Are you wondering how to get your foot in the door and begin a legal jobs career, even though you have no real work experience? Don’t worry, says Jill Hale, president of the National Association of Legal Professionals. “There are many attorneys who will hire someone with no legal background if they feel you’re bright and have good communication skills.” To get into legal jobs, you essentially want to show that you’re an ambitious go-getter with a positive attitude who is good at keeping deadlines and organizing paperwork.

Pros of Legal Secretary Legal Jobs

You may love the legal secretary position if you enjoy learning new things every day and interacting with clients. You can choose a specialty of interest, like real estate or finance, and you can also work in the legal division of a government agency or the local court system. There is always room for advancement to more prestigious and higher paying legal jobs if you show good aptitude.

Cons of Legal Secretary Legal Jobs

On the other hand, these legal jobs can be stressful with so many deadlines looming and the pressure to effectively manage time. Lawyers live and die by annual billable hours, so your office can sometimes become a boiling pot when lawyers try to stack up hours before leaving on vacation. Not every lawyer is an easy person to deal with – there are good employers and bad employers out there.

Advancement

Once you have three years of legal jobs experience, you can pursue ongoing education through seminars and courses offered by NALS. Your final credential after you pass the exam will be a Professional Legal Secretary (PLS). If you wish to specialize in civil trial, real estate, probate or business law, you can become a Certified Legal Specialist through Legal Secretaries International. It’s a wise idea to find a mentor who can guide you through the complex landscape of legal jobs and advancement opportunities.