Posted by BP/WV on 3/25/06 5:12pm
Msg #108552
What is the difference between a.....
Legal Secretary and a Paralegal?
| Reply by PL on 3/25/06 5:31pm
Msg #108556
A Paralegal is two lawyers Sorry I couldn't resist
| Reply by Blueink_CA on 3/25/06 5:59pm
Msg #108562
I'll take a stab at this one. My thinking only... A legal secretary supports an attorney, a paralegal is able to advise, file document in court and assist you, not represent you. Advantage over hiring an attorney? Cost only. I wouldn't hire a paralegal unless I was law savvy, which I'm not.
| Reply by BrendaTx on 3/25/06 6:20pm
Msg #108567
The difference is what the lawyer charges to talk to that person.
Really!
If you mean what do that do in the office:
I think a paralegal has to have a degree or a certain amount of hours of special study. They do legal research and prepare briefs.
On the other hand, the legal secretary must know how to comfort, heal, perform miracles, run fast, jump high, have all the traits of a polygraph machine, know more law than the lawyer, be a wet nurse to the lawyers newborn if necessary, enroll them in school, be on the sick pick up list, balance all the checkbooks in the world...but the real test is WILL YOU type school papers and WILL YOU (assuming you have the skills) help the high school freshman with their geometry and/or algebra homework...be SURE and put that on the resume.
My former boss is dead now, but he was a very sharp and a very funny man. When the Pelican Brief came out, I saw the book title and asked him, "Hey, do you know what they mean...Pelican Brief?" I figured it was a political statement I had not heard of.
Without missing a beat, he held his hands up in front of him about six inches apart to indicate size of something, and said, "Yeah. It's those little, bitty white underwear they make for birds. Pelicans take a larger leg hole."
| Reply by TitleGalCA on 3/25/06 7:47pm
Msg #108596
Brenda, as always, a nice take
but IMO? A legal secretary can go home at 5pm. A paralegal stays behind, does all the work of the attorney, jumps when the attorney says to do so, and accepts $15 per hour. Also, he or she is in law school, generally.
The attorney collects $450 an hour. I think that's the main difference...$15 vs. $450. Unless of course the attorney is also an actor/actress. Then they get $600 per hour for performances.
| Reply by Anonymous on 3/25/06 8:58pm
Msg #108609
Re: Sorry, but a legal secretary doesn't go home at 5 pm n/m
| Reply by TitleGalCA on 3/25/06 10:15pm
Msg #108621
**A legal secretary can** I said 'can', not doesn't.
And because I was one for a time and chose that as a career in my 20's, no disrespect was intended. I would be insulting myself.
| Reply by Korey Humphreys on 3/25/06 9:29pm
Msg #108616
You're right TitleGal...
The paralegal is the attorney's goffer (sp?) ...... we do all the work for the attorney... and in the end don't get credit for the job well done. Credit meaning in the court of law. The law office obviously gives some credit to the paralegal if he/she did a fine job.
I don't accept $15 per hour. I get paid $25 per hour. BUT I do have a lot of fringe benefits and a small expense account.
All-in-all, it's fun. Sometimes very time consuming and draining, but well worth it in the end.
| Reply by BrendaTx on 3/26/06 3:25pm
Msg #108681
Re: You're right TitleGal...Korey...
Get over yourself. I know you are legal secretary.
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| Reply by Korey Humphreys on 3/26/06 3:41pm
Msg #108682
Brenda
W*H*A*T E*V*E*R!
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| Reply by TitleGalCA on 3/26/06 9:35pm
Msg #108717
Re: Brenda/Korey
T * H * E * N Korey,
that means you...........
Rock, too!
Now, go file something.
Because.....
I can't!
as well as,
you!
| Reply by cfwMI on 3/26/06 4:17pm
Msg #108688
Re: You've never been a legal secretary have you titleGal
I hardly ever went home at 5, and most of the time I was at the office before 8 a.m.
| Reply by BrendaTx on 3/26/06 4:25pm
Msg #108691
Re: You've never been a legal secretary have you titleGal
**I hardly ever went home at 5, and most of the time I was at the office before 8 a.m.**
I think I'll just beat the snot out of her.
| Reply by TitleGalCA on 3/26/06 8:43pm
Msg #108711
LOL, Brenda! n/m
| Reply by SatomiCO on 3/26/06 6:14pm
Msg #108703
Re: You've never been a legal secretary have you titleGal
Working in a legal office, my week averaged 52-55 hours. My day usually began at 7:30, but sometimes as early as 6:00. The kitchen was always stocked with a variety of free food. For productivity reasons, attorneys, legal secretaries, paralegals were expected to eat not only in the office but at our desk while we continued working. My day was never finished before 6:00 or 6:30, and not uncommon to stay until 8:00 or 10:00 at night. Half days on Saturday were a pretty common occurrence.
I never had time to type kids' homework assignments or other personal tasks for my attorneys.
| Reply by TitleGalCA on 3/26/06 9:14pm
Msg #108715
Now, in all seriousness about Legal Secretaries
I never had to train harder to do ANYTHING, as I did to be a legal secretary. I went to school for a year, 5 days a week, 9-3, non-stop. I had to learn legal terms...and there are ALOT of legal terms for those not-in-the-know. I had to type at least 70wpm. It is NOT easy to type 70 wpm...for those who are skilled in typing, 70wpm is a "minimum". I had the best well-rounded education for working...that I could ask for...by taking my paralegal classes, with the intention of becoming a legal secretary.
There was the Perfect English to master.....there was the art (and it IS an art) of composing a good business letter. Now take that 'good' business letter and tweak it for the purposes of a high-falutin' law office...it gets harder. You think filing is a no-brainer? Excuse me? In a law office filing is critical. You think alphabetical order is easy? LOL! You think dealing with difficult clients (and they are Clients, not customers, not people in a fast-food line...they are YOUR bread and butter, as well as your Attorneys) The Clients are all important. Miss a court deadline? OMG...you see it's not your boss' problem, it is YOURS and your ability to schedule. Not know how to file in family court? Kiss your hinny good-bye, that's YOUR job.
And then there's that freakin dictaphone. They named that one right....a "dick-taphone". That machine was something designed in an outer office of hell, just for the legal secretary that thought she had it together. Forget the machine part of it...just diagnosing what your attorney was REALLY saying was the trick, and that is a more of an ability of a psychic, not a secretary.
So, as to my respect for the position, or my ability to do it, or as to my experience..."well, you've never been a legal secretary......yada, yada, titlegal" (think nasal whine) .... I say, shut up.
| Reply by SatomiCO on 3/27/06 10:40am
Msg #108790
Re: There is no black and white answer
for the original post-the differences between a legal secretary and a paralegal.
Just like medicine, there are many fields of law and specialized practices. The daily routine and terminology is different for all. The size of the firm and the number of staff are also major factors.
I've worked for several lawyers and many firms. The one where I learned the most but also lost the most was a firm of 100 attorneys. I reported to eight attorneys. Every day of the week at least one of them was in court. Going in at 7:00 or 7:30 in the morning was the only time I had personal contact with some. Staying late at night ensured everything was ready for court the next day. I was paid quite handsomely for my experience, expertise and knowledge, however, I lost many things that can never be replaced or recovered. I was not able to go to many family and school functions. In order to be with a sick or hospitalized child or family member during the day, I was required to work throughout the night at the office.
IMO, a paralegal researches case law. A legal secretary makes sure the cites are typed correctly. The best friend a legal secretary can have is the Clerk of the Court. Get her/him on your wrong side, and your life is miserable from that moment on. Some paralegals docket, but I have always done this myself. The legal process has very time-specific dates. Miss one, and the entire case can be thrown out. The court doesn't give you a courtesty call like a doctor's office for your appointment tomorrow.
All pleadings must be e-filed in Colorado. Each court has specific formatting rules for the legal secretary to follow, number of pages, margins, fonts/sizes, and if not filed correctly, will be rejected.
A legal secretary needs to know not only the current cases, but cases from two, three and four years back. Pleadings/briefs are a hodgepodge of numerous cases.
Paralegals and secretaries both literally "draft" drafts for the attorney to revise and make what I refer to as a roadmap of additions, deletions and moving from here to there. Many of the words that end up on that piece of paper, whether it be correspondence or pleadings begin as simply one sentence from the attorney, be it written or dictated. The secretary composes and puts it all together. In my experience, I've never experienced word-for-word dictation. The secretary and paralegal are the eyes, ears, mouth, fingers nd legs of the attorney.
In many firms, the secretary and paralegal are one of the same. In others, the secretary does paralegal duties without even knowing it, and in others, the paralegal does secretarial duties.
| Reply by TitleGalCA on 3/26/06 8:56pm
Msg #108714
a Big Sigh....
Here's my official statement for the record: "Legal Secretaries Rock. No attorney could ever, ever make it without a Legal Secretary. Further, he should PAY that Legal Secretay very well, because without her/him, he couldn't do anything at all!"
Now, replace "he" with "her" (for those female attorneys). Have I covered all the important social/politically correct issues here?
I WAS a legal secretary. I worked very hard. I respect the position, more than you know. So, when you say (plugging my nose to resemble a nasal whine.....) "you've never been a legal secretary have you titleGal... neener, neener?" ('neener's are my emphasis) I say, "I know you haven't cfw because you can't read". Go back and read 108621, cfw.
My gosh, the only thing I said was, a legal secretary "can" (as in, 'has a better ability than a paralegal') go home at 5:00.
Can we move on? And, for the record, I'm at my job at 7am and don't leave until 6pm and I don't take a lunch. There. Match that. Oh! and I don't ever go to the bathroom either.
| Reply by BrendaTx on 3/26/06 11:25pm
Msg #108723
Re: a Big Sigh....
(( Can we move on? ))
No. We will not ever allow you out of this thread.
| Reply by TitleGalCA on 3/26/06 11:45pm
Msg #108725
Re: a Big Sigh....
OKay then...I'll either:
1. Bore you to death
2. talk you to death
3. BS you to death to get out of this thread I am so sorry I ever posted to...
Failing that, I'll become an expert. For that, you will all surely let me out.
It is a law of the universe...experts get an out of jail free card.
 there has to be a way! I'll consult the sages. None of y'all will stand a chance!
| Reply by TitleGalCA on 3/26/06 11:47pm
Msg #108726
Do you know Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my best friend?????? n/m
| Reply by TitleGalCA on 3/26/06 11:50pm
Msg #108727
Re: Do you know Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my best friend??
And, if I'm not allowed to get her out, HER best friend is a witch named Willow. If that does'nt keep you in your secretary chairs...nothing else will!!
Muuuuaaaaahahahahahah (evil laugh)
| Reply by Korey Humphreys on 3/25/06 9:23pm
Msg #108614
Paralegal vs. Legal Secretary
The term "paralegal" in previous years was synonymous with legal secretary, whereas persons having those titles were of considerably assistance to attorneys on a day-to-day basis, but did not exactly work independently of the attorney. That has all changed.
The services provided by most paralegals and legal secretaries are quite distinguishable in the current day. Paralegals are now proficient in conducting investigations, legal research and the preparation of pleadings, discovery demands, motions and briefs, without the assistance of an attorney. Courts throughout the United States are cognizant of this and, as a result, fees for paralegal services may now be recoverable in most cases wherever an award of attorney's fees or costs is available.
A lot of paralegals have legal secretaries that work for them directly, and not the attorney. I enjoy my work as a paralegal because I am able to go out on the field, so to speak. I enjoy interacting with clients and representing people before Government agencies.
| Reply by SharonMN on 3/26/06 1:11pm
Msg #108658
I work in legal, so I'll try to explain.
A legal secretary is an administrative assistant that works in a law firm or law dept. They type, schedule meetings, make copies, file, etc. but may also have special legal skills such as preparing court documents.
A paralegal (sometimes called a "legal assistant" performs legal work under the supervision of a lawyer. They are to the lawyer what a nurse is to a doctor. Paralegals have often been to paralegal school, but not always. There is no licensing requirement for a paralegal, at least not in MN.
There can be a lot of overlap between an experienced legal secretary and an entry-level paralegal. It all depends on your boss!
| Reply by MistarellaFL on 3/26/06 1:26pm
Msg #108663
Clerical vs. technical n/m
| Reply by ZLee_Califia on 3/26/06 1:58pm
Msg #108668
ABA (American Bar Association) Paralegal Requirements:
BA/AA or 60 semester units/90 quarter units; passing a GRE (graduate records exam); writing/oral proficiency; completion of 32.4 course units and an eight-hour final exam.
| Reply by rengel on 3/26/06 7:56pm
Msg #108708
In California, the only difference between a Paralegal and a Legal Secretary is a certificate. You have to either have a certificate from a California Bar Accredited school, OR 5 years experience under an Attorney who will certify that you have the experience. I am a Legal Secretary and do the same work that a Paralegal does. I cannot call myself a Paralegal because I haven't gotten the certificate.
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