Lawyers in Minn. facing a critical shortage of office support personnel.

Byline: Barbara L. Jones

Memo to lawyers throughout the state: The legal profession is facing a critical shortage of administrative support personnel.

Office specialists, legal administrative assistants, legal secretaries -- however you classify them and whatever function they fill at your law office -- more of these support workers are needed to serve Minnesota's ever-growing population of lawyers.

"Absolutely there is a shortage [of administrators]," said Jackie Moes, regional vice president of Robert Half Legal, a placement service. "We continue to be challenged in this market."

Kim Hansen, human resources manager at the Minneapolis law firm of Briggs and Morgan, can remember when she had a 4-inch thick file of resumes on hand when she had a vacancy, and those resumes were from reasonably good candidates. Those days are long gone, she said.

The shortage of legal secretaries and other office support personnel is something lawyers should take seriously no matter how well wired the firm is, said Richard G. Mark, the former president of Briggs and Morgan.

"I'm not sure how many lawyers recognize this problem. Notwithstanding technology, the secretary is still the lawyer's most important asset. The industry needs to make sure there are qualified candidates," he said.