Legal Administrator Job Description Template

Legal administrator preparing a meeting room.

No law firm can succeed without a top-rate administrative manager anchoring its day-to-day operations, and the best way to attract the right candidate for this essential position is with a legal administrator job description to help you craft an appealing job post.

If you’re like most law firms, you’ve probably been trying to reduce overhead by cutting administrative staff, but one job function you can’t afford to skimp on is your legal administrator. From lead legal secretary to administrative staff supervisor to office bookkeeper, your legal administrator will likely need to embody multiple functions in one highly capable individual.

This key role has only grown as the legal workplace has become more technologically efficient and complex. In addition to maintaining digital records, many administrators run point on cybersecurity and complex technical issues, freeing up the attorneys and paralegals to keep your billable hours high and your clients satisfied. If they’re good at their job, you may not even notice how central they are to your operations until it’s time to hire a replacement.

The legal administrator job description below is designed to help you write a thorough post and attract qualified applicants. For further inspiration on what to include in your job listing, you can look at legal assistance job listings from other employers.

Legal administrator preparing a meeting room.

Legal Administrator

[Intro Paragraph] Begin your legal administrator job description with a concise paragraph or list of bulleted items designed to make the case that your law office is a great place to work. So, if you’re hiring a legal administrator for a large firm or the legal department at a large corporation, you might emphasize the wide range of opportunities and perks your organization provides. If you are a smaller firm, you can emphasize your commitment to your clients and your community, or your investments in employee development and dedication to work-life balance.

Legal Administrator Job Responsibilities:

  • Prepares legal documents, including summonses, complaints, and subpoenas.
  • Serves clients and attorneys by developing and monitoring cases and documentation.
  • Hires, trains, and supervises legal secretaries and other administrative support staff, and assigns paralegals and assistants to staff attorneys and cases.
  • Inventories and orders office supplies.
  • Serves as liaison with technical support staff for office equipment.
  • Pays vendors, maintains facilities and office supply budget, and oversees other expenses necessary to the day-to-day operations of the firm.
  • Oversees digital operations, including cybersecurity.
  • Provides administrative and secretarial support.
  • Develops cases by interviewing prospective clients and reviewing information.
  • Prepares status reports and keeps clients informed of case progress.
  • Oversees billing and other accounting functions.
  • Gathers case evidence and documentation by preparing files and inputting information from records, statements, and other documentation.
  • Files records and logs incoming mail.
  • Enhances attorneys’ effectiveness by monitoring case progress.
  • Alerts staff lawyers of issues requiring their attention.
  • Maintains contact with clients and opposing counsel.
  • Contributes information to the legal team during case reviews.
  • Concludes cases by verifying outstanding balances and preparing settlement documentation.
  • Updates professional knowledge by participating in educational opportunities and reading professional publications.
  • Builds positive client relationships through effective communication, establishing trust and maintaining confidentiality.
  • Schedules meetings and depositions, answers phones, and maintains digital and physical records.

[Work Hours & Benefits] In this section of your legal administrator job description you’ll want to sell the position to potential applicants in a similar way as your first paragraph made an argument on behalf of your workplace by emphasizing your generous salary and benefits. To ensure that the salary range you mention in your job post is in line with similar salaries in your region, you can use a salary tool that allows you to input job title and location. You can also mention perks, such as tuition reimbursement, paid time off, and 401(k).

Legal Administrator Qualifications/Skills:

  • Technical skills, including the ability to work with databases and case management software
  • Attention to detail and organization skills
  • Leadership ability and management experience
  • Ability to perform well under the pressure of multiple deadlines
  • Word processing
  • Research skills
  • Critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze complex information
  • Excellent verbal communication skills, including listening skills
  • Proficiency in writing, editing, and proofreading
  • Integrity, client confidentiality

Education, Experience, & Licensing Requirements:

  • BA in business management or related field
  • Association of Legal Administration (ALA) Legal Management certification a plus
  • Past management or supervisory experience a plus

[Call to Action] Your legal administrator job description should finish strong with a call to action that urges applicants to send a resume and cover letter or fill out an online application.

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