We last reported on the topic of no-fault divorce in October of last year following the sad case of Tini Owens. The case highlighted a longstanding problem with divorce law which forces parties to find blame if they want to guarantee that the court can give permission for a divorce. Mrs Owens found herself in the ludicrous situation of trying to leave a loveless marriage described as “wretched” by one judge, however it was not found to be  wretched enough to satisfy the irretrievable breakdown requirement of current divorce legislation.  

When Gillian Roberts enrolled for ILSPA’s Legal Secretaries Diploma Course in 2018, it wasn’t her first foray into a legal education. She had previously completed an LLB law degree but had not continued into the sector after graduation. It is very common for law graduates to study our Legal Secretaries Diploma as an alternative route into their chosen industry. We wanted to speak to Gillian about her decision to return to the legal profession, why she felt the Legal Secretaries Diploma Course was a good step to aid her return and what the future holds for her. She also provided us with some fantastic advice for recent graduates looking to start their job search.    

What is your background and how did you become interested in working as a Legal Secretary?

Here is a selection of vacancies from our Legal Secretary Jobs Board this month:

Receptionist/Junior Secretary – Judge Sykes Frixou   

Location: London

Salary: Negotiable

Judge Sykes Frixou are looking for a # Legal Secretary Student or Graduate to join their firm as a Receptionist/Junior Secretary.

This is a perfect role for those that are coming towards the end, or have recently completed, their Legal Secretary Diploma with ILSPA.

View the full job description here:

https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/148053/

Family Legal Secretary – Clayton Legal    

Location: Manchester

Salary: £17,000 - £21,000 

Looking to take your career to the next level? Success is just around the corner: all it takes is dedication, determination and a desire to move forward in your professional journey. Of course, opportunities won’t fall from the sky: if you want to be considered for a promotion, the future is in your hands – it’s time to prove you’ve got what it takes to thrive in the next tier.

No matter the industry you work in, or the size of the organisation, your progression through the ranks will depend upon your ability to build on your skillset and handle increasing responsibilities. If you’re up to the challenge, your path to success should look something like this:

Stage 1: Developing talent

A common question that you should always be prepared to answer at a job interview is: “What can you bring to this role?” Interviewers like this question because it gives them an insight into what you know about the role, what skills you feel are important in the role and also what skills you have that make you a good fit for it.

“What can you bring to this role?” is actually a really positive question to be asked as an interviewee. It sets you up perfectly to boast your relevant skills, experience and how they will help you in the job you are interviewing for. It’s also a good opportunity to explain what you have to offer, that other applicants can’t. Despite this it can be a question that some candidates dread and are unsure about answering.

Nominations are now open for SecsintheCity’s 8th annual PA of the Year Awards

SecsintheCity – the UK’s only job board for PAs, EAs and Office Support Professionals – is looking for the most talented and dedicated PAs, EAs and Office Managers to be winners at their eighth annual PA of the Year Awards.

Sponsored by specialist PA recruitment consultancy Tay Associates, the PA of the Year Awards acknowledge and celebrate the business-critical support that Personal Assistants provide to the companies and individuals for whom they work.

Chief Executive of Tay Associates, Susanna Tait, reiterates that the awards were created “to champion the profession and acknowledge the significant contributions that PAs and EAs make to the organisations they work for.”

A self-sufficient boss or fee earner can be a blessing in disguise. They give minimal dictations, can manage their own diary efficiently and are usually quick to respond to emails.

But how can you assist such a boss if they just get on with it?

Whether you are a legal secretary, executive assistant or PA, it is highly likely that your role extends further than just dictations and diary management.

But still, how can you add value to your employer if it seems like, for most things, they don’t really need your help?

Become the ‘go to’ person for clients

If your fee earner is quick to reply directly to a client by email then use some of your time to get to know the client’s PA. If you know everything about your fee earner then assume it is vice versa with your client and their PA!

Here is a selection of vacancies from our Legal Secretary Jobs Board this month:

Junior Legal Secretary – NJ Law Solicitors     

Location: Shepherd’s Bush

Salary: Subject to negotiation  

Junior Legal Secretary position available for self-motivated, well organised individual in a high street law firm based in Shepherd’s Bush W12. Areas of law undertaken include Litigation, Wills and Probate, Family and Immigration.

View the full job description here:          

https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/145109/

Legal Secretary (Personal Injury) – Jazz Personnel    

There are a number of skills which you will require regularly whilst using Microsoft Office Word, especially if you are studying our Legal Secretaries Diploma course or working as a Legal Secretary. This article provides step-by-step instructions for some of the most regularly used tools so that you can master these commonly used skills.

Please note that the majority of Law Firms currently use Microsoft Office 2010, we have therefore based our advice on this version of the program. You may find that your version differs slightly, however, the directions should be similar across most other versions.

Setting page margins

Set to be held at a prestigious Central London location, SecsintheCity’s annual networking event returns on the evening of Wednesday 10th July 2019.

This exclusive event, described by attendees last year as “a fabulous evening”, provides PAs, EAs and Office Support Professionals with an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues and contemporaries over complimentary wine and canapés.

There will also be a career management presentation from Corinne Mills, Managing Director of Personal Career Management. With 17 years of experience in career coaching and a background in HR, Corinne is author of the bestselling CV book You’re Hired! How to write a brilliant CV and has worked with organisations including Sky and the BBC.