Ever wondered how lawyers and attorneys manage their paperwork, court scheduling and related stuff and still appear in court for the proceedings without failure? Who helps them in keeping their work in order? A legal secretary is a trained legal administrator working in the law office as a secretary. They play a key role in daily workings of the office. Legal secretaries need legal secretarial training.
With legal secretariat training, you will be in a better place to do your work without any problem. A legal secretaries’ certificates puts you on a pedestal for hiring. You will be able to get jobs easily and stand above many legal secretaries who have the basic secretariat trainings.
Every time you chose to study something in specification to your career, you are likely to be rewarded handsomely on the job arena. You definitely compete better. Are you a secretary working in a legal firm?
Then it is time to put aside a few minutes to hone your skills through a legit secretarial training program that will earn you a legal secretary certification.
How do you Train to be a Legal Secretary?
Wondering how you can be a legal secretary? There are several ways by which you can be a legal secretary as highlighted and explained below:
- Apprenticeship:
- College
- Working towards it
- Going for seminars and programs organized by law firms
- Audio courses
- Online part time or full-time courses
Apprenticeship
You can learn to be a legal secretary by being taught on the job by someone who has experience in the field. This is what we refer to as learning on the job. You will not get certification here but you will learn one or two things.
To qualify you need some sort of literacy in areas like computer, language and public relations.
College
You can go to any law college and specialize in legal secretariat course. This can be done before or after training as a secretary. You require basic secretary abilities and the personality of a secretary.
Here you should be an undergraduate of a leaver with education to join a college. Some colleges specify subjects that you need to do well to qualify.
Working towards it
This can work after getting employed in a law firm you can enroll as a trainee and get certification afterwards to be employed in the position later. This is when you previously qualify and you want to be specifically a legal secretary. You learn while in the system.
Audio Courses
There are many audio assistants that can take you several steps during the job. You can learn legal jargon, or other legal proceedings on audio. You can by audio cassettes and listen in during free time or on the job. You will require good skills in word processing to master this.
Seminars
As a worker in a law firm, be it a clerk or any other position, you get chances to attend seminars and other in-service courses come up severally. If interested, you can get involved in the chances and focus on getting a certificate in Legal Secretariat upon completion of the seminar.
Online Courses
Online courses are the best. You have time to study online as long as you have prior qualifications to be a legal secretary. You get access to videos and audios to take away for further training. You can also get a certificate that you can present for interviews or to help you build your portfolio.
In this article, you will be exposed to various top platforms where you can get your Legal Secretary’s Certificate, online. Keep reading.
What can you do with a Legal Secretary’s Certificate?
A legal secretary’s certificate gives you an opportunity to enjoy the following on the job market:
- Career progression: a certificate adds value to your papers. You get a chance to be promoted and even get better job offers.
- Job opportunities: if you are unemployed, you stand a better chance to get employed once you get the legal certificate in any legal firm that is recruiting a legal secretary.
- Professional confidence: with a certificate, you feel accomplished in something. This feeling gives you professional confidence and you can execute your duties without fear.
Hoe long is a Legal Secretary Course?
A legal secretary course takes between 4 weeks to around a year or two depending on which type of study mode you have chosen. Going to college will definitely take a longer period of time.
Is Legal Secretary the same as a ParaLegal?
No. A paralegal is fully-trained in the matters of law and they understand deeper law requirements. Paralegal can be a lawyer or an attorney. A legal secretary works more with paperwork, relations and administration work.
No job is simple, with or without passion. Being a legal secretary can sometimes be stressful when there are many cases to be handled in the firm. The more the cases though, the more the money. On normal basis, it is an enjoyable job.
Top 15 Legal Secretary Certifications in the World
#1. Online Legal Secretary Certificate at Purdue
This takes 15 -18 hours per week for about 10 weeks per term. You will require at 31 credits and this course will cost you $371
There are multiple start times that means you can start any time of the year. Note that this certificate makes it possible for you to start a bachelor’s degree besides adding value to your credentials.
Here you learn:
- Communication skills –these are very important skills for any legal personality. As a legal secretary you will direly need this.
- Ethical decision making- law is all about ethics. You need to uphold integrity to work in a legal office. (https://7ziphelp.com/) You will be expected to keep secrets since you will be exposed to most of the proceedings and the way the case is being handled. This information needs to be treated ethically. You will be taught to do this.
- Critical thinking- with a legal secretary’s certificate you need to be armed with knowledge in critical thinking and problem solving. You will learn this here.
- Theory and practice- you will be exposed to enough legal theory and practice to enable you work efficiently as a legal secretary
- Basic secretariat skills- computer skills, telephone etiquette and other secretarial skills that are required to be learned in a legal office will be disseminated to you.
- Legal communications – you will learn to correspond legally and give explanations in the way you ought to as a legal secretary.
Read about it here and apply as soon as you can.
#2. The Penn Foster Career School – Online Legal Secretary Diploma
This course takes six months. It will cost you $899 per month. It is entirely online and can be done at the comfort of your home or office at your own time.
The Penn Foster Career School is a proven online school that helps you develop your skills and progress in your career. You can enroll for a diploma in legal secretariat online in the comfort of your own at your own time and get certified.
National Association of Legal Secretaries, NALS will accredit your certificate, thus it is reputable.
You will be getting to access to learning materials easily through always available instructors on mail or call, have the correct curriculum skills and you will connect with other students who are doing the same course as you are. Click on the link above to get details on the curriculum outline.
You will learn:
- Legal terminology
- Legal research
- Legal writing
- Office procedures
Each of the above segment has a detailed table of contents that should be covered before certification. You need your internet connection and a Pc or smartphone.
#3. Legal Secretary Course on Reeds
Normally this course costs around $1699 and you get free e-certificate, transcripts and a student’s ID. You will get a 24/7 tutor support. It takes 37 hours and self-paced.
Here, the curriculum is elaborate and the time frame of study is flexible. It is accessible to all Pc, Mac phones and smart phones. You will be taught:
- Legal secretary
- Meeting management and minute taking
- Other secretarial and Responsibilities
- Customer service
- Telephone etiquette
- Organizing work using MS word
- Proofreading
All law firms accredit this certificate and it is acceptable allover. You can print it or attach to your portfolio for recommendations.
Besides a digital certificate, you get transcripts for all the courses and will have a student’s ID card to show that you are studying. The certificate, hard copy, is given at an additional cost of $8
The study materials are always available once you pay and enroll for the course. You might just receive extra two courses if you enroll on Study Hub. Get your certificate and progress or get hired finally.
#4. Legal Secretary certification on Janet’s
$329 is what this course costs. It entitles you to a free PDF Certificate, assessment and tutor support for a full year.
You will get a diploma in legal secretariat within a year with a monthly exposure of around 38 hours per month.
So what exactly do you need? Internet and a smart phone or a PC. The course is self-paced, with videos and modules that are accessible for as long as you need them.
On the link above, you will realize that the curriculum is broken down in bits and you can pick sections of each at a time or go for those that you need direly. You get to sit for exams upon completion of the course outline at your own convenient.
It does not pay these exams for. Once you pay $329 you get to receive all the tutoring and exams with the materials for revision.
Upon completion you will get a free downloadable certificate to present for promotions or hiring.
#5. NALS- National Certification Exams – PLS and/or CLP
When you obtain this certificate, you can show your employer that you are committed to your career progression.
This can be done both online and offline. In this case, we are focusing on the online certification. I mean this for people with at least 3 years of legal experience.
When you achieve this certificate, you stand a chance to be easily employed by many legal firms.
Self-paced learning, exposure to as many hours as possible throughout the year and tutors on chat and email, is what you get when you enroll as a student here. From the name, this should have been the number one choice since many international bodies accredit it. Your portfolio will leap ahead when you get a student online certificate from here.
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#6. Legal Secretary Diploma
When you enroll for this certification, you will get a free e-certificate to add on your portfolio upon completion. You will access modules, study at your own time, at your own pace and get instant feedback through evaluations and exams.
It will teach you:
- Basics of legal secretary
- Minute taking skills
- Secretarial Roles and responsibility
- Customer service skills
- Telephone courtesy
- Microsoft word
- Proofreading skills
You all need a computer or mobile service with an internet connection.
Anyone who wants to gain knowledge and professional skills in the field. This gives you a higher rating on the job market. Shipment of the certificate is done for an extra cost of $9.
#7. Legal Secretary Certificate Course – Online – CLS by BARBRI (legalstudies.com)
Imagine 8hours per lesson, reading and finishing assessment tests without an extension? This is actual classroom experience though it is online. It tells you the seriousness of this course and just how credible it is.
Presenting a certificate from here to any knowledgeable employer will definitely be a plus. Check out the course details and module plans that are as follows:
- Basics of legal secretary
- Minute taking skills
- Secretarial Roles and responsibility
- Customer service skills
- Telephone courtesy
- Microsoft word
- Proofreading skills
#8. Legal Secretariat Certificate on Pitman Training
At Pitman, you can register for a diploma certificate as a legal secretary. If you are going for specialization and ranking higher in the legal office, this is the place for you to gain your diploma.
Here you get exposed to various options in the same field. You can study two courses concurrently. You will do courses and evaluation online and all you need is a computer or smartphone and connection to internet.
You have the following choices to make:
- Legal Text processing
- Legal Audio Processing
- Legal secretary Award CILEX level 2
- Legal Secretary Diploma, Irish and Scottish law
- Advanced Legal Secretary Diploma
All the above courses are to be studied online, at your convenience. These courses are all certified and can be done one at a time or concurrently.
#9. Level Five Diploma in Legal Secretary
What do you get here? An online, self-paced course, and a printable certificate that is acceptable and accredited. Ever heard of the level five diploma? Here it is.
It is entirely online and you can complete it in 4weeks. You will access the content in a period of 12months after paying.
The entire course takes 4weeks minimum, but it is purely self-paced. The course costs $597. The price is inclusive of examinations and tutor exposure. The following modules are given:
- Module 1: Executive and personal assistant
- 2: Business writing skills
- 3: Communication strategies
- 4: Customer support
- 5: Meeting Management
- 6: Organizational skill
- 7: Presentation skills
- 8: Time Management
- 9: telephone etiquette.
- Assessment
- Certification.
The certificate will be shipped or sent in PDF for an extra cost of $65.
#10. The Institute of Legal Secretaries and Paralegal Diploma
Camp here for a while if you are looking for ways to improve your skills as a legal secretary. I will focus on the diploma course here because it is the most marketable and sought after by employers.
Here you learn with an assurance of getting hired once you are done, depending on the level of the certificate you have taken. The Legal secretary jobs are usually advertised here for many law firms believe I the training offered here.
You can read the whole syllabus here:
This institute is recommended by National Careers Service Services and UCAS
#11. Legal Secretary certificate on Lead Academy
With a five-star review, the Lead Academy is one of the leading online platforms to gain your legal secretary certification.
This particular It costs approximately $399 but sometimes you can lad offers on the course and save up to 98%.
Enjoy self-paced learning, certified quality of materials CPD approval and a 24/7 access to tutors. With a good internet connection and a PC or smart phone, you are good to go. The fee is paid once and this includes the exams. You will not encounter cases of hidden fees here. Compare with the listed ones here.
All you need is a grasp on English, basics in computer skills and are 17 years and above/.
#12. International Career Institute – Legal Secretary and Paralegals’ Certificate.
If you are looking forward to entering the profession for great paralegals and legal secretaries or you simply need to improve your skills, click on the above link. It will teach you the following at your convenience:
- Application of knowledge on legal systems
- Search of public records
- Principals of confidentiality and legal security
- Handling receipt and dispatch of information
- Legal terminologies
- Legal prioritization and planning
- Court Documentation.
These are just some areas you will cover at your own pace, with videos and always available tutors for between 24 and 34 weeks.
You need internet connection and a smart phone or a computer.
#13. Legal Secretary Certificate on Training Express LTD
The course currently has 282 students.
This should tell you that many people are working towards bettering their skills and being favorably competitive. Normally costs $125 but can land offers here and there.
You need around 8 hours of exposure to be certified. CPD accredits it and it will give instantly give you a certificate upon completion and evaluation. The course is totally online with professional tutors. You only need internet connection, a smartphone or a PC.
You will get an instant e-certificate. The curriculum is:
- Introduction to legal system
- English law and legal systems
- The legal Workplace and professionals
- Law of contract and law of Tort
- Wills, probate and estate law practice
- Family law and insurance practice
- Document proofreading and editing
- Customer service and telephone handling
- Data management and recording-keeping
- Other essentials skills for secretarial roles
- Computer packages,
The packages include all sections of excel, word and outlook.
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#14. Legal Secretary online certification on Course Pride
$300 normally but sometimes you can get offers. For 60 hours you get to cover 9 modules with a full-time tutor. What you pay will include the exams. The certificate here is downloadable and the certification is level 3 CPD award that is recognized internationally.
The modules include:
- Legal secretary introduction
- Writing skills
- Legal writing
- Proof reading
- Daily operations
- The English legal system
- The court systems and structures
- Law in practice
- Legal skills for success
- Final assessment
You need a desktop, smartphone and internet connection.
#15. Next Learn Academy –Legal Secretary Certification
You get a guided learning of 75hours with around 41 modules to cover to be certified. This is wide. CPD highly recommended no wonder. What you pay will include examinations and assessments. You will get the certificate at completion.
You will learn via chat and email and will print your certificate for free. You will learn:
- Showing secretarial skills
- Know all legal procedures
- Legal firm operations
- Basic legal principles.
How were the Platforms were Chosen?
The above platforms were arrived at after much comparisons and deliberations among the hundreds of platforms offering certification for legal secretaries. Currently, this one are highly rated and recommended.
A Step-by-Step Guide on how to get Legal Secretary Certification Online
- Develop an interest in being a Legal Secretary. Without interest, you cannot learn
- Have background basic education either the A levels or O levels
- Some platforms require you to have passed some subjects like Languages
- Find a computer and an internet connection
- Find a computer and internet connection
- Check out programs that fit your schedule and pocket
- Enrol for the various classes that expects you to complete before you get certified
Frequently Asked Questions
An officer-in-charge of administrative work, relations and paperwork in a law firm.
You can get trained to become a legal secretary in colleges, through online materials, through books and from other people who are renowned legal secretaries
No. The two have different job specifications and descriptions.
You need to understand your job description and whatever it takes to be one.
You earn an average of about $15 to $23 per hour.
Conclusion
Learning and self-improvement, especially professionally, opens doors for better offers. A wise person once said, you are better off when you are indispensable in an organization because everything will be done including better salary offers once they find you irreplaceable.
One way of achieving this status is by training further, honing your skills and having proof of paper that you have actually gone a notch hire in your profession. Does this make you want to go back to studying?
As a legal secretary, certification makes you a brand, firms will be scrambling for your services.
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