At the same time, Kaplan University offers an online legal secretary certificate course for $371 each, or $11,501 plus $100 technology fee. For example, Stetson University offers a 20-week online core course for legal secretaries for $875, approved by the Association for Legal Professionals. Each school sets its own admission requirements for its Legal Secretary program. You can expect to fill out an application form that may ask you for details about yours: Two-semester and one-year certificate courses are available from community colleges for about $780 to $6,150. Access Westlaw (online legal research), $75 for the duration of the course. Legal Secretary diploma courses and the shorter certificate usually last a few weeks and cost $500 to $700. Few community colleges offer on-campus housing, while off-campus housing costs about $10,600 per year for California community colleges and about $8,400 per year at Renton Technical College in Washington. The course fee is $995, plus a $10 registration fee. Course fees do not include textbooks or access to Westlaw. Just as many students wonder about the difference between the legal assistant and the paralegal, many also wonder what is different between the legal assistant and the legal secretary. The titles of legal secretary and legal assistant seem similar, but they are two different roles within a law firm. After graduating from the legal secretarial school, you can apply for office jobs in law firms.
The position title for these roles may be Legal Secretary or Legal Administrative Assistant. Being a secretary of a law firm is not the same as being a paralegal. The Association for Legal Professionals offers legal education and training courses to legal secretaries of many national and local associations. While there is no universal standard for working as a legal secretary, taking a legal secretary certificate program can help you prepare for the responsibilities of this role. Online courses for legal secretary training cost between $600 and $12,000, depending on the length and depth of study. Nevertheless, legal secretaries perform many of the same tasks as other administrative assistants. For example, they can submit documents, answer the phone, schedule appointments, and manage correspondence. Learn how to use the industry-recognized LexisNexis® for legal research in our online legal research certificate.
A legal administrative assistant, also known as a legal secretary, is responsible for administrative tasks that include legal procedures and documents, such as preparing subpoenas, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. This course is taught by experienced lawyers, including renowned nurse legal consultant, Jennifer Graham, RN. Whether you`re just starting your career or have worked as a legal secretary/process assistant for years, it`s important that you have the knowledge and skills to stand out in this sought-after field. Completing our Legal Secretary Certificate course will add additional credentials to your resume that will increase your market value and earning potential. Learn more. Unlike other secretarial staff, legal administrative assistants must understand legal terminology, documents and procedures. By completing an apprenticeship, you can familiarize yourself with these concepts before entering the profession. Some of the duties of a legal secretary are administrative in nature. You can greet customers, answer the phone, schedule meetings, and manage incoming and outgoing emails. You may also be responsible for taking care of office equipment and making sure supplies are in stock. You might be a good candidate for a legal secretarial program if you are organized and pay close attention to detail.
These same skills can also help you perform the duties of an information administrator. In particular, your legal training may be useful in positions as a judicial clerk or licensed clerk. You may also want to consider a job as a credential examiner. A two-year associate degree that combines studies as a legal administrative assistant with general office studies at Santa Monica College in California costs $1,560 for residents of the state. Professional Legal Secretary certification is also offered by the association for those with three years of experience in the legal field, and certification costs from $150 to $200. Live Lecture Refund Policy: We understand that your schedule may change at the last minute and you will not be able to attend this course. If you need to cancel your registration, please call us at least one week before the program and we will refund you. No refunds will be given after the first class meeting. Legal secretaries play a crucial role in law firms. The work they do helps keep the offices running smoothly and team members stay on track.
Without the input of legal secretaries, lawyers and paralegals would be given many additional responsibilities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics` national averages, the average salary for a legal secretary job is $48,980 per year.* Your salary may vary depending on your education, work experience, place of work, and even the state you live in. Becoming a legal secretary can be the first step on a career path to becoming a certified paralegal for those who wish to pursue this career. For example, Kapi`olani Community College, part of the University of Hawaii, offers a certificate of completion of the Legal Secretary course for $948 per semester for residents and $3,264 per semester for non-residents. Since the Legal Secretary certification is voluntary, this means that individuals who have a year of experience or have completed the training course can take an exam with the Association for Legal Professionals to become an accredited legal secretary, which costs $50 to $100. While this type of training isn`t required by all employers, it can give you an edge over candidates who aren`t as familiar with office technology and legal terminology. Legal Secretary Course Start Dates: See Start Dates in the right sidebar. This type of work requires an understanding of technical terms, policies and procedures. A Legal Secretary certificate program can help you prepare for the job market if you take courses in office administration and legal practice. Many employers prefer to participate in a specialized training program that teaches legal terminology. With a legal secretary certificate, you can prove that you are ready for office tasks in law firms.
Your acquired skills can also help you build a career in an alternative field, such as business or government. To learn more about your eligibility, you can complete the Free Application for State Study Assistance (FAFSA). Scholarships are another way to fund your college courses.