legal office assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.