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#Legal File Clerk: Job Responsibilities, Requirements and Career Info

Essential Information

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Legal File Clerk Job Responsibilities

Legal file clerks are responsible for following a filing system and organizing records, such as letters, legal documents, case files, correspondence, invoices and memoranda according to that system. They locate and retrieve requested files, as well as prepare legal document indices, file folders and labels. They may be responsible for keeping files up-to-date. In addition to filing, legal file clerks may perform other clerical duties, such as handling mail, faxing, using a copy machine, maintaining a calendar, managing office equipment and ordering supplies.

Legal File Clerk Requirements

There are no formal education requirements to become a legal file clerk, but most employers prefer job candidates who have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. Most of the knowledge needed to become a file clerk is learned on the job. On-the-job training may include legal filing practices and procedures. Trainees also learn legal filing systems and other guidelines specific to their employer. If the legal file clerk will have other office duties, training may extend beyond filing procedures to supply management, the operation of office machinery and mail sorting.

Legal File Clerk Career Information

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that file clerks working in legal services earned an average of $29,550 in May 2013, which was only a little better than the average salary for all file clerks, at $28,680 for the same year (www.bls.gov ). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported that employment for all file clerks is expected to decline by three percent during the 2012-2022 decade. The demand for file clerks is expected to decrease due to increased digitization of files.