Navigating Legal Careers: The Distinct Roles of Legal Secretaries and Paralegals Explained

Although both the roles of legal secretary and paralegal meaningfully contribute to the legal field, if you are trying to determine which position is the right path for you, it is important to consider the distinct responsibilities and qualifications of each.

Legal Secretary

Legal secretary, legal assistant, and paralegal are often used interchangeably but are each distinct jobs. While legal secretaries are valuable members of the legal team, their duties differ from those of a paralegal. A legal secretary is usually known as an administrative assistant with legal training, but their work is not of a substantive legal nature.

Additionally, while there are no legal requirements to meet any specific educational or training requirements as a legal secretary, it is not uncommon for those in this position to take vocational secretarial courses, such as at Purdue Global, or other courses that can help you get ahead in the profession.

While legal secretaries handle a variety of tasks, some of the more common duties in a legal secretary job description consist of:

There are usually three academic pathways for individuals looking to become a paralegal. They include obtaining an associate’s, bachelor’s, or post-baccalaureate certificate. Many individuals seeking a position as a paralegal tend to get a degree in legal studies, political science, or other related fields.

In addition to the degree, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) recommends that individuals wanting to become a paralegal or further their career complete a certifying examination to obtain a paralegal certification. Although an employer does not always require these certifications, they often benefit the individual pursuing them.

Some of the top programs for obtaining a paralegal certification include the following:

• The Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP®) Program by NALA

• The Certified Paralegal (CP) Certification by NALA

• The Professional Paralegal (PP) Exam Certification from the National Association for Legal Support Professionals (NALS).

It is also not uncommon for paralegals to decide to pursue a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree. These degrees are designed to provide individuals with a better and more comprehensive understanding of the legal system, improve their legal skills, and make them more competitive in the job market.

Legal Secretaries

Some legal secretaries start in entry-level positions with a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate. However, many pursue further education by completing associate degree programs or certification courses explicitly designed for legal secretaries.

Several community and vocational colleges, such as the Certified Legal Secretary Course at Central Michigan University, offer one to two-year programs that cover legal topics like court-filing procedures, legal terminology, and criminal law. These programs provide students with an understanding of law office procedures. Students may also learn standard office skills like filing, spreadsheets, accounting, and word processing.

Whether you want to work as a paralegal or legal secretary, obtaining relevant experience can be very helpful in securing your desired job, especially in the face of tough competition. To gain experience, you can look for internships, volunteer work, or assist pro bono clinics. Networking and joining professional associations such as NALA can also help you connect with the right people who can offer guidance in finding a job as a paralegal or legal secretary. 

Furthermore, ensuring your resume is up-to-date and highlights your transferable skills can also be incredibly beneficial, as will interview prep. Because many paralegal positions require confident communicators, you should be able to showcase this skill in your resume and during the interview.

Paralegal

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, paralegal employment will grow 15% from 2016 to 2026. Law firms are also likely to hire more paralegals as they try to increase the efficiency of their legal services and reduce their costs. As a result, these positions will often take on a hybrid role within the law firm, performing traditional paralegal duties and tasks previously assigned to other legal support staff.

The median annual wage for paralegals is around $59,200. However, this amount will typically depend on the type of work the paralegal performs, the firm they work for, and their industry. For example, the median annual wages for paralegals in the top sectors are as follows: 

• Finance and Insurance: $73,050

• Federal Government: $72,320

• Local Government: $58,000

• Legal Services: $57,250

• State Government: $50,310 

Over the next decade, approximately 38,000 new paralegal positions will open annually. Although law firms will still be the primary employers of these legal professionals, many large organizations are expanding their legal departments, which may further boost the demand for paralegals.

Be sure to check out our more detailed guides on the paralegal job outlook and the typical career paths of a paralegal.  

Legal Secretary 

The demand for legal secretaries may be lower than for paralegals, but the salaries for this position continue to rise. According to Zippia, The Career Expert, legal secretary salaries have increased by 11% in the last five years, with an average legal salary of $41,725. 

However, it is essential to note that the statistics on job openings and pay for legal secretaries will vary depending on geographical location. Certain states have more job opportunities for legal secretaries and offer higher pay scales. For instance, the District of Columbia, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Florida are among the states with the highest number of job openings for legal secretaries. 

Moreover, as legal secretaries gain experience, they can take on different roles or advance to other positions, such as office assistant, legal assistant, or executive assistant. These changes may also increase the salary. For instance, the average executive legal assistant salary in the United States is $53,442, while the average salary for legal assistants is $55,644.

In the legal field, there are various positions to consider beyond paralegal or legal secretary roles, mainly if you are keen on working in legal support. 

Legal Assistant

Legal assistants typically perform administrative and organizational tasks essential for a law office's smooth functioning. These tasks may include scheduling appointments, answering phone calls, preparing documents, and keeping track of daily activities. Being detail-oriented is a requirement for legal assistants, and individuals who can efficiently manage multiple tasks simultaneously are particularly well-suited for this position.

Be sure to check out our detailed comparison of a paralegal vs a legal assistant

Law Clerk 

A law clerk usually refers to a law school graduate who provides a judge or an attorney with assistance regarding legal matters such as research, writing, and analysis. A law clerk’s duties generally depend on whether the individual works in the courts or at a firm. However, their main tasks often include researching laws and legal precedents, advising legal team members and the judge on case facts, managing evidence, and providing additional legal assistance.

Be sure to check out our detailed comparison of a paralegal vs a law clerk

Legal Researcher

Legal researchers are generally responsible for collecting information, using public resources to find case-relevant materials, identifying relevant laws and regulations, and summarizing their findings for a law firm or legal department. This position may also communicate with clients, update relevant parties on their research, respond to discovery requests, coordinate with the legal team, and apply logical deduction principles to uncover the facts.

Compliance Officer

Compliance officers ensure that companies and organizations adhere to all legal regulations and industry-specific guidelines. This position is also often in charge of monitoring internal policies and bylaws. In the event of regulatory misconduct, compliance officers may need to address these concerns and find solutions to these problems. 

Case Manager 

Case managers at law firms optimize client services so that the law office can run efficiently and caseloads can be managed effectively. A case manager’s duties are predominantly administrative and include organizing case files, addressing case issues, completing the necessary documentation, answering client questions, and referring them to the right attorney. The case manager may also be responsible for client billing and case time management.

Paralegals and legal secretaries perform important functions at law firms and the companies that employ them. While paralegals are entrusted with case-sensitive legal tasks, legal secretaries are also known to support their attorneys. 

If you are considering pursuing a job as a paralegal or legal secretary, the next step is to research educational and training opportunities tailored to your chosen path.