Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
SOC Code: 43-6012 Job Zone 3: Medium Preparation Needed
Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $67,766 | $84,739 | $101,733 | $118,706 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $57,554 | $75,400 | $93,226 | $111,072 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $57,325 | $74,776 | $92,227 | $109,678 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $53,685 | $70,970 | $88,234 | $105,518 |
| Merced, CA | $50,232 | $68,661 | $87,090 | $105,518 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $53,414 | $70,283 | $87,131 | $104,000 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $41,475 | $62,088 | $82,680 | $103,293 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $52,853 | $67,392 | $81,952 | $96,491 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $47,008 | $60,736 | $74,443 | $88,171 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $50,024 | $62,213 | $74,402 | $86,590 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Writing | 3.9 | |
| Speaking | 3.8 | |
| Time Management | 3.2 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | |
| Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Monitoring | 3.0 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Administrative | 4.5 |
| English Language | 4.4 |
| Law and Government | 4.2 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.9 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.9 |
| Administration and Management | 3.2 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.1 |
| Communications and Media | 2.8 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate's degree | 48.1% |
| High school diploma | 17.3% |
| Some college | 14.3% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 13.2% |
| Bachelor's degree | 7.0% |
Typical Tasks
- Mail, fax, or arrange for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses, and court officials.
- Receive and place telephone calls.
- Schedule and make appointments.
- Make photocopies of correspondence, documents, and other printed matter.
- Organize and maintain law libraries, documents, and case files.
- Assist attorneys in collecting information such as employment, medical, and other records.
- Draft and type office memos.
- Complete various forms, such as accident reports, trial and courtroom requests, and applications for clients.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Adobe Acrobat Intuit QuickBooks Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Visio Microsoft Word A1-Law ADP Workforce Now AbacusNext HotDocs Accounting software Aderant CompuLaw Amortization calculation software
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