Responsibilities of a Legal Coordinator
A legal coordinator carries out several key responsibilities in support of the operations of a legal department. Document management is one of the primary areas of responsibility for a legal coordinator. Legal departments generate and process a wealth of documents, including contracts, pleadings, briefs, discovery responses, and witness statements. The legal coordinator organizes and manages large volumes of documents, and makes sure they can be readily accessed by attorneys and other lawyers’ assistants with access needs.
The legal coordinator also oversees management of the department’s e-data collections, e-briefings and e-codes. E-data collections are stored in databases and legal directories, and are often used to organize medical records. These collections often need to be produced to opposing counsel during the course of litigation. E briefings refer to digitized compilations of case law, and allow attorneys to quickly reference multiple cases when arguing motions before the court. E-codes are like postage codes. They are companion codes attached to a document to identify certain document types, for evidentiary and data tracking purposes .
An additional duty of a legal coordinator is to keep the legal department’s case filing system up to date, and to maintain the case filing system for the office. This includes overseeing and maintaining digital filing systems, and training attorneys and other staff on correct filing practices for digital and paper filing systems.
The legal coordinator is also responsible for receiving and responding to client communications. Written and oral correspondence from clients, witnesses and other third parties commonly come to the legal coordinator (as opposed to directly to an attorney), and must be logged and forwarded as appropriate. The legal coordinator may also be called on to make initial communications on behalf of the legal department or firm (e.g., confirming receipt of documents), or serve as point person on select matters.
The legal coordinator may also perform any of the following tasks on a daily basis: In some firms, legal coordinators are the primary insurance communicators and administrative liaisons with insurance representatives and adjusters.
Skills Required of a Legal Coordinator
A successful Legal Coordinator must possess excellent communication skills, both oral and written, as the position generally requires interacting with clients, opposing counsel and other members of the legal community on a daily basis. The coordinator must also be able to comfortably speak the appropriate legalese and know how to compose proper correspondence and pleadings whether through dictation or textual writing. Attention to detail and organizational skills are some important traits that should be inherent in a good legal coordinator. The ability to prioritize and multitask under pressure in a fast-paced, changing environment is key to the longevity of this position and to the success of a business litigation practice. Familiarity with basic computer programs such as Word and Excel is expected. Along with these technical skills, a legal coordinator should have experience with pleadings software and a working knowledge of docketing systems and electronic filing procedures.
Necessary Education
Educational requirements for becoming a legal coordinator can vary depending on the employer, but most require at least an associate’s degree in a related field such as paralegal or legal studies. Others prefer a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, political science, or a related study, or simply a bachelor’s degree. Many jobs will specify that a bachelor’s degree is preferred, meaning that if you do not have it, you may be able to earn one while you work. Sometimes you can opt for a master’s degree instead, or a JD, if the hiring organization accepts it as a substitute.
It isn’t just a matter of passing these classes and degrees; you need to earn high grades and get some experience if you want to be considered for a job. Your GPA should be well over 3.0 to show you were a good student and any relevant volunteer work, internships, and job-related experience will be a great boon to your resume. Having a degree from a strong school in the area is a great way to impress. It is also important that you get trained in the most relevant computer programs related to the legal profession. Specific programs or packages vary, but generally, they are going to be focused on databases, case management, time billing, and document management. If you can get certified in these areas, or find other ways to familiarize yourself with them, it will give you an advantage.
Common Work Environment
Typically, a legal coordinator has a full-time position either with a law firm, in-house with a company’s legal department or with a government agency. The office environment for legal coordinators can vary widely depending on the practice area of the firm or the company’s business/industry. Legal coordinators work in offices where a wide variety of disciplines are practiced such as litigation, real estate, employment, medical malpractice, corporate, insurance etc.
As an example, a legal coordinator who works in a personal injury law firm can expect to work in an environment that may be fast-paced with frequent phone calls and numerous meetings to schedule. A legal coordinator who works in a large real estate law firm will likely be part of a team that is working on projects that may last several months. The pace may be much slower than practicing litigation. A corporate legal coordinator who works for a large manufacturing company may work in a fast-paced office setting working closely with in-house counsel. A government legal coordinator may work with a small team of legal professionals in a more relaxed but professional office environment.
Skills needed for legal coordinators can include: Written communication, oral communication, attention to detail, Microsoft Office Suite familiarity, legal software, public speaking, research abilities.
Path to Advancement
A legal coordinator can advance in several ways, with opportunities for further specialization or ascension in the hierarchy of the institution. After sufficient experience, legal coordinators are often able to transition into supervisory roles, such as that of a division director. In some departments, a coordinated course of training and education may be outlined from entry-level up to department head, allowing for the legal coordinator to move through the levels. At this stage, they may also hire and manage other coordinators, develop departmental policy, and supervise institutional workflow . Alternately, the legal coordinator may specialize in one or two particular fields of the law. In such a case, they can function as subject matter experts and assist with more complex cases, as well as mentor less experienced staff. Many legal coordinators enjoy an association with professional organizations like the International Paralegal Association, of which they can be certified. This would allow a legal coordinator to receive job offers from private sector law firms or corporations outside of the behavioral health system.
Legal Coordinator Salary Information
Legal coordinator salaries vary by region, experience and industry, among other factors. According to PayScale, legal coordinators earn an average salary of $54,274. Starting base salaries for legal coordinators range from $37,000 to $66,000. By the time they have five to ten years of experience, salaries climb into the six-figure range, with the average earnings around $81,000.
PayScale lists the following as typical salary averages:
For those considering a career as a legal coordinator, industry plays a big role in salary range. For example, legal coordinators working in the greater Boston area — which has a very active healthcare and education sector — often report salaries in the range of $55,000 to $73,000.
Legal coordinators in New York command some of the highest salaries in the nation. Those responsible for compliance in the insurance or property and casualty sectors report an average of $90,000.
Location is an important factor when it comes to compensation for legal coordinators. The northeastern U.S. stands out as the region with the highest reported salaries, with New York leading the pack, followed by Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Industries that report especially high salaries for legal coordinators include:
Legal coordinators help law firms and other legal organizations run smoothly and efficiently. Although they must ensure that all aspects of the business function optimally, they also need to know how to prioritize administrative tasks. Clear and organized workers who have a diplomatic approach to dealing with clients and vendors will excel in this role.
The Process of Becoming a Legal Coordinator
Pursuing a career as a legal coordinator generally requires a bachelor’s degree in business, communications, political science, or a related field. Additionally, legal coordinators typically have several years of experience in the legal field as legal assistants, paralegals, or in related positions.
In addition to relevant professional experience, gaining a better understanding of how a legal coordinator works with other legal professionals is essential for future career success. Networking is one of the best ways to gain insight into how to become a legal coordinator. When you connect with those working as legal coordinators , you can ask them questions about their educational and professional backgrounds as well as the job requirements and responsibilities for their positions. You can also turn to current legal coordinators for networking opportunities by requesting informational interviews, overseeing shadowing days in which you learn more about what a typical day looks like for a legal coordinator, and even requesting hands-on work experience through short-term internships or externships.