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Legal secretary vs case manager

The differences between legal secretaries and case managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a legal secretary and a case manager. Additionally, a case manager has an average salary of $43,118, which is higher than the $41,725 average annual salary of a legal secretary.

The top three skills for a legal secretary include litigation, legal correspondence and dictation. The most important skills for a case manager are social work, patients, and community resources.

Legal secretary vs case manager overview

Legal SecretaryCase Manager
Yearly salary$41,725$43,118
Hourly rate$20.06$20.73
Growth rate-8%9%
Number of jobs13,18284,959
Job satisfaction34.5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age5445
Years of experience44

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 a case manager do?

A case manager is responsible for giving advice, handling plans for the client's recovery, and connecting with other human service professionals to ask for further options and recommendations for the client's concerns. Case managers should have excellent communication and listening skills to evaluate the client's needs, ensuring that they will have the utmost care and safety through efficient advocacy. A case manager should be able to provide a reliable support system for the client and monitor progress to achieve wellness and guarantee satisfaction.

Legal secretary vs case manager salary

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

Legal SecretaryCase Manager
Average salary$41,725$43,118
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $60,000Between $30,000 And $61,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Hampshire
Best paying companyKane Russell Coleman LoganWellpath
Best paying industryProfessionalInsurance

Differences between legal secretary and case manager education

There are a few differences between a legal secretary and a case manager in terms of educational background:

Legal SecretaryCase Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common collegeBentley UniversityCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Legal secretary vs case manager demographics

Here are the differences between legal secretaries' and case managers' demographics:

Legal SecretaryCase Manager
Average age5445
Gender ratioMale, 5.2% Female, 94.8%Male, 23.4% Female, 76.6%
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, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage15%15%

Differences between legal secretary and case manager 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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Case manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage all programs operations in accordance with HRA and industry regulations, agency policies and HIPAA guidelines.
  • Manage the care of patients with tuberculosis (TB) during their hospitalization and their discharge follow-up care.
  • Provide clients support with basic ADL's (shopping, payee services, budgets, managing and attending appointments).
  • Practice cognitive behavioral, DBT, motivational enhancement and structural family therapy.
  • Practice excellent customer service and build meaningful, professional relationships with families and patients.
  • Facilitate vocational rehabilitation and relate community services.
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Legal secretary vs case manager skills

Common legal secretary skills
  • Litigation, 12%
  • Legal Correspondence, 11%
  • Dictation, 6%
  • Law Firm, 6%
  • Travel Arrangements, 4%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 4%
Common case manager skills
  • Social Work, 17%
  • Patients, 14%
  • Community Resources, 7%
  • Substance Abuse, 6%
  • Crisis Intervention, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%

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