If you get a job as a legal office manager, you will be responsible for many duties. Legal office managers are required to hire and fire staff, perform accounting, oversee all office functions, organize the office, administer benefits, supervise the staff, prepare legal documents, manage case files and track all court appearances. If you work in a smaller firm, you may also be assigned paralegal duties as well.
Salaries For Legal Office Management Jobs
The average base pay for an individual involved in legal office management is about $47,000 per year. The range of salaries is between $33,000 on the low end to as high as $68,000 per year. Of course, this figure is going to depend on years of experience, company size, industry and location.
Becoming A Legal Office Management Employee
The requirements for each law firm will be different when they decide to hire a law office manager. While there are no set guidelines regarding education, the best candidates will usually have a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree in business, accounting, paralegal studies or office management.
Required Skills
If you are interested in working in the legal office management space, it’s important to have people skills, be knowledgeable about computer software, have a high attention to small details and be a leader. It’s imperative that you are familiar with case management software, legal research and accounting.
Prior Experience
To manage a law office, you will be expected to have had experience in other office management roles. If you have paralegal skills, this will help as well. A legal firm will be more likely to hire a candidate who has management skills as well as legal knowledge. By having both qualities, it ensures that a candidate will be familiar with legal jargon as well as responsibilities in the office.
Certification
In some cases, law firms prefer to interview candidates who are certified. In order for an individual to earn a certificate from the Association of Legal Administrators, they are required to pass a rigorous examination. Specific requirements pertaining to experience and education must be met before a manager can even take this exam. By passing the exam and fulfilling all of the requirements to become certified, a manager will understand employment law, managing human resources, managing client accounts, accounting, legal industry software, and business management skills.
By receiving this certification, it definitely boosts your chances of receiving a job in a law office management position. This type of organization also provides networking opportunities, continuing education as well as listings of jobs that are available.
Jim Treebold is a North Carolina based writer. He lives by the mantra of “Learn 1 new thing each day”! Jim loves to write, read, pedal around on his electric bike and dream of big things. Drop him a line if you like his writing, he loves hearing from his readers!