If you have been considering a career in the legal sector and wondering whether a role as a Legal Secretary or a Legal Executive is the right fit for you, Simone Macdonald our Principal consultant in Legal Support took some time to break down the difference between the two roles. While both positions support lawyers and play essential roles in law firms, their responsibilities, qualifications, and career prospects differ significantly. In this blog, we’ll explore these differences, to help you make an informed decision.

A Legal Secretary is an administrative professional who provides administrative and organisational support to lawyers and legal executives. Their duties focus on ensuring the smooth operation of a law firm’s day-to-day activities. Legal Secretaries are able to work across all practice areas within a law firm, this includes litigation, intellectual property and corporate law. If you enjoy administrative tasks, organising documents, with an avid typing speed and enjoy supporting professionals behind the scenes, a career as a Legal Secretary might be a great fit.

Their Key Responsibilities include:

• Preparing legal documents such as sale and purchase agreements, wills, and trust deeds, court documents or bundles, submissions and pleadings for court.

• Managing diaries, scheduling appointments, and organising meetings and travel arrangements.

• Answering calls and communicating with clients regarding basic inquiries, opposing lawyers, government departments, financial institutions and the court.

• Filing legal documents for court and maintaining client records.

• Assisting with end of month billing, completing dictation through voice notes and recordings for the authors of the team.

• Ensuring compliance with legal office procedures and document management systems.

Legal Secretaries are in demand across various law firms, trust companies, and property conveyancing practices in New Zealand. With experience, they can advance to senior administrative roles or transition into a Legal Executive position with further study.

A Legal Executive is a qualified legal professional who performs legal work under the supervision of a lawyer, particularly in areas such as conveyancing, trusts, estate planning, and commercial property transactions. If you have a strong interest in property transactions, trusts, and estate law, and want to be more directly involved in legal work, becoming a Legal Executive could be the better choice

Key Responsibilities:

• Conducting property transactions, reviewing LIM reports, creating and e-dealings preparing the file for settlement.

• Drafting wills, enduring powers of attorney, and trust documents.

• Assisting clients with estate administration and probate applications.

• Conducting legal research on property law and commercial leasing.

• Liaising with clients, financial institutions, and government bodies such as LINZ.

• Advising clients on legal matters within their scope of practice, particularly in trusts, estates, and property law.

Skills & Qualifications:

• A New Zealand Diploma in Legal Executive Studies (NZLS) and registration with the New Zealand Institute of Legal Executives.

• Strong legal research and analytical skills, particularly in property and trust law.

• Understanding of legal procedures, compliance, and conveyancing practices.

• Ability to draft legal documents and manage complex legal transactions.

Legal Executives in New Zealand have excellent career opportunities within law firms, property conveyancing firms, banks, and trust companies. Some Legal Executives specialise further in areas like commercial property transactions, trust management, or estate administration. With further study, some Legal Executives progress to becoming lawyers. We generally find that Legal Executives generally start off as Legal Secretaries and progress into Legal Executive duties once they have confidence in the conveyancing process or with in private client work.
If you would like to speak to Simone how your admin skills are best suited to transitioning your career into the legal sector, please reach out she would love to speak with you.