Working as a legal file clerk can be a stepping-stone to a career in law. As a legal file clerk, you will file and catalog legal documents; prepare, maintain, and track all on-site and off-site records; prepare documents for off-site storage and confidential disposal; subpoena records; answer phones and route calls; and assist with general office clerical tasks. As the amount of information generated by organizations continues to grow rapidly, file clerks continually classify, store, retrieve, and update this information on an ongoing basis. In smaller offices they often have additional responsibilities, such as data entry, word processing, sorting mail, and operating copy or fax machines. Legal file clerks work with a myriad of information daily, and the job can be daunting. They are employed by organizations of all types, especially at law firms. File clerks, also known as records, information, or record center clerks, examine incoming material and code it numerically, alphabetically, or by subject matter. They then store forms, letters, receipts, or reports in paper form or enter critical information into other storage devices. In some instances clerks operate mechanized files that rotate to bring the needed records to them; others convert documents to film that is then stored on microforms, such as microfilm or microfiche. Records must be up to date and accurate in order for them to be useful. File clerks ensure that new information is continually added to files promptly and may get rid of outdated file materials or transfer them to inactive storage. Their job also involves checking files at regular intervals to make sure that all items are correctly sequenced and placed. File clerks need to be very organized; whenever records cannot be found, the file clerk attempts to locate the missing material. File clerks also implement changes to filing systems as their organizations' needs for information change. When records are requested, file clerks locate them and give them to their superiors. Records may be sheets of paper stored in file cabinets, images on microforms, or information from a computer database. The clerk will either manually retrieve the documentation or deliver the information via computer. If necessary, file clerks make copies of records and distribute them. They also keep track of materials removed from files to ensure that borrowed files are returned. Of course, most of the information now is stored in computerized filing and retrieval systems. To retrieve a document in these systems, the clerk enters the document's identification code, obtains the location, and pulls the document. Even when files are stored electronically, however, backup paper or electronic copies usually are also kept. File clerks usually work in environments that are clean, well lit, and quiet. The work is not overly strenuous but may entail a lot of standing, walking, reaching, pulling, and bending, depending on the method used to retrieve files. There is also a lot of computer work, so extended exposure to computer screens could lead to eyestrain for clerks who work extensively with computers. File clerks must be alert, accurate, and attentive while performing tasks that are at times repetitive. Routine and detailed work is also a big part of the job. Computer proficiency is also becoming a necessary requirement as technology advances. File clerks held about 234,000 jobs in 2006. Clerk jobs are found in many sectors of the economy including government, finance, insurance, and real estate. Most legal file clerks work at law firms or in some other related industry. Most employers prefer applicants who hold a high school diploma or GED or have a mix of education and related experience. File clerks can advance to more senior clerical office positions, and if you work as a legal file clerk in a law firm, you can get a feel for the legal field and go to school to get a degree that will advance you further in the company you're with. Employment of file clerks is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2008. Projected job growth stems from the increasing demand for file clerks to record and retrieve information in organizations across the economy. Being a legal file clerk can be a tremendous way to not only gain an entry into but also develop a career in the field of law.

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Article ID: 4272     Article Title: Becoming a Legal File Clerk Can Be a Great Entry into the Field of Law Comments: Chris, I read your letter, and you have a lot of grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors. I think I counted 15 mistakes minimum. First you need to hone these skills. All large firms will test you about everything. Smaller firms don't always do that. These kinds of mistakes are not acceptable. You will not pass probation if someone has to correct your errors. Next make friends in the legal field. Find someone who will help you. Law firms always consider referrals first. Consider joining a paralegal or legal secretary group. As this artical suggested, consider a different legal position. Down the road you can ask for a transfer. But if your resume is not error proof, you can forget it. Legal work is very demanding, and you won't have time to fix little mistakes. Once something goes out in the mail or gets filed with the court, and you have an error, you will be embarrassed. You might even be fired. Good luck, Corri Posted by: Corri Nelson   |   Date: 08-21-2008 I was extremely interested in your article about legal file clerks, as I am way overqualified for this-I have a paralegal certificate, an AA in General Studies, a BS in Political Science, and I have taken a few classes beyond that, in pursuit of a teaching degree when it was an employee benefit. I was an A paralegal student and have the best possible recommendation from my internship supervisor, but I have had exactly no luck at all in getting any kind of legal employment. I live in Maryland, which is a very conservative state, but they ll only seem to want wither people wiht crack secretarial skills or law students. I am unfortunately not confident in my ability to do either of these things-I in fact thoguht about going to law school, but gave up the idea due to problems with logic. So my question for you is this-how does one go about getting a job as a legal file clerk? I am actually confident in my ability to do this job, but have no idea where to look for this type of employment. I'll anxiously await your reply, Chris Anderson Posted by: Chris Anderson   |   Date: 06-26-2008 Comment

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