Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
The short answer
This job is expected to meaningfully change. AI can already assist with or automate many of its tasks. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to shrink over the next decade, with about 1,972 openings expected each year.
Where your job stands
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the most exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. That doesn't mean the job goes away—it means more of its tasks are the kind AI can help with.
How much AI could touch this job
Looking at the job itself, AI could help with most of this job's tasks.
What this means
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the most exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.
What AI can and can’t help with in this job
The score comes from the real, day-to-day tasks of this job—not a guess about the job as a whole. Below are the tasks that matter most in this job, split by whether AI can help with them.
AI can help with or automate nearly every task in this job.
Tasks AI can help with or automate
Organize and maintain law libraries, documents, and case files.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Mail, fax, or arrange for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses, and court officials.
AI could do much of this on its own
Prepare and distribute invoices to bill clients or pay account expenses.
AI could do much of this on its own
Prepare, proofread, or process legal documents, such as summonses, subpoenas, complaints, appeals, motions, or pretrial agreements.
AI could do much of this on its own
Make photocopies of correspondence, documents, and other printed matter.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Jobs you could switch to
If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.
See related jobs in
The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
Similar work+12% pay13,438 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 12% more—$82,549 vs your $73,942 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of experience.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Administrative
- English Language
- Written Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Oral Comprehension
New skills to build
- Service Orientation
Judicial Law Clerks
Similar work+85% pay85 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 85% more—$137,052 vs your $73,942 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a doctoral or professional degree.
Getting ready typically takes more than four years.
Skills you already have
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Near Vision
- Active Listening
- Oral Comprehension
New skills to build
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Deductive Reasoning
- Reading Comprehension
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Similar workslightly less pay3,120 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays slightly less—$70,326 vs your $73,942 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires an associate's degree.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Administrative
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Near Vision
- Computers and Electronics
Your current skills largely cover this move.
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners
Somewhat similar work+42% pay175 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 42% more—$104,843 vs your $73,942 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a postsecondary nondegree award, plus short-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Administrative
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Oral Comprehension
- Active Listening
New skills to build
- Finger Dexterity
- Control Precision
Lawyers
Somewhat similar work+189% pay3,912 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 189% more—$213,674 vs your $73,942 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a doctoral or professional degree.
Getting ready typically takes more than four years.
Skills you already have
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Law and Government
- Near Vision
- Active Listening
New skills to build
- Persuasion
- Critical Thinking
- Negotiation
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Speaking
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Somewhat similar work+71% pay59 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 71% more—$126,619 vs your $73,942 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a doctoral or professional degree, with 5 years or more of experience, plus short-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes more than four years.
Skills you already have
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Customer and Personal Service
- Written Comprehension
- Active Listening
New skills to build
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Inductive Reasoning
- Deductive Reasoning
- Medicine and Dentistry
Administrative Services Managers
Somewhat similar work+96% pay1,531 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 96% more—$144,667 vs your $73,942 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree, with less than 5 years of experience.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Administrative
- Customer and Personal Service
- Reading Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Active Listening
New skills to build
- Administration and Management
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Management of Material Resources
- Management of Financial Resources
- Negotiation
Compliance Officers
Somewhat similar work+24% pay2,703 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 24% more—$91,593 vs your $73,942 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Law and Government
- Written Comprehension
- Active Listening
New skills to build
- Flexibility of Closure
- Inductive Reasoning
- Deductive Reasoning
- Critical Thinking
- Biology