Administrative Support Personnel, Legal Secretary, Office Personnel, Secretary
Interest in compiling information to maintain filing systems; and in reviewing documents and correspondence to ensure that they comply with legal procedures and grammatical usage
Interest in operating computers, and other office equipment; may train other staff in the use of current software
Interest in speaking with people to schedule employers' appointments, meetings and conferences; in opening and distributing regular and electronic mail and other materials; and in co-ordinating the flow of information internally and with other departments and organizations; may supervise other staff in procedures
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Duties and responsibilities vary from one organization to another but, in general, legal assistants:
With experience, legal assistant duties and responsibilities may overlap with those of paralegals (for more information, see the Paralegal occupational profile).
Legal assistants work in fast-paced office environments. They usually work standard office hours but overtime may be required to meet deadlines.
Legal assistants need the following characteristics:
They should enjoy dealing with people, operating equipment such as computers, and compiling and organizing information.
Employers require legal assistants to be computer literate and have fast, accurate keyboarding skills. Some require a typing speed of 60 words a minute. A post-secondary certificate or diploma in office administration, Internet literacy and familiarity with legal vocabulary are definite assets.
Prospective students should investigate the suitability and reputation of training programs with employers before enrolling in a program. For information about related two year diploma programs, see the Paralegal occupational profile.
The Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA) offers professional development courses for legal support staff.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
Legal assistants are employed by:
In large organizations, experienced legal assistants may advance to supervisory positions.
In Alberta, 80% of people employed as legal assistants work in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (PDF) industry.
The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $16.63 | $30.97 | $23.15 | $21.50 |
| Overall | $21.48 | $37.70 | $29.81 | $30.22 |
| Top | $25.50 | $54.95 | $37.22 | $37.35 |
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* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA) website: www.lesaonline.org
For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.
Updated Mar 10, 2016. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.