2001
LEGAL ASSISTANTS DIVISION
EMPLOYMENT SURVEY
FINAL REPORT, JULY 2001
To download a pdf of this report, click HERE.
State Bar of Texas—Department of Research & Analysis
The following data is from the 2001 Legal Assistants Division Employment Survey, which was sent to the 2,010 members of the State Bar of Texas Legal Assistants Division on May 10, 2001. A follow-up mailing was sent on June 26 to the 1,226 Division members who had not yet responded. As of July 23, 2001, a total of 884 surveys were returned. This represents a 44 percent response rate.1
Professionalism Issues
1a. Should there be a minimum requirement to be employed as a legal assistant in the state of Texas? (n=865)
| Yes | 92% |
| No | 6% |
| Not sure | 3% |
| “Other” Responses: (n=146) | 44% |
| College degree/education | |
| Work experience | 19% |
| Legal Assistant training | 14% |
| Other | 13% |
| Education plus experience | 10% |
1b. Should the minimum requirement to be a legal assistant in Texas be contingent upon any of the following? (n=792)
2. Does mandatory continuing legal education enhance the legal assistant profession? (n=877)
| Yes | 83% |
| No | 10% |
| No opinion | 7% |
3. Do you favor continuing legal education as a condition of active membership in the Legal Assistants Division? (n=877)
| Yes | 71% |
| No | 23% |
| No opinion | 6% |
4. Do you believe that the following voluntary certification exams for legal assistants establish a measure of advanced proficiency? (“Yes” answers indicated in chart below.)
| Other responses: (n=20) | |
| BA or BS degree | 35% |
| Any paralegal certification | 20% |
| Other | 20% |
| AA degree | 15% |
| Work experience | 10% |
5 Do you believe that membership in the State Bar of Texas Legal Assistants Division should be mandatory for all legal assistants actively employed or engaged in offering legal assistant services? (n=878)
| Yes | 45% |
| No | 47% |
| No opinion | 8% |
Legal Assistants Division Membership Directory
6a. If the Legal Assistants Division published a membership directory, would you be interested in receiving such a directory? (n=869)
| Yes | 80% |
| No | 20% |
6b. In what format would you be interested in receiving the directory? (n=666)
| Booklet | 79% |
| CD | 21% |
6c. Would you be willing to pay a nominal fee for a directory, to cover its cost? (n=689)
| Yes | 82% |
| No | 18% |
Education/Continuing Education/Certification
7. What is the highest educational degree you have attained? (Do not include degrees related to legal assistant education.) (n=879)
| 30% | High school diploma |
| 26% | Associate |
| 38% | Bachelor |
| 6% | Master |
| <1% | Doctorate |
8. Which of the following types of legal assistant educational programs have you completed? (Check all that apply.)
| 2% | None |
| 68% | On the job training |
| 23% | Undergraduate certificate program |
| 18% | Post baccalaureate certificate program |
| 22% | Associate degree legal assistant program |
| 5% | Bachelor degree legal assistant program |
| 1% | Master degree legal assistant program |
15% “Other” Responses: (n=144)
| Certification program | 36% |
| Other college courses/programs | 33% |
| CLE | 22% |
| BS/BA | 5% |
| Other | 4% |
| Other | 15% |
9a. Do you have a legal assistant certificate? (n=867)
| Yes | 65% |
| No | 35% |
9b. If you are certified as a legal assistant, which of the following certifications do you have? (Check all that apply.) (n=563)
| “Other” Responses: (n=65) | |
| Paralegal school/coursework | 46% |
| University/college program | 37% |
| Miscellaneous | 17% |
10. How many days did you spend last year attending law-related seminars:
|
Outside your place of employment? (n=655) |
|||
| Mean: 5 | Median: 3 | Minimum: 1 | Maximum: 48 |
|
Within your place of employment? (n=255) |
|||
| Mean: 4 | Median: 2 | Minimum: 1 | Maximum: 60 |
11.
Indicate the support provided by your employer for the following
continuing education expenses:
| Full | Partial | None | Not Applicable |
|
| Registration/tuition fees (n=834) | 76% | 8% | 12% | 3% |
| Salary paid for time in attendance (n=826) | 84% | 2% | 10% | 4% |
| Travel costs (n=788) | 54% | 6% | 27% | 13% |
| Hotel costs (n=774) | 53% | 5% | 26% | 16% |
Professional Employment History
12. How many total years have you worked in the legal field? (Include your experience as a legal secretary, clerk, project assistant, etc.) (n=878)
|
1% |
Less than one year 1 year Median years worked in the legal field: 16 years 2 to 5 years 6 to 10 years 11 to 16 years 17 to 20 years Over 20 years |
13. How many total years have you been employed as a legal assistant? (n=876)
|
1% |
Less than one year |
14. Are you currently employed as a legal assistant? (n=860)
| 95% | Yes |
| 2% | No, I am currently not working/looking for work |
| 3% | No, I am currently employed in another occupation. |
15. How many years have you been employed at your current place of employment? (n=812)
| 11% | Less than one year |
| 8% | 1 year |
| Median years employed at current job: 6 years | |
| 30% | 2 to 5 years |
| 20% | 6 to 10 years |
| 16% | 11 to 16 years |
| 6% | 17 to 20 years |
| 9% | Over 20 years |
Compensation and Benefits
16. What is your gross annual base salary? (Exclude overtime, bonus(es), etc. If you are not a salaried employee, please state the gross amount that you earned as a legal assistant in 2000.)
| Compensation and Employment Status | Mean | Median | Minimum | Maximum |
| Full-time permanent (30 or more hours per week) (n=743) | $42,500 | $41,400 | $14,400 | $100,000 |
| Part-time permanent (less than 30 hours per week) (n=14) | $24,571 | $22,000 | $5,000 | $54,000 |
| Temporary position | ** | ** | ** | ** |
| Freelance/self-employed (30 or more hours per week) | ** | ** | ** | ** |
| Freelance/self-employed (less than 30 hours per week) | ** | ** | ** | ** |
| Other | ** | ** | ** | ** |
** Insufficient cases (n<10)
| Compensation and Current Employer* | Mean | Median | Minimum | Maximum |
| Private law firm (n=578) | $42,079 | $40,315 | $14,400 | $100,00 |
| Public sector/government (n=55) | $37,993 | $37,000 | $23,800 | $55,000 |
| Corporation (n=91) | $49,038 | $48,000 | $25,846 | $96,000 |
| Non-profit agency | ** | ** | ** | ** |
| Bank | ** | ** | ** | ** |
| I am self-employed/work freelance | ** | ** | ** | ** |
| Other | ** | ** | ** | ** |
* Note that this data is only for
those respondents who indicated that their employment status was full time
permanent.
** Insufficient cases (n<10)
NOTE: Data for Questions 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b, 19a, 19b, 19c was only selected for those respondents working as legal assistants who indicated that their employment status was full time permanent.
17a. Is there a maximum salary for legal assistants at your place of employment? (n=715)
| Yes | 18% |
| No | 72% |
| Not applicable | 10% |
17b. If there is a maximum salary, what is it? (n=69)
Mean: $50,222 Median: $46,216 Minimum: $24,000 Maximum: $125,000
18a. Does your employer pay overtime? (n=754)
| Yes | 38% |
| No | 59% |
| Not applicable | 3% |
18b. What were your overtime earnings for 2000? (n=183)
Mean: $6,455 Median: $5,000 Minimum: $100 Maximum: $50,000
19a. Does your employer pay bonus(es)? (n=749)
| Yes | 80% |
| No | 18% |
| Not applicable | 2% |
19b. If yes, please specify the number of bonus(es) you receive each year. (Include Winter Holiday bonus.) (n=590)
| 1–2 bonuses a year | 72% |
| 3–4 bonuses a year | 10% |
| 5 or more bonuses a year | 4% |
| Winter Holiday bonus only | 14% |
| Not applicable | 1% |
19c. What were your total bonus earnings for 2000? (n=526)
Mean: $5,447 Median: $2,500 Minimum: $100 Maximum: $200,000
20. How many paid sick days, vacation days, and holidays are you entitled to per year?
| Mean | Median | Minimum | Maximum | |
| Paid sick days (n=528) | 11 | 9 | 2 | 180 |
| Paid vacation days (n=660) | 15 | 14 | 2 | 120 |
| Paid holidays (n=600) | 9 | 8 | 1 | 20 |
21. Does your employer allow you to participate in any of the following?
| Yes | No | Not Applicable |
|
| Employer retirement/pension plan (n=745) | 66% | 22% | 13% |
| Employer’s profit-sharing plan (n=691) | 35% | 43% | 22% |
| Employer contribution to a
retirement/pension or profit-sharing plan on your behalf (n=774) |
68% | 21% | 11% |
22. Does your employer pay for the following?
| For Employee: | Yes | No | Partial |
| Health insurance (n=786) | 66% | 16% | 18% |
| Life insurance (n=771) | 55% | 34% | 10% |
| Dental insurance (n=760) | 32% | 55% | 13% |
| Disability insurance (n=743) | 42% | 49% | 9% |
| Flex Plan (n=686) | 19% | 76% | 5% |
| Maternity benefits (n=693) | 42% | 51% | 7% |
| Paternity benefits (n=627) | 15% | 80% | 5% |
| Parking (n=717) | 49% | 44% | 7% |
| Childcare (n=687) | 2% | 95% | 3% |
| Leased car (n=685) | 4% | 95% | 2% |
| Professional dues (n=766) | 81% | 16% | 3% |
| Other* (n=174) | 28% | 66% | 7% |
| * “Other” responses: (n=57) | |||
| CLE/certification expenses | 21% | ||
| Health club/meals/personal services | 18% | ||
| Cell phone | 14% | ||
| Other financial/insurance benefits | 14% | ||
| Professional dues/meetings | 9% | ||
| Car expenses | 7% | ||
| Vision care | 7% | ||
| Miscellaneous | 7% | ||
| Company vacations | 4% | ||
| For Family/dependents: | Yes | No | Partial |
| Health insurance (n=728) | 14% | 72% | 14% |
| Life insurance (n=708) | 7% | 85% | 9% |
| Dental insurance (n=718) | 9% | 81% | 11% |
| Flex Plan (n=668) | 5% | 90% | 5% |
| Maternity benefits (n=667) | 6% | 89% | 5% |
| Other (n=267) | 3% | 93% | 5% |
Billing
23a. Does your employer bill clients for your legal assistant time? (n=802)
| Yes | 66% |
| No | 28% |
| Not applicable | 7% |
23b. At what hourly rate is your labor billed? (n=512)
Mean: $83 Median: $75 Minimum: $25 Maximum: $165
24a. Are you required to work a minimum number of billable hours per month? (n=633)
Yes
24%
No
76%
24b. If so, how many billable hours are you required to work per month? (n=133)
Mean: 128 hours Median: 135 hours Minimum: 6 hours Maximum: 200 hours
25a. If your firm does not require you to work a minimum number of billable hours, are you encouraged to work a minimum number of billable hours per month? (n=460)
Yes
28%
No
72%
25b. If so, how many billable hours are you encouraged to work per month? (n=117)
Mean: 122 hours Median: 130 hours Minimum: 15 hours Maximum: 200 hours
Work Environment and Responsibilities
26 Which of the following best describes your current employer? (n=807)
*"Other" Responses: (n=110)
Energy/oil and gas/chemical 29%
Service provider
8%
Telecommunications/high
tech/computer 17%
Real estate/construction
6%
Financial/insurance
10%
Retailer
6%
Manufacturing 10%
Transportation 3%
Other
9%
Utility
3%
27. Which of the following best describes your employment status? (n=810)
95%
Full time permanent (30 or more hours per week)
2%
Part time permanent (less than 30 hours per week)
<1% Temporary position
1% Freelance/self-employed (30 or more hours per week)
1% Freelance/self-employed (less than 30 hours per week)
1%
Other
28. How many attorneys work in your office? (n=612)2
18%
One (sole practitioner)
Median: 5 attorneys
34%
2 to 5
12%
6 to 10
13%
11 to 24
7%
25 to 40
5%
41 to 60
12%
More than 60
80 How many legal assistants, including yourself, work in your place of employment? (n=760)
Mean: 8 Median: 3 Minimum: 1 Maximum: 400
30. Please indicate up to three specialty areas in which you are employed. (Check only three.) (n=815)
110
9% Administrative/Government/Public
1% Admiralty/Marine
4% Banking/Finance
6% Bankruptcy
56%
Civil Litigation
15% Corporate
8% Contract
9% Criminal
1%
Elder Law
1% Employee Benefits
9% Employment/Labor Law
<1% Entertainment
4% Environmental Law
2% Energy/Utility
20%
Family Law/Domestic Relations
1% Immigration
11% Insurance
4% Intellectual Property
13% Medical Malpractice
0% Native American/Indian Law
6%
Office Management
5%
Oil & Gas
33% Personal Injury
14% Probate
14%
Real Estate
3% Securities/Antitrust
3%
Tax
8%
Trusts & Estates
1% Workers Compensation
31. How often do you perform the following functions and tasks?
| Never | Rarely | Monthly | Weekly | Daily | |
| Assist at trial (n=764) | 30% | 41% | 24% | 3% | 2% |
| Assist/attend mediations (n=776) | 47% | 35% | 14% | 2% | 2% |
| Assist with client conference, client contact (n=784) | 5% | 7% | 13% | 22% | 54% |
| Automation systems/computerized support (n=755) | 8% | 8% | 6% | 11% | 68% |
| Calendaring deadlines (n=790) | 6% | 7% | 5% | 12% | 70% |
| Case management (n=780) | 7% | 4% | 5% | 9% | 77% |
| Client/witness interviews (n=778) | 18% | 17% | 14% | 22% | 29% |
| Court filings (n=776) | 14% | 15% | 13% | 24% | 34% |
| Deposition summaries (n=774) | 34% | 33% | 20% | 6% | 7% |
| Document analysis/summary (n=777) | 10% | 14% | 19% | 26% | 31% |
| Draft correspondence (n=786) | 1% | 1% | 3% | 11% | 85% |
| Draft pleadings/document responses/discovery (n=788) | 10% | 8% | 9% | 17% | 56% |
| General, factual, or record research (n=776) | 4% | 13% | 14% | 24% | 44% |
| Investigation (n=765) | 21% | 19% | 18% | 19% | 24% |
| Law library maintenance (n=768) | 56% | 21% | 10% | 5% | 7% |
| Legal research (n=784) | 16% | 33% | 22% | 16% | 13% |
| Office matters (n=778) | 10% | 15% | 9% | 14% | 53% |
| Personnel management (n=763) | 44% | 16% | 8% | 8% | 24% |
| Prepare for/attend depositions (n=772) | 36% | 25% | 25% | 11% | 4% |
| Prepare for/attend closings (n=761) | 65% | 17% | 9% | 5% | 4% |
| Training employees (n=754) | 28% | 32% | 16% | 9% | 15% |
| Other* (n=75) | 20% | 8% | 12% | 11% | 49% |
*“Other” Responses: (n=61)
Other document preparation and
review 41%
Administrative/computer/office
management 16%
Accounting/billing/bookkeeping
16%
Miscellaneous
13%
Client contact/business
development
8%
Assist with appellate briefing
5%
Demographic Information
32. Do you belong to a local legal assistant organization? (n=863)
Yes
57%
No
43%
33 In which Texas county are you employed? The data below has been organized into Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). (n=824)
| MSA | % of Respondents |
| Abilene | <1% |
| Amarillo | 2% |
| Austin-San Marcos | 13% |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | 3% |
| Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito | 1% |
| Bryan-College Station | 1% |
| Corpus Christi | 2% |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 28% |
| El Paso | 3% |
| Houston-Galveston-Brazoria | 19% |
| Killeen-Temple | 1% |
| Longview-Marshall | 2% |
| Lubbock | 2% |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | 1% |
| Odessa-Midland | 2% |
| San Angelo | 1% |
| San Antonio | 9% |
| Sherman-Denison | 1% |
| Texarkana | <1% |
| Tyler | 2% |
| Victoria | <1% |
| Waco | 1% |
| Wichita Falls | 1% |
| Non-Metropolitan Counties | 6% |
34. What is your gender? (n=866)
Female
94%
Male
6%
35. What is your race/ethnicity? (n=860)
3% African American
1%
Asian American
87% Caucasian
7% Hispanic/Latino
1%
Native American Indian
1%
Other
36. What is your age? (n=866)
0%
Under 21 years old
Median
age: 44 years
6%
21 to 30 years old
29%
31 to 40 years old
42%
41 to 50 years old
19%
51 to 60 years old
4%
More than 60 years old
Endnotes
1 In the data reported here, some percentages may not sum to 100 percent, due to rounding. For questions in which respondents could choose more than one answer, percentages will not sum to 100 percent. In cases where a respondent reported an unusual number, such as a number of billable hours that exceeded the number of hours in a month, these responses were omitted from the analysis.
2 Selected for legal assistants working in private law firms only.
For more information, contact:
State Bar of Texas
Department of Research & Analysis
P.O. Box 12487
Austin, TX 78711-2487
800.204.2222 or 512.463.1463, ext. 2037
research@texasbar.com
www.texasbar.com
© 2001, Legal Assistants Division State Bar of Texas