Legal Secretary/Aid
(Female, Age 33) from Silverhill, AL
This is a REAL-LIFE job profile written by a Female aged 33 who works as a Legal Secretary/Aid in Silverhill, AL. We have removed all names and personal information in order to protect privacy. This professional kindly spent a bit of their time to complete one of our job profile surveys so that prospective job seekers like you could read their insights. Please excuse any punctuation or grammatical errors in this profile.
At a Glance
Current Job
Basic data on your current job
| Job Title | Legal Secretary/Aid |
|---|---|
| Salary | $37,000 |
| Other Compensation | None Set |
| Hours/Week | 40 |
| Company Size | (not answered) |
| Location | Silverhill, AL |
| Years Experience | 9 years |
Career Ratings
Opinions on your CAREER overall (i.e. not just your current job)
| Years in Career | 0 |
|---|---|
| Education | (not answered) |
| Income Rating | 0 / 10 |
| Interest Rating | 0 / 10 |
| Work-Life Rating | 0 / 10 |
| Fulfilment Rating | 0 / 10 |
Current job Q&A
Describe the type of organization you work for.
A law firm. We have 47 attorney positions, 29 paralegals and approximately 70 secretaries.
Describe your job role and responsibilities.
Summarize depositions, arrange to have stenographer readings. File cases, interview clients. Anything needed.
Please list an additional benefits (beyond compensation) that you receive.
Three weeks vacation, full insurance, sick leave. Blue Cross/Blue Shield. 401k
Do you feel you are under/over or well/fairly compensated at your current position?
For the area where I live I am fairly compensated.
Does your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this something you like/dislike about your job? Please explain.
Yes, I interact with co-workers, clients, judges, clerks, etc. I enjoy working around people very much.
Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes
Describe your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what you like/dislike about working in it.
Please rate each of the following aspects of your current job on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest/best):
Income: 1
Benefits: 5
Hours: 4
Co-Workers: 3
Supervisors: 2
Job Title: 8
Level of Responsibility: 7
The Actual Work: 6
A day in the life of…
Please describe a typical workday for you in your current job:
| 5am to 6am | |
| 6am to 7am | |
| 7am to 8am | 7 a.m. is what time I usually get to work (depending on who I’m working with that day). The first hour is taken up answering and replying to in-firm e-mail first. Next client e-mail. |
| 8am to 9am | First job at 8 a.m. is any phone calls to be returned and checking in on the court docket. Also heading to court the majority of days. |
| 9am to 10am | This is the busiest time for meetings, depositions. Today (Wednesday) we had a three hour deposition. My job was to listen in, take notes. Also to expedite the copy from our court reporter. |
| 10am to 11am | Still in deposition. |
| 11am to 12pm | Deposition until 12:28. |
| 12pm to 1pm | Lunchtime. Twice a week is lunch with a senior partner to discuss a current case. |
| 1pm to 2pm | Again checking both e-mails and returning phone calls. Also sorting daily mail and preparing outgoing mail. |
| 2pm to 3pm | Most quiet part of the day. Three intake interviews today. This consists of getting as much background, details, etc. on new clients. |
| 3pm to 4pm | Also in intake meetings. |
| 4pm to 5pm | Wind-down time. This is when we check e-mails, etc for the last time, try to prepare for the next day. File anything with the court, file all papers, cases, etc. that have been taken. Any that we don’t take we have to log out on a master list. |
| 5pm to 6pm | |
| 6pm to 7pm | |
| 7pm to 8pm | |
| 8pm to 9pm | |
| 9pm to 10pm | |
| 10pm to 11pm | |
| 11pm to 12am |
Table of Contents
How you got your job
How did you get your current job?
Referral from a temporary service.
What was the application process?
I went for an interview to fill in for one day. They were pleased with my work so I stayed.
Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
No, I interviewed for a typist slot.
If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
How fast I could type, how accurate. Also experience.
Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
Yes, I was told just what my responsibilities were as well as offered a chance to ask any questions.
Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
I have an associate’s degree in business management. It did help me qualify for the position.
Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
To some degree as far as skills. I did discover a few things I wasn’t prepared for.
If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
Yes, I was able to learn the ropes of the company.
If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
To be sure to find an attorney with which you have good rapport.
What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
You have to have high organization skills, also you have to be a bit of a diplomat.
Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Yes.
What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Not to be overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Long-term career plans
Is your current employment part of your overall career plan? Why or why not?
Originally no. Now, yes. I can’t imagine enjoying anything else.
What are your current career goals?
To be solely a paralegal.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?
Even the most hectic job can be wonderful.
Prior work history
Please list your most recent jobs prior to this current job:
| Title | Length | Salary | Description | |
| Prior Job 1 | Legal Secretary | 2 years | 24000 | General legal secretary. |
| Prior Job 2 | Secretary/Receptionist | 1.5 years | 22000 | I worked for a sole practitioner, did all of the work a secretary/paralegal/receptionist would normally do. |
Educational background
Please list your educational background:
High School GPA:
| GPA | School | Degree | |
| College (Undergraduate) or Technical/Vocational |
3.8 | Faulkner State | Business |
| Graduate or Professional (Masters or Doctorate) |
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