As law firms are streamlining their businesses today the smaller firms often take advantage of contracting businesses that provide assistance to lawyers when they require additional help but do not wish to hire on and train Legal Office Services Clerks. The firms sometimes require the help of outside services for copying, duplicating, binding, imaging, and quality control checking. The Legal Office Services Clerks can also be contracted to fax, mail, deliver packages and set up conferences.
These legal contractors of services are not difficult to find and more contractors will be establishing themselves to help legal firms with eDiscovery, forensics, and web-based review services in litigation and regulatory compliance matters. There are many online services that assist law firms during times when the work load is demanding.
Skills and Experience for Legal Office Service Clerks
Legal office services clerks assist firms with skills in:
- Computer data entry
- Binding
- Color work/color balancing
- Legal glasswork and tabs
- Filing and indexing
A legal office services clerk can be assigned to go onsite for a client and file legal documents, file correspondence in case files, prepare an index of legal documents, prepare new file folders, and locate and archive documents.
Good customer service skills are especially important if working onsite with a client. Flexibility to work overtime is sometimes necessary along with the ability to present a positive and professional image to the clients.
Employers often look for prior work experience of about two to five years supporting in a law firm or other legal environment. Special skills with reprographics and duplication are especially desired. Evidence of dependability and good organization skills are a plus. Working on a team within the organization speaks highly of any candidate.
Working Environment, Salary, and Job Outlook
The working environment for the legal office services clerk is primarily in the office sitting at a computer or bending and filing. The legal office services clerk may also be requested to lift boxes or files over 10 pounds when filing. Temperature and surroundings in the environment are usually pleasant and well controlled in offices. There may be assignments that put the clerk onsite with clients requiring some travel. Overtime one might also be expected in some other assignments.
The salary range for legal office services clerks can begin at approximately $25,000 and move upward towards $48,000. The spread will be due to the experience and skills presented by the candidate. Different areas in the country can also influence the salary as well as the size of the hiring company and its client base.
The increased use of technology has created a consolidation of clerical support tasks. The consolidation of support workers will increase the demand for clerks who can perform a wide variety of functions for a legal support team. Smaller offices may hire the legal office services clerk or contract clerks to get through the work demand. Legal office clerk services are expected to grow at a normal pace of about 13% over the next decade and continue to provide full time work.
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