Legal Secretary

Career Diploma 5 months

Legal Secretary Training

If you're organized, detail-oriented, and looking to start a rewarding, entry-level career as a vital part of a law office or courthouse, our online Legal Secretary Career Diploma can help you take the first steps toward the job you want. Through flexible classes, you'll learn the skills and knowledge to become a successful legal secretary on your schedule, from home.

Our Legal Secretary Training prepares students for jobs as a legal secretary in a variety of sectors including government agencies, law firms, and courthouses.
Online legal classes cover topics necessary to the field such as interpersonal communication skills, records management, legal terminology, and legal writing.
Students enrolled in the program receive a one year membership to the National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS) at no additional cost.
The legal secretary program meets NALS standards and fulfills the education requirement necessary to be eligible to sit for the Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) certification exam. Earning this credential can help you stand out from other applicants when applying for jobs in the field.
Our online programs are flexible enough for you to finish them at a pace that works for you, based on how much time you can dedicate to your coursework each week.

Accredited

Online

Self Paced

Cost of Program

$799

$989 Save $190

$59/month, Start for as low as $20

Enroll Now Request Info

1-800-275-4410 (9AM - 9PM ET)

What You Will Learn

How to use reference materials, including dictionaries, the Internet, and libraries, to find information.
How to identify the various kinds of documents used in litigation and the basic process of litigation in federal and state court systems.
How to write effective legal documents, including how to construct a memorandum in support of a motion and understanding how local rules of court affect the documents you file with that court.
How to effectively manage an office, including recruiting and interviewing potential new hires.

Full Program Goal & Outcomes

Legal Secretary Career Outcomes

Legal Secretary

AVG SALARY*

$48,780/yr

NUMBER OF JOBS*

159,940

Our online Legal Secretary Diploma can help prepare students for entry-level jobs as legal secretaries in government agencies, law firms and offices, corporate legal departments, court houses, and insurance companies.

State Licensing Requirements

Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in the legal field are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered in the Penn Foster Program. Prospective students should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where they plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in this program. See the State Licensing page for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information.

Legal Secretary Training Curriculum

12 courses
51.9 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
30 exams
6 submitted projects

Estimated completion time:

Fast track = 5 months
Average time = 10 months

With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework. The estimated completion times are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from May 2021 - April 2022, excluding withdrawals.

In our Legal Secretary Training courses, you'll cover essential legal and administrative topics that can help students prepare to start a successful entry-level career in the field. Your online lessons include:

Administrative Office Procedures
Records Management
Legal Terminology
Legal Writing

Show Full Curriculum

Legal Secretary Optional Work Experience

After completing the academic requirements for the legal secretary program, students who wish to gain hands-on experience in a real-world legal setting can take advantage of an optional work experience. Students are responsible for finding a work experience site in their area. Penn Foster does not set up or connect students with sites.

Legal Secretary Student Success Stories

Penn Foster’s Legal Secretary Training can help prepare you for the first step in your law career. This program has helped recent graduates find new jobs while learning at their own pace. Learn more about Penn Foster graduates' experiences and how Penn Foster worked for them.

View Student Success Stories

Aspen D.

Penn Foster Graduate, 2023

“The classes were very well written and the way the program is set up works very well.”

Looking for training for your workers?

Penn Foster currently works with hundreds of leading employers to meet their unique organizational needs.

Learn More

Legal Secretary Training Tuition

Take the first steps toward a new career with our online Legal Secretary Career Diploma Program. Simply choose from one of our low-cost customized payment plans below and get started today!

Option 1: Pay in full

Cost of Program¹

$799

$989 Save $190

Best price. Best value.
Pay the full cost today
No monthly payments

Enroll Now

Option 2: Monthly Auto Pay Plan

Cost of Program¹

$989

Pay $59 per month
Start for $20 down
All major credit and debit cards accepted

Enroll Now

Option 3: Monthly Mail Pay Plan

cost of program¹

$989

Pay $59 per month
Start for $39 down
Mail your payments

Enroll Now

Need more info or ready to enroll?

Looking for more information on transfer credits, military benefits, or our refund policy? Find this information and more about tuition and enrollment here.

Tuition & Payment Options

We're here to help. Call 1-800-275-4410 (9AM - 9PM ET)

Request Info

Our Proven Legal Secretary Learn Model

Empowering students to reach their professional goals

Flexible

Start anytime
No exam due dates
Self-paced

Interactive

Digital study guides
Self-check quizzes
Simulations and videos

Connected

24/7 access to online resources
Online student community
Dedicated Learner Center

Supportive

Expert faculty
Dedicated student services
Robust learning resources

Related Programs

Paralegal

Career Diploma

Through classes on legal research, writing, and law, you can prepare to become a paralegal online with our Paralegal Career Diploma.

4 months As low as $59/mo

paralegal with folder standing in office.

Paralegal Studies

Associate Degree

Prepare for an in-demand job as a paralegal with our online Paralegal Studies Associate Degree. You'll learn about law, legal research, and more!

4 months per semester As low as $69/mo

legal professional with paperwork using laptop in office.

LexisNexis^® Legal Research

Certificate

Learn how to use industry-recognized LexisNexis® to conduct legal research in our online Legal Research Certificate.

4 months Total cost $399

Legal Secretary Training FAQs

What qualifications do you need to be a legal secretary?

Legal secretaries don't necessarily need extensive education or training to get a job in the field. At a minimum, employers look for legal secretaries who have a high school diploma and relevant work experience in an office setting. However, if you don't have relevant work experience or want to stand out from other job applicants, earning a legal secretary diploma and pursuing industry certification can help. Through online legal secretary training, you'll learn the administrative and legal skills and knowledge that secretaries need to succeed in a law office.

What does a legal secretary do?

A legal secretary's job functions most often to provide administrative support to lawyers. They help with legal research, maintain office records, type briefs, and subpoenas, maintain docket systems, record trial dates, and schedule witnesses. They may also schedule depositions and hearings, as well as updating discovery binders. Skilled legal secretaries are essential to a well-run law office.

What is the average salary of a legal secretary?

According to national averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a legal secretary job is $48,780 per year.* Salary can vary based on your educational background, work experience, where you work, and even the state in which you live.

What is the difference between a legal secretary and a paralegal?

While the terms legal secretary and paralegal may be used interchangeably by some, there are several differences between the positions. A legal secretary plays an essential part in ensuring the law office is organized and well-run, completing clerical tasks, scheduling appointments, and maintaining records.

Paralegals are more involved in the practice of the law, supporting a lawyer through research into relevant jurisprudence, the drafting of official documents, and compiling evidence for court. Generally, paralegals require more education and many law firms may prefer certified paralegals over those who aren't. Legal secretaries do not necessarily need a degree or certification to find jobs in the field.

Becoming a legal secretary can be the first step on a career path toward becoming a certified paralegal for those who are interested in pursuing that career.

Sources:

* Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. "Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants." Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Accessed October 4, 2023.

Statements found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used to create the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.

Disclaimers:

¹ Depending on where you live, you may be charged taxes in addition to the total cost of your program.