Legal secretaries also called administrative assistants legal assistants or executive assistants perform the daily clerical functions required for the efficient operation of a legal office beyond the usual filing typing dictation and phone answering duties of the secretary legal secretaries possess specialized skills unique to the legal profession . For most trainee legal secretary jobs youll need excellent word processing skills of around 45 to 50 words a minute other routes you could complete qualifications offered by the institute of. A legal secretary plays a crucial role in the everyday workings of a law office legal secretaries require extensive knowledge of legal proceedings and documentation it is not uncommon for the most experienced and high performing legal secretaries to go on to be promoted to paralegal positions within a law firm. Dont let a lack of legal experience stop you from applying for jobs in law offices or corporations legal divisions if an ad doesnt indicate a need for legal experience or certification go ahead interview and see what happens says jill hale president of nals the national association of legal professionalsthere are many attorneys who will hire someone with no legal background if