Hot in the news recently has been the topic of the inequality of men and women in regards to pay. It has come to light that a gender pay gap still exists in some professions in our country, and this is an issue we need to resolve.

Even though we have a little way to go, we must remember how far we’ve come as women. Just a few decades ago, women were denied basic rights that we take for granted now, such as being allowed to vote, owning property or working in certain professions.  

How we communicate has a big impact on our lives. The purpose of communication is to get your message across to others. This is a process that involves both the sender and the receiver of the message. To be successful in business you must communicate well, and communicating effectively is at the heart of interpersonal skills. Good communication skills require a high level of self-awareness. Understanding your personal style of communicating will go a long way towards helping you to create good and lasting impressions on others.

Nonverbal Communication

This month, we will consider the Law Commissions’ consultation on how Wills are made in England and Wales. Some of the key issues that are under review include:

• Giving greater flexibility to the Courts to uphold Wills that do not meet legal requirements 

• The possibility of online or electronic Will writing in the future

• Reducing the age at which someone can make a Will from 18 to 16

• Improving tests of a person’s capacity to make a Will 

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

Legal Secretary x 2 - Owen Reed
Location: St Paul’s, London
Salary: £36,000 - £38,000

Owen Reed is looking for two Legal Secretaries to join a top law firm near St Pauls, London.

One Legal Secretary will join the corporate team and the other will join the real estate finance & projects team.

You will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of the highest standards of administrative support working within a collaborative team. You will have strong experience of working within the sector and  bring a positive, professional, approach and the ability to deliver an exceptional quality of work under tight deadlines.

Last month, I was looking at the motto of the Olympic Games (“Swifter, Higher, Stronger”) and indicated that it didn’t just apply to Olympians but to anyone who wanted to be the best, or at least be amongst the best, in whatever sphere where they wanted to excel. But, like with anything worthwhile, you have to work at it; it won’t be handed to you on a plate.

So, the first essential that you must work towards is “determination”. It’s logic – if you don’t really want to succeed, then you’re not going to! Being a really successful Legal Secretary is not governed by chance – it’s governed by you. Only you can make it happen. Here’s something to think about: “What makes a star a star?” Well, one answer could be that it sparkles! Ask yourself, “What will make me sparkle in my job?” You spend a large part of your life at work, so it makes sense to invest in it.

There is no denying that working as a Legal Secretary can prove to be an exceptionally exciting and rewarding career choice. If you are involved in dealing with litigation cases, you should find that no two days are ever the same. Even more important, those dreadful Monday morning blues will hopefully become a thing of the past when you actively look forward to turning up for your job at the start of a brand-new week. 

When you consider that the vast majority of the law connected with Wills comes from an Act of Parliament that received Royal Assent at the very start of the Victorian era (the Wills Act 1837) and the capacity issue for writing a Will comes from a case precedent in 1870, it will not come as a surprise to any of us that the Law Commission has been evaluating the possibility of reform in this area. The Commission feels that the current legal age of 18 should be lowered to 16.

Keeping Pace with Our Modern Society

SecsintheCity, the UK’s only specialist job site for PAs and EAs, has launched their annual PA of the Year Awards.
 
For the sixth year running, we’re shining a light on PAs’ critical contribution to business, showcasing the country’s powerhouses of proactivity and professionalism.

Why Enter?

Scooping an award is the ultimate career accolade. So if you’ve earned a shot at the shortlist or know a PA who makes anything possible, it’s payback time. 

There’s a wealth of exclusive prizes on offer, and winners will be announced at a prestigious awards ceremony at London’s The Ivy restaurant on Thursday, 9 November.

Michelle Gager from Career Legal had the opportunity to gain valuable insight into the world of job sharing at global law firm Allen & Overy. She interviewed Jane Templeman and Joanne Mackay, who started their careers as Legal PAs and now job share as Group Managers in Litigation & Tax. Jane and Joanne are a great inspiration to ILSPA’s Students and Members. When Jane started at Allen & Overy as a Legal PA, she did not have any previous legal experience and learnt on the job. Joanne started the firm as a junior Legal PA and worked her way up.

Jane Templeman – Group Manager in Litigation and Tax at Allen & Overy

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

Corporate Transaction Documentation Support - Scribestar
Location: London/Remote working
Salary: £12 - £14 per hour

Scribestar Limited is recruiting a number of skilled Legal Secretaries on a flexible basis.

The successful candidates will be highly proficient in using word processing packages, be 100% reliable and have excellent written and spoken communication skills. They will also be able to work under pressure, be willing to learn a new processing platform and ideally have document production skills. Candidates must either have experience working within law firms or other corporate environments.