Records Clerk Job Description
August 12, 2026
Skills, Responsibilities, and What Employers Need to Know
A Records Clerk manages the creation, organization, and retention of a legal organization's physical and electronic files, ensuring records are accurately maintained and easy to retrieve. The role requires strong organizational discipline and attention to confidentiality. This guide covers what the role does, the background employers expect, and how it's evolving.
Because legal records often carry retention and confidentiality requirements, employers look for Records Clerks who are meticulous, trustworthy, and comfortable managing both physical and digital filing systems. This guide is useful whether you're a hiring manager scoping the role or a professional building a career in records and information management.
What Does a Records Clerk Do?
A Records Clerk creates, organizes, and maintains a legal organization's physical and electronic records, managing file retention, retrieval, and disposition in accordance with policy and legal requirements.
Education & Background Requirements
Employers hiring for Records Clerk roles typically look for:
- High school diploma required; associate's degree a plus
- Strong organizational and attention-to-detail skills
- Familiarity with document management systems and retention schedules
- Comfort using AI-assisted document organization and search tools
Essential Skills & Competencies
Records Management
- Creates, files, and organizes physical and electronic case records
- Manages records retention schedules and disposition
- Retrieves files and documents on request from attorneys and staff
Compliance & Confidentiality
- Ensures records handling complies with retention and confidentiality policies
- Tracks chain of custody for sensitive files
System Maintenance
- Maintains accuracy of records databases and filing systems
AI & Technology Fluency
- Uses AI-assisted search tools to speed up file and document retrieval
- Applies automated systems to track records retention deadlines
Records Clerk Roles & Responsibilities
Core responsibilities include:
- Create, file, and organize physical and electronic case records
- Manage records retention schedules and disposition
- Retrieve files and documents on request from attorneys and staff
- Ensure records handling complies with retention and confidentiality policies
- Track chain of custody for sensitive files
- Maintain accuracy of records databases and filing systems
Day-to-Day Duties
A typical day for a Records Clerk may include:
- Filing and organizing new case records
- Retrieving a requested file for an attorney
- Reviewing records for retention or disposition deadlines
- Updating the records database for accuracy
- Tracking chain of custody for a sensitive file
- Using AI-assisted search tools to locate a requested document quickly
The Modern Records Clerk Landscape
- AI-assisted search tools are speeding up file and document retrieval
- Growing shift from physical to electronic records management systems
- Increasing importance of records retention compliance amid evolving data regulations
- Rising demand for clerks comfortable managing hybrid physical/digital filing systems
As records management continues to shift toward digital systems, Records Clerks who bring strong organization and technology comfort remain in steady demand.
Sample Success Metrics
- File retrieval turnaround time
- Records accuracy and completeness
- Retention and disposition compliance rate
- Chain of custody accuracy for sensitive files
- Attorney and staff satisfaction with records support
What's the right compensation for this role? Download the Salary Guide
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