A legal administrator is in charge of running a law firm’s day-to-day operations. This employee may be in charge of the company’s finances and approve expenses. She may also be in charge of hiring, firing, and interviewing employees. Other times, this professional may be called upon to promote the services of the law firm’s attorneys. She may also be asked to sign contracts for goods and services in some cases.
Dealing with the financial side of the business is one of the main responsibilities of a legal administrator. An administrator may be in charge of budget approval, profit forecasting, and collection of past due accounts. She could also handle simple accounting tasks, keep track of petty cash, and ensure that taxes are paid on time.
Attorneys frequently come into contact with third-party funds. This is because they may be in charge of distributing settlements or property division. Lawyers are required to keep separate trust accounts for third-party funds in most jurisdictions. A legal administrator is frequently tasked with ensuring that these funds do not mix with those of the law firm.
In many ways, a legal administrator is similar to an office manager in that she is in charge of personnel. She could be in charge of hiring paralegals and legal secretaries after conducting interviews. Benefit plans, worker’s compensation insurance, and bonus payments may all be overseen the administrator.
This manager may also be in charge of marketing. This could include placing advertisements in newspapers, on television, radio, or on billboards. Advertisements are frequently approved the legal administrator before they are allowed to run. She might also sign contracts for ongoing services, such as a phone directory listing.
A legal administrator may also be asked to sign contracts for other types of goods and services. Upgrades and repairs to computer equipment, as well as the delivery of office supplies, are examples of these services. In most countries, including the United States, she is not permitted to accept cases on behalf of a practicing attorney.
Many law firms believe that hiring a legal administrator to run the office, they will be able to make a bigger profit. This is frequently due to the fact that this professional may be tasked with responsibilities that would otherwise fall to an attorney or paralegal. As a result, lawyers can spend more time meeting with clients, allowing them to handle a larger caseload.
A legal administrator should be well-organized, multi-tasking capable, and able to work under pressure. She should also have a business administration or accounting background. Those with these credentials should think about pursuing this career path, as it is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.