Are you especially skilled at maintaining order in the midst of chaos? Not only would you make an excellent secretary, capable of helping the most disorderly of business executives to stay organized, but you may also be interested in becoming a legal secretary .Every hit TV show that has been created about a law office -- Boston Legal, Ally McBeal, and The Practice, to name a few -- has at least one character that operates on a low key level, but is responsible for keeping all the crazy and quirky antics of the lawyers from interfering with the productivity and effectiveness of the firm. That person is the legal secretary. A legal secretary shares many of the duties of a regular secretary, such as answering telephones, filing, copying, and maintaining organization. However, a legal secretary's responsibilities also include preparing legal papers (summonses, complaints, motions, subpoenas, etc.), reviewing legal journals and assisting with legal research, and being up to date on the technical terminology and procedures of the criminal justice field. These specialized responsibilities require specialized training and certification. An aspiring legal secretary must complete some form of training program, as well as meet the state's education requirements for the profession. Bachelor's degree and professional certificate programs are being offered more frequently and becoming increasingly important to a legal secretary's ability to meet the demands of a growing global business community. Typically, an associate's degree or some vocational training is sufficient to enter the legal secretary field, but discretion, sound judgment, organizational skills and self-motivation are important characteristics for a legal secretary to possess. Extensive knowledge of software applications, such as word-processing, spreadsheets, and database management will further your chances of obtaining employment. Life as a legal secretary is not only a fulfilling way for the organized and detail-oriented individual to use his or her skills, but it also has the potential to be financially rewarding. While the average earnings of a legal secretary fell between $29,070 and $46,390 in 2004, it is possible to earn more than $56,590 with the proper education and qualifications. The University of Phoenix, a leader in online education, offers an associate's degree and a bachelor's of science degree in criminal justice, as well as several individual courses in criminal justice and computer science. While they do not have a program that focuses specifically on becoming a legal secretary, the classes offered will teach you valuable skills and give you an edge on the competition. With courses like Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Interpersonal Communication, you'll be more than prepared to begin a successful career as a legal secretary upon graduation. Oftentimes trusted with legal research and official court documents, a legal secretary has plenty of opportunities to contribute to the outcome of a case. With a sound understanding of the criminal justice field, a legal secretary can accomplish far more than the average secretary. Remember the 1992 film, My Cousin Vinny? Marisa Tomei's character acted as her attorney-boyfriend-Vinny's unofficial legal secretary, and it was her discovery about the tire tracks that ended up closing the case. So what are you waiting for? Learn more about becoming a legal secretary today!
About the author:
http://www.collegebound.net/content
Elise B. Zito is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.
|
Facebook
del.icio.us
Digg