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Legal secretary vs administrator secretary

The differences between legal secretaries and administrator secretaries can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a legal secretary, becoming an administrator secretary takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a legal secretary has an average salary of $41,725, which is higher than the $34,336 average annual salary of an administrator secretary.

The top three skills for a legal secretary include litigation, legal correspondence and dictation. The most important skills for an administrator secretary are patients, routine correspondence, and customer service.

Legal secretary vs administrator secretary overview

Legal SecretaryAdministrator Secretary
Yearly salary$41,725$34,336
Hourly rate$20.06$16.51
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs13,18299,520
Job satisfaction3-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 37%
Average age5450
Years of experience42

What does a legal secretary do?

Legal secretaries are employees in a law firm who are responsible for many administrative tasks. They handle the tasks such as filing and keeping records, ensuring that all documents are stored properly, and update contact information data and other essential office databases. They must also be knowledgeable on the law because they are, at times, assigned to draw up legal documents such as motions and subpoenas, conduct legal research, and write up other important office memoranda. Legal secretaries should be organized, trustworthy, and level-headed.

What does an administrator secretary do?

Administrator secretaries are assistants to managers or higher officers in charge of administrative tasks. Their responsibilities include liaising with an organization's internal departments and in communicating with the general public. They make arrangements and scheduling of meetings, events, and appointments. Sometimes, they assume tasks in clerical and administrative nature. It is also part of their job to work hand-in-hand with executives, managers, and any other personnel in corporations.

Legal secretary vs administrator secretary salary

Legal secretaries and administrator secretaries have different pay scales, as shown below.

Legal SecretaryAdministrator Secretary
Average salary$41,725$34,336
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $60,000Between $25,000 And $46,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCUrban Honolulu, HI
Highest paying stateCaliforniaHawaii
Best paying companyKane Russell Coleman LoganDeloitte
Best paying industryProfessionalManufacturing

Differences between legal secretary and administrator secretary education

There are a few differences between a legal secretary and an administrator secretary in terms of educational background:

Legal SecretaryAdministrator Secretary
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 37%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeBentley UniversityWestern Carolina University

Legal secretary vs administrator secretary demographics

Here are the differences between legal secretaries' and administrator secretaries' demographics:

Legal SecretaryAdministrator Secretary
Average age5450
Gender ratioMale, 5.2% Female, 94.8%Male, 5.8% Female, 94.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 2.7% White, 71.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage15%6%

Differences between legal secretary and administrator secretary duties and responsibilities

Legal secretary example responsibilities.

  • Interview clients and manage discovery response process including responses to interrogatories and production of documents.
  • Manage and perform paraprofessional and legal research functions relate to medical malpractice, products liability and general litigation.
  • Perform administrative tasks for managing partner and trial attorney at a medical malpractice litigation firm including daily transcription and stenography.
  • Draft and type probate documents, estate planning documents, discovery including interrogatories, correspondence.
  • Prepare pleadings such as; summonses and complaints, motions, interrogatories, subpoenas and judgments as well as general correspondence.
  • Provide full administrative and secretarial support for labor and employment law partner involve with high-stakes litigation on behalf of corporate clients.
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Administrator secretary example responsibilities.

  • Manage fireworks inventory through QuickBooks and process customer wholesale orders.
  • Maintain internal and external SharePoint team sites.
  • Proofread material for accuracy, correct punctuation, spelling and grammar.
  • Draft, proofread, and distribute correspondence, reports, and presentations.
  • Develop written and graphical reports to DoD personnel
  • Develop and recommend policy for implementation by the DoD.
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Legal secretary vs administrator secretary skills

Common legal secretary skills
  • Litigation, 12%
  • Legal Correspondence, 11%
  • Dictation, 6%
  • Law Firm, 6%
  • Travel Arrangements, 4%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 4%
Common administrator secretary skills
  • Patients, 10%
  • Routine Correspondence, 9%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Telephone Calls, 6%
  • Payroll, 6%
  • Office Procedures, 5%

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