Legal Clerk Career Guide

What is a legal clerk?

A legal clerk helps lawyers and judges by doing the basic tasks needed in legal offices. They do a lot of important things like research, keeping files organized, and writing documents. Their work helps lawyers focus on the more complex parts of legal cases.

Duties and responsibilities

Legal clerks do lots of different office jobs. They organize files, make copies, write letters, and plan meetings. They keep track of all the information in databases and make sure all materials for a case are easy to find.

They also help write important legal papers under the guidance of a lawyer. This includes things like briefs, wills, and contracts. They check these documents to make sure there are no mistakes. Sometimes, they also do research to help lawyers prepare for cases.

Work environment

Legal clerks work in offices. They can work in different places like law firms, government offices, companies’ legal departments, or courts. It’s important for them to be careful and private about their work. They often work with different people in the legal field, from top lawyers to other clerks.

Typical work hours

Usually, legal clerks work from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Sometimes, they might need to work longer hours, especially if there are big deadlines or court dates coming up. They might also work at different times depending on what’s needed for a case. Some clerks work part-time or have flexible schedules.

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How to become a legal clerk

Becoming a legal clerk mainly involves learning important skills through school and getting hands-on experience. Here’s how you can get started:

Step 1: Finish high school

Start by getting your high school diploma. This is the least you need to start working in most legal clerk jobs. High school classes like English, government, and social sciences help you get ready for more learning about the law later on.

Step 2: Think about more school

It’s not always necessary, but going to college can help. You might want to get an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in something like criminal justice or paralegal studies. These programs teach you a lot about the law and can be really helpful for this job.

Step 3: Gain real-world experience

Working in an office, especially a legal one, is a big plus. Try to get internships or volunteer at places like law firms or courts. This kind of experience helps you get better at organizing, talking to people, and understanding legal papers and what to do with them.

Step 4: Go to vocational training or get certified

You can also take special courses at vocational schools or community colleges. These courses focus on things you need to know for working in a legal office, like business writing, using computers, and the day-to-day tasks in a legal setting.

Step 5: Apply for jobs

Once you’ve learned what you need and have some experience, start applying for jobs. Starting with entry-level jobs as a legal clerk helps you get used to how law offices work and build up your skills.

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How much do legal clerks make?

Legal clerk salaries vary by experience, industry, education, location, and organization size. Additional factors, such as the complexity of the cases being handled by the firm and their knowledge of specialized areas of law, may significantly impact compensation.

Highest paying industries

• Federal Executive Branch: $60,410
• Securities and Commodity Contracts: $57,220
• Natural Gas Distribution: $56,060
• Monetary Authorities: $54,700
• Electric Power Generation: $54,170

Browse legal clerk salary data by market

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Types of legal clerks

Legal clerks can specialize in different areas depending on what kind of legal work they find interesting. Here are some common types:

Document management clerk

These clerks work in law firms or big companies’ legal departments. Their main job is to keep all the legal documents organized and easy to find, which is super important for court cases or meetings. They need to be great at organizing and understanding legal paperwork.

Litigation clerk

Litigation clerks help lawyers get ready for court. They write legal papers, like pleadings and motions, look up laws, and gather evidence. This job needs someone who is good at research, knows how court stuff works, and can handle stress.

Court clerk

Court clerks help keep the court running smoothly. They manage court records, make sure oaths are taken by witnesses and jurors, and organize court schedules. They also might help judges with their daily tasks. You need to be good at admin tasks, communicating, and understanding how courts work to do this job.

Real estate clerk

Real estate clerks help with buying and selling property. They prepare important documents, talk to everyone involved, check property titles, and make sure everything is done right according to local laws. Knowing about property law, being good at coordinating and paying close attention to details is important for this job.

Corporate legal clerk

These clerks work in companies, handling legal stuff related to the business. They write policies, prepare contracts, keep corporate records, and support other legal activities. This job requires understanding legal terms, being organized, and knowing about corporate law.

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Top skills for legal clerks

Being a legal clerk requires a specific set of skills that help you do your job well. Here are the key skills you need:

Communication skills

It’s super important for them to be good at talking, listening, and writing. You need to make sure everyone—from lawyers to clients to court staff—understands each other clearly to avoid any mix-ups.

Organizational skills

These clerks need to be super organized. They handle lots of documents, schedule meetings, and keep everything in order. Being organized helps them find documents quickly, which is really important in a busy legal office.

Attention to detail

Paying close attention to the small things is a big deal. A small mistake in a legal document can cause big problems, so they have to be careful to get everything right, from filling out forms to checking details in legal cases.

Research skills

Clerks do a lot of research to help lawyers prepare for cases. They look up laws, find important court decisions, and gather facts. Being good at research means they can find the information that lawyers need to win cases.

Knowledge of legal terminology

Knowing legal terms is a must. This helps them understand what’s going on and communicate better with other legal pros. It also makes it easier to work with legal documents and make sure they’re accurate.

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Legal clerk career path options

Starting as a legal clerk can lead to many exciting career opportunities in the legal world. As they gain more experience and make professional connections, they can move up in their careers.

Become a paralegal

Many choose to become paralegals. As a paralegal, you do more important work to help lawyers, like getting ready for trials, writing legal documents, and talking to clients. Paralegals often focus on a specific area of law, so your experience as a clerk can help you choose what kind of law you want to work in.

Go to law school

Some clerks use their job as a way to prepare for law school. The things you learn and the people you meet can help you get into law school and do well there.

Move into legal executive roles

They can also become legal executives, who manage and lead in law firms, government, or businesses. To get there, you usually need a lot of legal experience, good education, and to be great at your job.

Work in compliance

The skills you get as a clerk are also useful for jobs in compliance. Compliance officers make sure companies follow laws and rules. This job can take you to many different industries and is perfect for those who like variety and challenges.

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Similar job titles

• Legal Assistant
• Legal Secretary
• Law Firm Administrator
• Legal Investigator
• Contract Administrator
• Paralegal
• Contract Attorney
• Corporate Counsel
• Legal Receptionist
• Document Control Specialist

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Position trends and outlook for legal clerks

• New tech: The job is changing fast because of new technology. Instead of just doing paperwork, clerks now use software to handle lots of documents quickly and easily.
• Impact of the economy: How many jobs are available for legal clerks often depends on the economy. They should know how to use legal software and handle regular office tasks to stay useful no matter what the economy is doing.
• Need for specialization: Law firms are also looking for clerks who really understand specific areas of law. They need to keep learning and improving their skills to stay ahead.

Employment projections

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs for legal clerks is expected to grow by 14% through 2031. Even though technology makes some parts of the job less needed, they are still crucial, especially in areas like healthcare and litigation that are getting more complex.

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Legal clerk career tips

Be flexible

The duties of a legal clerk can vary a lot based on where you work. You might do research, prepare documents, manage files, talk to clients, or coordinate cases. Being able to switch between these tasks makes you very valuable to your team.

Improve your research skills

Being good at research is essential in the legal world. You need to find legal precedents, court decisions, and laws quickly and accurately. To get better at this, consider taking courses or workshops focused on legal research.

Learn legal terms

Legal documents often use complex language. Knowing this language helps you understand and work with these documents better. Keep up with legal terms by using tools like dictionaries or online resources.

Keep things confidential

You’ll handle sensitive information. Keeping this information private is not just professional; it’s also a legal must. Respecting confidentiality builds trust with your employers and clients.

Build your network

Making connections in the legal field can open doors for you. Networking lets you meet new people and learn from them. Join legal forums and groups, both in-person and online, to build your network.

• American Bar Association
• Association for Legal Professionals
• International Paralegal Management Association
• National Federation of Paralegal Associations

Never stop learning

The legal field changes all the time. Staying informed and educated is key to your career growth. Attend workshops, take courses, and read up on the latest legal trends and changes.

Consider certification

Certifications can boost your skills and make you stand out to employers. Depending on your career goals, certifications like Certified Paralegal (CP) or Registered Paralegal (RP) can be great choices

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FAQs