Job Responsibilities
Secretarial functions, assisting two attorneys with complex
litigation matters in State and Federal Courts.
1) Tape Transcription - 1 hours/week
2) Scheduling Depositions, hearings, mediation - 10 hours/wk
(This includes coordinating attorneys and occasionally
witnesses availability with all parties involved, scheduling
court reporter, calendaring, preparing deposition folder and
include all pertinent material - call judge's office, mediator,
etc.)
3) Filing - 3 hours/week
4) Calendaring - 1 hour/week
5) Drafting correspondence, pleadings - 10 hours/week
6) Administrative (review and pay bills, check requests, etc.) -
2 hours/week
7) Faxing - 2 hours/week
8) Copying - 6 hours/week
9) Scanning - 1/2 hour/week
10)Mailing - 2 1/2 hours.
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Job Requirements
I hold a degree as bilingual secretary. I also studied
Economics after that for three years but did not graduate. Then
I attended administrative seminars and bought books related to
the legal field. I also took some computer classes and kept up
to date with technology, and what's happening in the legal
industry. Besides the secretarial training, I practically
trained myself. As a self-starter, eager to learn I paid
attention and worked on temporary jobs to help boost up my
knowledge in the field. As a temp you are not expected to know
everything and you sometimes get some additional training but
also it is a way to practice and learn.
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Uppers
The best parts about my job are first, the fact that I get a pretty good salary
which I would not easily make as an administrative secretary. In fact I have
been office manager and supervisor and never made that kind of salary in the
corporate world. Only the legal field will pay as much. Secondly, I like the
fact that I am dealing with more knowledgeable people and more professional
environment as in the corporate world. I find that it is easier to communicate
with people as they have practically the same type of specialized knowledge. The
hours are shorter (35-37.5 hours/week) with opportunities for overtime. I learn
about various aspects of the law and I like the fact that I can build my
knowledge and experience everytime I change jobs. I like the fact that I can
earn a decent pay in this industry while being "black". In the corporate world I
was always recognized for my skills and put in higher positions but with little
pay. I got tired of being underpaid.
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Downers
There is a luck factor involved when it comes to which attorneys
you are going to work for. You may work for a great one or one
who does not appreciate you. I find that opportunities to
advance within one law firm are almost nil. If you want to make
more money, change position, you have to leave your current job
and go to another firm to get better pay, better position, etc.
thus creating a revolving door factor. Another downer is the
school type environment, where secretaries' whereabouts are
monitored constantly, creating that uneasy near slave feeling.
Also there is a great deal of backstabbing going on and you
can't totally trust anyone. You never know where their loyalty
stands.
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Lifestyle
The lifestyle for this position is pretty comfortable if you manage your income
well. There are opportunities to travel, companies usually will hold annual
picnics and other events, year end cocktails or luncheons. The dress code is
professional but sometimes business casual. Usually on Fridays, the dress code
is "dress down day". If you find a group of good people, you can have a pretty
good experience. Some colleagues get together on weekends. There is a diverse
group of people working in the legal industry to include married women, single
women, single moms, different of age groups, different ethnic groups. If you can
do the work the attorneys will hire you because they need specialized skills and
if you got it they will have to deal with you, whatever your ethnic background
maybe.
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Compensation
Salary - $43,000/year
Bonus - one month salary ($826 less taxes).
401K program.
Insurance - company pays 1/2.
Vacation: 2 weeks.
Sick days: 7 days.
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Advice to Jobseekers
My advice to newcomers is to build your knowledge and skills;
make sure you know your stuff. Read, purchase books, do your
own research on the internet, at libraries and bookstores.
Always keep up with technology. Today, most attorneys are
computer literate and they are able to type their own letters,
pleadings, etc. and they may need you for minor adjustments and
formatting. Be prepared to work for more than one attorney most
of the time as one cannot keep you busy as much if they are self-
sufficient and that can cause problems where you are stuck
between competing attorneys. You then need very good diplomatic
skills to keep both parties happy. You may also be asked to do
more than secretarial duties, however the good news is that you
have an opportunity to learn if that is the case and if you
don't get promoted, then either consider how fortunate you are
to make a good income or if still unhappy then move to another
firm and get the income and benefits you think you deserve.
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