Photo: ctc.uaf.edu
For the next two Fridays we will be publishing an interview with a legal secretary from New York, Ellen Adams, to help give you an idea about what a legal assistant career is like. This vocation is expected to grow at a faster-than-expected rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it a reliable career choice for the future.
- What advice would you give a student considering a career in the legal field? Be prepared to study and work hard. It’s truly not for the faint-hearted. Even though we are in a so-called “electronic age,” there are fundamental skills that will help you to do the job effectively. You should be detail oriented, meticulous, flexible and diplomatic. Time management skills are crucial. It also helps to have a thick skin. Multi-tasking is a must, since you are often “switching gears” at a moment’s notice. You need to learn to be responsive and anticipate that things can and will happen when you least expect it to. Learn to listen and listen to learn.
- What is most challenging about your profession?Trying to avoid tedium and/or becoming bored. Once you master the basics, it can be a challenge to stay motivated. Unless you continue to learn and adapt, that can happen.
- In what way did your education prepare you for your career? I went to what was formerly called The Berkeley School, which is now called Berkeley College. It was specifically for the “secretarial sciences,” and I earned an associate’s degree (Associate in Occupational Studies or an A.O.S.), after successfully completing their 2 year secretarial program with a legal concentration. You had a choice of doing a general secretarial program, a medical secretarial program, or a legal secretarial program. To be honest, the legal secretarial afforded me an opportunity to earn a higher salary, and that definitely helped me decide which direction to move in.
In case you missed it, here’s the Interview with a Legal Assistant Part I - A Rewarding Day on the Job.
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