Job Responsibilities
A Legal Document Specialist in a large law firm is also known as
a Word Processor. Utilizing several software programs such as
Word, Powerpoint, Visio, Excel, Math Type and others, we create,
edit, design presentations, commercials, legal contracts, court
documents and correspondence to a wide variety of legal
modalities within the legal field. Currently, and approximately,
my time spent with the various programs is Word-50% and the other
50% of my time is working with the other software programs.
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Job Requirements
This career was built out of many years working in various
industries, learning these various software programs through an
immersion with those companies. I've been working as a Word
Processor, graphic designer for near 30 years, beginning my
career prior to the introduction of Personal Computers. At the
time, "dedicated word processors/spreadsheet" computers were in
use and I was a "professional" IBM DisplayWriter operator from
it's introduction in the early '80's. When the PC came to
market, the software used for the DisplayWriter was rewritten for
that environment with a relatively easy transition to PC usage.
As the "end-user" software industry grew, so did my knowledge
base and was a WordPerfect Specialist for nearly 10 years. With
the advent of market shift towards Microsoft-based programs in
the business community, I was fortunate to have worked in several
different firms learning the nuances of the Microsoft Office
Suite of programs; Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint & Visio. Now
being employed in the Patent Department of MoFo, I've also become
well versed in the use of MathType and a broader knowledge of
graphic design and proper implementation/integration of graphic
materials in the various programs. My overall workload varies
from day to day - depending on the needs of the professional
staff within the department.
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Uppers
One of the benefits that I derive from my position, is the ability to use my
creative and artistic skills to produce high quality work with a slight "edge"
and polish. Many people will come to me to "make it pretty" requests. I'm the
"go-to" person within the firm when it comes to producing PowerPoint
presentations for our high-end clients.
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Downers
Time is precious within this industry - I'm usually not given the
opportunity to spend the time on a given project that I'd like -
but the end result seems to be more than adequate for our
professional staff.
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Lifestyle
My hours are relatively flexible, there is no business travel at the moment, no
need to go to company events, and the dress code is VERY casual. The diversity
within this particular firm is wide and deep and the community of "techies" here
makes for interesting conversation - if that's what you're looking for. You HAVE
to be a bit of a computer geek to like this sort of work, and if you are, the
rewards are there, if you know where to look.
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Compensation
I could ALWAYS use more money - but, frankly, for what it is that
I do, and the ease at which I'm able to produce high-quality end
products for our professional staff and clients, I make a LOT of
money. I average about $68K per year including salary, bonus and
other benefits.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Advice that I would give to anyone considering this field as a
newcomer would be "Learn EVERY program you can that is used in
the industry you're wanting to work in - and learn it well."
Make yourself the person that people think of first when it comes
to design and implementation of a particular project.
The outlook for this type of work; however, is clouded with
uncertainty. Many think that it will become obsolete within the
next decade - perhaps they're correct - but I still contend that
as long as there are people preparing documents, presentations,
spreadsheets and graphic images, there will be a need for
a "specialist" to solve the problems that are inherently
associated with the related technologies. Perhaps large firms
such as the one I'm currently working for won't need as many of
us, but, we will still be in demand as long as the software being
produced continues its path of genetic pratfalls and
inconsistencies.
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