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The differences between legal secretaries and litigation paralegals 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 a litigation paralegal takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a litigation paralegal has an average salary of $58,484, 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 litigation paralegal are litigation, law firm, and trial preparation.
| Legal Secretary | Litigation Paralegal | |
| Yearly salary | $41,725 | $58,484 |
| Hourly rate | $20.06 | $28.12 |
| Growth rate | -8% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 13,182 | 5,132 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 54 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
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.
A litigation paralegal is a specialist who is responsible for assisting attorneys throughout the trial process. On the plaintiff side, litigation paralegals conduct initial client interviews and legal research for case preparations. They assist with the preliminary examinations of witnesses and jury selection in the courtroom. Litigation paralegals often assist attorneys with case settlements and help identify issues for appeals. They must also possess excellent skills in verbal and written communication and should have great attention in detail.
Legal secretaries and litigation paralegals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Legal Secretary | Litigation Paralegal | |
| Average salary | $41,725 | $58,484 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $60,000 | Between $40,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Kane Russell Coleman Logan | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between a legal secretary and a litigation paralegal in terms of educational background:
| Legal Secretary | Litigation Paralegal | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Business | Legal Support Services |
| Most common college | Bentley University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between legal secretaries' and litigation paralegals' demographics:
| Legal Secretary | Litigation Paralegal | |
| Average age | 54 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 5.2% Female, 94.8% | Male, 24.4% Female, 75.6% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 9.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 5.7% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 9% |