More Information About Legal Office Administration

What should I know when considering a degree in Legal Office Administration ?

A degree in legal office administration is usually offered as an associate degree. Some schools may not offer a degree in legal office administration specifically, but instead provide similar courses that would also be excellent preparation for a career in legal office administration.

A career in legal office administration demands both familiarity with the legal field and with office management practices. In some cases, a law firm may prefer to hire an administrator who is actually an attorney. However, the majority of legal office administrators do not have degrees in law.

Legal Office Administration Courses

Legal office administration degrees cover matters such as financial management, bookkeeping, human resource management, and legal terminology. Students also learn about the best practices in office management while focusing on law firms. Legal office administrators must also have current knowledge of appropriate office software programs and other tools for effective administration. Classes in business communications are useful, since a legal office administrator must communicate effectively both with a firm's managing partners and with non-legal office staff.

In addition to learning about office management, a legal office administration degree will most likely offer courses that provide overviews of various branches of law, such as business legalities, family disputes, property, contracts, patents, or criminal defense law. It is helpful for a legal office administrator to understand legal case procedures and protocols since these will come up daily in any law firm. Additional helpful experience includes familiarity with legal research tools and with law firm marketing. Even if a legal office administrator is not directly involved in legal research or marketing efforts, he or she may be partly responsible for supervising marketing staff.

Legal Office Administration Careers

The tasks a legal office administrator performs are varied. He or she may supervise non-legal staff, coordinate major supply purchases, oversee equipment replacement or maintenance, and develop plans for streamlining office procedures. Tact, organizational ability, and attention to detail are all useful skills for a legal office administrator to possess.

Earning Potential of Legal Office Administrators

Earnings for a legal office administrator vary according to level of experience and place of employment. In general, office managers earn salaries around $43,510. The top 10% earn over $71,340. Some law firms also offer bonuses to administrative staff.

Choosing a degree in legal office management means embarking on a challenging and enjoyable career path. Although many aspects of office management may be automated in the coming decades, law firms will continue to hire administrators who offer value to their practice.

Article Resources

U.S. Department of Labor
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos127.htm

Joel A. Rose and Associates, Inc.
http://www.joelarose.com/articles/employing.html
What are the leading schools offering programs in Legal Office Administration ?

• Penn Foster Career School - Business Penn Foster Career School is the world's largest and most respected distance learning institution offers Career Diploma programs in the fields of Business, Healthcare, Education, Paralegal, Technology, Mechanics and more. ( More Info )