Are you a legal secretary looking for your first job or in need of a change of jobs? Well you have come to the right place at the right time. 

Whether you are applying to a legal process outsourcing company or a law firm, we have got your covered. We put together a guide to help you through the hiring process, focusing on resume building.

Afterall, the path you take has a significant impact on how well you do as a legal secretary and the salary you are qualified to achieve.

Steps To Becoming A Legal Secretary

Build Your Academic Background

Though there is no degree for a legal secretary, having an associate degree or certification would be advised. This gives a strong build to your resume, skill set, and fundamental knowledge. 

Moreover, demand for this job is high, thus, having a formal education can make you stand out as a qualified candidate.

To succeed as a legal secretary, you need to understand legal terms. You must also stay professional and pay attention to detail. 

Here are some of the majors you could pursue that will help you build your career as a legal secretary.

• Political Science
• Public Policy
• Business
• Psychology
• English

Each major helps improve your critical thinking, communication, and research skills. This makes you a stronger candidate for a legal secretary position. 

Obtain Professional Certifications

Here are some of the professional certifications that can help you with your career goal:

• Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) through the National Association of Legal Support Professionals (NALS)
• Professional Legal Secretary (PLS) through NALS
• Certified Legal Professional (CLP) through NALS
• Certified Legal Secretary Specialist (CLS) through the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)

These credentials will prepare you with technical skills and specialized knowledge which will come in handy as a legal secretary. 

Develop Key Skills

So, which significant skills you must have to be a successful legal secretary?

First and foremost, it is crucial that you are well-versed with a high degree of legal terminologies. Having the above mentioned credentials portrays that you already know these terms. 

Second, you have been an exceptional communicator as you will be the employer’s first point of contact. As a legal secretary, you will communicate with both the client and the lawyer. Your speaking and writing skills are very important.

How about relying on Legal CRM software to establish good, long-term client-relationships. 

Organizational skills are a must for a legal secretary when managing the overflowing stacks of paperwork and meeting deadlines. Here is an idea, use various resources such as legal workflow automation software, libraries, and more.

Having high standard research skills is also important in such scenarios, but then outsourcing legal research services could be an option.

Lastly, being an expert with technology would be the last piece of the puzzle. Knowing key legal software and database management in your field is a big advantage for candidates. 

Internship

The ideal way to strengthen your resume is by trying out for apprenticeship, internships or trainee programs. Make sure that it is relevant to your end goal.

Apply to a legal corporation and ask to assist a paralegal or a lawyer. The work might be basic but it will support your resume very well.

Furthermore, your intern supervisor can also serve as a reference when you are applying for a legal secretary position.

Grow Your Network

During your volunteering or internship opportunity, try to connect with professionals in the field. Expanding your network professionally can be an advantage to achieve your goal to become a legal secretary.

Engage with attorneys, paralegals, or legal secretaries in legal events, seminars or conferences. These engagements might create opportunities for you in the future.

Try to gather enough information from them as their experience will serve as a guide for you. You will also be informed of any vacancies or opportunities in the field.

Keep in mind, these mentorship could also lead to referrals and recommendations.  

Put Together A Captivating Resume

The first document you submit when applying for a job is your resume. It is the score setter for an interview. Create a positive first impression by highlighting your skills, education, and about being an asset to the company. 

Express your skill sets in detail and explain how your skills will help you excel in this field. Convey your organizational abilities and capacity to work under pressure in detail.

Reveal your familiarity with the tools that are commonly used in legal settings. Include your credentials as well. It makes a difference.

Nail The Interview

Research the firm you are applying to thoroughly. Learn on their recent cases, which practice areas they specialize on, and understand the company values. Being well prepared shows your genuine interest in the firm.

This pre-background check will also prepare you for the questions the hiring committee might ask. 

Building The Resume

Resume Format

Though generating resumes using AI has become popular, it is not the ideal choice. Afterall an AI needs to be trained thoroughly to give you your desired output.

Thus, many users hire a one-time virtual legal assistant to help them with organizing their resume. Putting that aside, here is how you can build an eye-catching legal secretary resume yourself.

Choose a format that best suits your experience level. There are 3 types you could go with:

• Reverse-chronological: This type of resume highlights work experience, sidelining the other sections such as education and skill. This format is preferred by most employers, however this type of resume requires you to have enough relevant work history to fill the document. 
• Functional: A Functional Resume focuses on education, skills and unpaid experience. This style is mostly used by freshers with little to no formal work experience. 
• Hybrid: This format combines elements of both formats. This style of resume is ideal for applicants who have some kind of work experience and may have plans to switch careers or work around large gaps in their employment history.

Summary / Objective

A summary or objective section of the resume is the most vital part of the whole resume. It contains the most important details from your resume.

It’s pretty much the section that will help you get your employers attention. Moreover, it also increases the likelihood of you being called up for an interview.

Here is an example of a captivating objectives for a Legal Secretary:

SAMPLE1

“A skillful and dedicated legal assistant with 7 years of secretarial experience in both small and large legal firms. Seeking an administrative position to assist legal personnel in performing various legal documentation tasks effectively.” 

SAMPLE2

“A professional paralegal with 7 years of litigation experience in various law firms is looking for a new opportunity. Eager to utilize expertise in trial documentation, legal administrative support, schedule management, and discrepancy handling for mutual growth.”

A candidate needs to be specific regarding their years of experience and specializations. While the first one is quite vague, the second one highlights the applicant’s expertise. 

Skills and Abilities 

In your resume, you need to express both your technical and interpersonal skills. Employers value interpersonal skills because they show how well you can communicate inside and outside a law firm.

Here are some ideas of the skills you could mention in your resume:

Technical Skills	Interpersonal Skills
Legal Research & Due Diligence	Active Listening
Word Processing Software (Microsoft 365, Google Docs, etc.)	Collaboration
Preparing and Proofreading Documents	Verbal and Written Communication
Basic Computer Skills (creating spreadsheets, writing emails, etc.)	Exceptional Memory
Serving legal forms and Courts documents	Reliability
Typing Speed ( at least 50 words per minute)	Professionalism
Electronic File Management	Confidentiality
Drafting Routine Correspondence	Multi-tasking
Strict Adherence to Deadlines	Time Management
	Empathy

Work Experience

In this section, highlight your strengths and accomplishments when describing your professional experiences gained from former jobs. 

Here is a sample:

(SOURCE: https://www.tealhq.com/resume-example/legal-secretary) 

Education/Credentials

The basic academic requirements of a legal secretary is having a highschool diploma or GED. Thus, having a formal education, either a two or four-year degree, can give you a significant competitive edge.

It is crucial that you not forget to mention the name of your certificate or degree, the name of the school or certifying institution and the start and completion dates. 

Besides your formal education, if you have completed relevant certification programs, do mention them on your resume under the “Certifications” section. 

For Example:

EDUCATION

Official Degree Name

University Name

City, State | Start Date – End Date

Major: (Name)

Minor: (Name)

CERTIFICATIONS

Official Certification Name

Certification Provider | Start Date – End Date

Job Search Resources for Legal Secretaries

Job-seeking can be traumatic if you don’t look in the right places.

Yes, networking is an option for landing a job, but keeping a plan B on the side is crucial when job hunting is going on. Especially if the designation you are applying for is very competitive. 

Here are some of the most popular online job-seeking platforms:

• Job Boards for Legal Secretaries: Lawjobs.com, Totally Legal, or ALA’s Job Bank. 
• General Job Search Engines: Glassdoor, SimplyHired, or Indeed.
• Networking: LinkedIn.
• Professional Associations: Legal Professionals, Inc. (LPI), the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA), and The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs (ILSPA).
• Legal Publications and Journals: “The Legal Secretary Journal” and “Legal Assistant Today”
• Internal Mentorship Programs: Some firms and legal departments offer internal mentorship programs where experienced legal secretaries mentor junior staff members.

Before applying, you need to keep in mind one thing. Always tailor your legal secretary resume to align  as much as possible to the candidate requirements for each job post. 

Salary and Career Outlook of A Legal Secretary

According to ZIPPIA, the career expert, the employment growth rate of legal secretaries is -8% in the United States (2018-2028).

However, ILPSA states that “the demand for Legal secretaries is on the rise in London and this is due to the growing complexity of legal work.” 

As of 2025, the average income of a legal secretary in the United States is assumed to be $53,278 per year, or about $25.61 per hour, says ZipRecruter. 

Conclusion

So what is truly happening? Is legal secretary employment growth rising or decreasing?

The only way to find out is to start by building your resume. We have given you a detailed guide on how to go about it.

Attention! Write an enticing objective for employers. This is what propels you through the initial hiring stage. We have provided objective samples for the legal secretaries seeking to leverage.

Lastly, show up to your interview prepared, confident, and nail it!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What Should I Focus On in My Resume Objective to Make a Strong First Impression?

First of all, keep it simple and be specific. Mention your relevant skills, include your relevant  experience, and specify how you add value to the company. 

Make certain that you tailor your objective to the position you are applying to. It might state the same position but the role and requirements might be different.

2. What’s the Best Way to Highlight My Skills and Ambition in a Legal Secretary Objective?

Emphasize your strong organizational abilities, attention to detail, outstanding communication skills, and capability in legal document preparation.

Furthermore, clearly state your desire to contribute to a fast-paced legal environment by offering efficient and accurate administrative support.

Don’t forget to mention your eagerness to learn and grow within the legal field.

3. How Can I Show Potential Employers That I’m Ready for Growth in My Legal Secretary Career?

You can convince them by featuring your eagerness to learn new skills, showcase your familiarity with relevant legal technology, and mention specific achievements that will show your ability to handle increased responsibility.