Additional Information
Specialized training is available. You can be certified as an accredited
legal professional (ALP) by the certifying board of the National Association
for Legal Support Professionals.
The association also administers an exam to certify a legal secretary with
three years of experience as a certified legal professional (CLP).
Legal secretary programs are sometimes offered as associate of applied
science degree programs. Look for colleges or universities with office technology
departments.
They usually include training in general office management, as well as
techniques in filing, accounting, legal transcription and other legal support
tasks.
See what's involved in the profession, advises legal secretary Lee Schnabel.
"There are long hours of meticulous work involved. You have to learn where
to go for what, who to talk to for this, where to get what form, who charges
what for specific services.
"Seek out someone who might be affiliated with one of the legal secretary
organizations, possibly through student membership."
"Ask questions," adds Sheila Schmidt, a legal secretary in Georgia. "If
you don't know the answer to something, don't guess! Pick up the phone and
call or ask someone in your office who knows. That's how I learned. If I had
a question, I called the clerk's office and asked."