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Legal receptionist vs receptionist/customer service

The differences between legal receptionists and receptionist/customer services can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a legal receptionist, becoming a receptionist/customer service takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a legal receptionist has an average salary of $32,592, which is higher than the $30,604 average annual salary of a receptionist/customer service.

The top three skills for a legal receptionist include law firm, paralegals and litigation. The most important skills for a receptionist/customer service are customer service, phone calls, and data entry.

Legal receptionist vs receptionist/customer service overview

Legal ReceptionistReceptionist/Customer Service
Yearly salary$32,592$30,604
Hourly rate$15.67$14.71
Growth rate--4%
Number of jobs23,699216,587
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%High School Diploma, 35%
Average age4240
Years of experience212

What does a legal receptionist do?

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.

What does a receptionist/customer service do?

Receptionists or customer service professionals are considered as the first contact point of the clients. They usually greet and welcome guests visiting an office or organization. These are employees who serve as administrative or office support. They take responsibility for digital communication. It is their job to coordinate the front desk activities such as redirecting phone calls and distributing correspondence. They should be equipped with skills like attention to detail, dependability, and communication skills.

Legal receptionist vs receptionist/customer service salary

Legal receptionists and receptionist/customer services have different pay scales, as shown below.

Legal ReceptionistReceptionist/Customer Service
Average salary$32,592$30,604
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $42,000Between $25,000 And $37,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CABillerica, MA
Highest paying stateAlaskaMinnesota
Best paying companyWingetUline
Best paying industryProfessionalManufacturing

Differences between legal receptionist and receptionist/customer service education

There are a few differences between a legal receptionist and a receptionist/customer service in terms of educational background:

Legal ReceptionistReceptionist/Customer Service
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%High School Diploma, 35%
Most common majorLegal Support ServicesBusiness
Most common college--

Legal receptionist vs receptionist/customer service demographics

Here are the differences between legal receptionists' and receptionist/customer services' demographics:

Legal ReceptionistReceptionist/Customer Service
Average age4240
Gender ratioMale, 6.0% Female, 94.0%Male, 8.0% Female, 92.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 10.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 25.4% Asian, 6.1% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%7%

Differences between legal receptionist and receptionist/customer service duties and responsibilities

Legal receptionist example responsibilities.

  • Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
  • Establish accurate accounts for each guest upon check-in according to their requirements and ensure guest paperwork or documentation are filed appropriately.
  • Prepare outgoing correspondence with FedEx, and USPS.
  • Create PowerPoint presentations for use in court.
  • Distribute FedEx and mail, check and approve invoices for payment.
  • Assemble new hire notebooks and update new hire orientation PowerPoint presentations.
  • Show more

Receptionist/customer service example responsibilities.

  • Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
  • Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
  • Bill and collect from private pay, Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance companies.
  • Doctor authorization for treatments, understanding of Medicare and Medicaid, prior authorizations (if need).
  • Resolve problems with the buyers concerning invoices that do not match in the AS400 system.
  • Receive and apply checks into AS400 accounting database and scan checks into bank, on a daily basis.
  • Show more

Legal receptionist vs receptionist/customer service skills

Common legal receptionist skills
  • Law Firm, 15%
  • Paralegals, 9%
  • Litigation, 9%
  • Telephone Calls, 8%
  • Phone Calls, 7%
  • Data Entry, 6%
Common receptionist/customer service skills
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Phone Calls, 15%
  • Data Entry, 14%
  • Telephone Calls, 8%
  • Front Desk, 8%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 8%

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