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Administrative assistants provide vital office support in a variety of industries, managing basic administrative tasks and managing communications and other information. Legal administrative assistants, however, do all of this and more. According to The College Board, legal administrative assistants must also be well acquainted with legal processes, jargon and documents. This specialized knowledge may demand a bit more training, but tends pays off with respect to earnings and employment growth.

Typical legal administrative assistants' salaries

Legal administrative assisting can pay well relative to the amount of education required to enter the field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the average legal administrative assistant salary in 2010 was $41,500, but other sources indicate that earnings may be much higher. According to CBSalary.com, the average legal administrative assistant salary in 2010 was a more robust $62,853, with the top 25 percent earning more than $94,018. Meanwhile, Glassdoor.com lists 2011 legal administrative assistant salaries ranging from $48,000 to $70,000. Earnings can vary tremendously by employer or experience level, however. The BLS notes that legal administrative assistants working for natural gas, electronics and management companies tended to earn the most.

Where you live also impacts your earnings. According to the BLS, the following states offered the highest average legal administrative assistant earnings in 2010:

• Washington D.C.
• Delaware
• California

Baseline salaries are only part of the equation, however; legal administrative assistants living in expensive regions may find their extra earnings quickly offset by higher-than-average living costs. According to 2010 information from the BLS and the Council for Community and Economic Research, the following metropolitan regions were among the most lucrative for legal administrative assistants relative to cost of living:

• Raleigh, N.C.
• Reno, Nev.
• Houston, Texas

Industry, location and experience may drive earnings overall, but they do not supersede education: a poorly trained legal administrative assistant is unlikely to go anywhere quickly.

How to become a legal administrative assistant

According to the BLS, the specialization of legal administrative assistants means employers prefer to hire formally trained candidates. Legal administrative assistant schools or career colleges offering this type of training can help. Programs are typically one to two years in length, resulting in a certificate or associate degree. A number of schools and programs also offer legal administrative assistant training online, an ideal solution for those not living near legal administrative assistant schools, or for busy working professionals. Additional certification through the National Association of Legal Secretaries may provide an edge over lesser trained job competition.

Career outlook for legal administrative assistants

While the BLS projects that positions among all administrative secretaries will grow by 11 percent in the decade preceding 2018, it notes that growth within the legal services means legal administrative assistants will likely be in higher demand. Experienced assistants with solid communications and computer skills may fare best.

The right combination of education and experience can go a long way toward improving your personal career outlook. Certification and ongoing legal administrative assistant training, online or otherwise, can help. Research a variety of legal administrative assistant schools to find one that suits your goals and learning style.

For related news and other information from Schools.com, see:

• 7 tips for negotiating a better salary
• Study examines reasons for students' choice of where to attend college 
• Surprise! 5 real-life, unexpected college-to-career journeys
• NACE ranks most in-demand majors and lucrative degrees 2011