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Working as an accredited legal secretary can be a quick way to enter the legal field. These administrative professionals go beyond simply answering the phone and taking dictation. They are highly specialized assistants who must have extensive knowledge of legal terminology and procedures. Accredited legal secretaries may help prepare correspondence, review legal documents and coach new attorneys in legal administrative procedures. Individuals must have excellent typing, communication and organizational skills to be successful in this field.

What was the average accredited legal secretary salary in 2010?

Accredited legal secretary salary information can be found from a number of sources. Salary statistics include both accredited and unaccredited individuals, and job-seekers should remember that accreditation may lead to higher incomes.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports legal secretaries earned mean annual wages of $43,270 in 2010. That is slightly less than real world salary information reported from other sources.

Salary.com uses employer-reported data to calculate median salaries. The site reports average annual salaries ranging from $38,182 for entry-level legal secretaries to $49,693 for experienced secretaries. Meanwhile, Glassdoor.com compiles salary information provided by site visitors. According to its data, most legal secretaries earn incomes falling between $60,000 to $70,000 per year.

While accreditation is one way to boost your salary as a legal secretary, geography can also play an important role. The BLS report these states paid legal secretaries the highest mean annual wages in 2010:

1. District of Columbia: $60,750
2. Delaware: $50,280
3. California: $49,940
4. Colorado: $49,870
5. Connecticut: $49,350

Although some geographic areas may have higher incomes, they may also have higher costs of living. For example, the District of Columbia has the second highest cost-of-living in the nation according to data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. The following metropolitan areas offer above average incomes and a lower cost-of-living:

1. Dallas, Texas: $49,130 in a state ranked 5^th in the nation for cost-of-living affordability
2. Atlanta, Georgia: $47,190 in a state ranked 9^th in the nation for cost-of-living affordability
3. Chicago, Illinois: $45,840 in a state ranked 18^th in the nation for cost-of-living affordability

Is there accredited legal secretary training online?

Most legal secretaries, even those who are unaccredited, must go through a specialized training program to teach them legal jargon and procedures. To earn the designation of Accredited Legal Secretary from the National Association for Legal Professionals (NALS), individuals must complete an approved training course or have one year of general office experience. NALS has currently only accredited four training courses. However, those offer the option to obtain accredited legal secretary training online or on-campus.

Job growth for legal secretaries

Accredited legal secretary schools may be busy during the upcoming years as they work to meet demand for these specialized professionals. From 2008-2018, the BLS estimates job growth for legal secretaries will be 18 percent. The bureau anticipates secretaries will take on added responsibilities as their job functions expand, and job prospects will be best for those with computer proficiency.

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