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The differences between legal receptionists and front desk receptionists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a legal receptionist and a front desk receptionist. Additionally, a legal receptionist has an average salary of $32,592, which is higher than the $31,050 average annual salary of a front desk receptionist.
The top three skills for a legal receptionist include law firm, paralegals and litigation. The most important skills for a front desk receptionist are patients, check-in, and phone calls.
| Legal Receptionist | Front Desk Receptionist | |
| Yearly salary | $32,592 | $31,050 |
| Hourly rate | $15.67 | $14.93 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 23,699 | 82,593 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
In law firms, a legal receptionist serves the clients' first point of contact. They are primarily in charge of greeting and professionally interacting with clients, identifying their needs, answering questions, and escorting visitors to offices. They must also perform clerical tasks such as handling calls and correspondence, arranging appointments, confirming schedules, maintaining records, managing the flow and deliveries of mails and other forms of documentation, and assisting attorneys as needed. Furthermore, a legal receptionist must manage the law firm's facilities, such as the lobby and meeting offices.
Front desk receptionists are usually the first contact of clients or visitors in an office or building. They are responsible for welcoming and receiving guests, documenting guests' arrival and updating the visitor logbook, informing hosts and other involved employees that the guests have arrived, and directing the guests to where they should go next. They also man telephone lines, schedule appointments, receive packages or mails, and answer office visitors' questions. Front desk receptionists are expected to be personable, knowledgeable on office-related activities, and familiar with everyone.
Legal receptionists and front desk receptionists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Legal Receptionist | Front Desk Receptionist | |
| Average salary | $32,592 | $31,050 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $42,000 | Between $24,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Winget | SightMD |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a legal receptionist and a front desk receptionist in terms of educational background:
| Legal Receptionist | Front Desk Receptionist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Most common major | Legal Support Services | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between legal receptionists' and front desk receptionists' demographics:
| Legal Receptionist | Front Desk Receptionist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 6.0% Female, 94.0% | Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 23.9% Asian, 5.7% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 23.9% Asian, 6.4% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |