Top Things to Know About Clerical Jobs With Law Firms

Clerical jobs with law firms include receptionist, legal secretary and paralegal. If you are considering a clerical job with a law firm you may be interested to know about the duties of clerical workers, the education required, the possible salary and the work environment.

Duties

Clerical jobs with law firms come with a variety of duties and responsibilities. Receptionists answer the phones and set appointments. Legal secretaries perform regular secretarial work and prepare legal documents and keep track of deadlines. Paralegals do legal research and assist lawyers in preparing their cases.

Education

Law firms often hire entry-level receptionists with only a high school education. Legal secretaries may or may not be required to have some post-secondary education, while paralegals generally have at least an associates degree. Some law office now require their paralegals to have a bachelor's degree, and they sometimes hire law students to work as paralegals.

Salary

Salaries for clerical jobs in law firms vary. Receptionists are paid hourly and earn between $9 and $17 an hour. Most law offices pay legal secretaries and paralegals an average yearly salary of $46,000 per year.

Work Environment

Clerical workers in law firms generally work in a comfortable office environment. These employees spend part of their day on the phone either taking incoming calls or making outbound calls to gather information. They normally work a standard 40 hour work-week. However, paralegals may work extra hours if they are working on a big case.