As a Legal Secretary, you are sometimes called on to take the minutes in a meeting and afterwards transcribe them. The taking and transcribing of minutes is a very valuable skill once perfected. However, it can be daunting if you are inexperienced or lack confidence.

If this is you, then panic not – DeskDemon.com has compiled 15 top tips on the subject. 

1.    Take Diaries to Meetings

Always take your diary (and your manager’s if need be) to meetings so you can ensure that the next dates fixed are suitable.

2.    Be at the Meeting Room Early

Get to the meeting room before the others. Set out papers, glasses, water carafe, stationery, etc. in advance, and be sure to note who is present and who sent apologies for absence.

3.    Use Abbreviations and Symbols

Being able to research in order to update your knowledge is a fundamental skill when studying law. In the Legal Secretaries Diploma course you learn about legal principles and how they relate to one another. To help you extend your knowledge and keep up to date with legal developments, the Institute have created a portal on their website giving you easy access to some key websites. These websites include those for various organisations Students learn about in the Diploma course such as the Houses of Parliament, the Law Commission, and the Law Society. In this article we will explain why the websites on ILSPA’s portal might be useful to you both during your studies and after you have qualified.

Residential conveyancing in England and Wales is about to undergo a change thanks to a new online system called Veyo. The new online conveyancing system will allow for easy access to information and documents for purchasers, mortgage lenders, estate agents, and government agencies such as HM Land Registry and HM Revenue and Customs. This will not only bring conveyancing into the modern age but also give solicitors and licensed conveyancers more control over what information is shared and with whom. Once the system is fully implemented, the entire conveyancing process will be streamlined and made much more secure than under current conveyancing methods.

Conveyancing for the Digital Age

Last month, an article appeared in our journal about how you can gain valuable paralegal skills to advance your career. AH Paralegal Training provide an excellent course which can help you do just that, and it is taught by our wonderful tutor Amanda Hamilton. The AH Paralegal Practical Skills Course can be taken as a four-day intensive training programme or as a distance-learning course.  

Some employers look for Paralegal Secretaries who not only can perform Legal Secretary/PA work but who also have extra paralegal skills that they can utilise. It is also common for Legal Secretaries to advance their careers by acquiring paralegal skills so they can take on more responsibilities.

AH Paralegal Training are offering a special concessionary rate to ILSPA Students or graduates as follows:

Setting continuing professional development goals is one way to ensure that your career keeps moving in a positive direction. Not only does CPD help you keep your skills honed and ready for the workplace, but it can also pave the way for advancement in your career and possibly even a transition to a new and exciting position. We encourage all Members of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs to engage in continuing professional development so that they can get the most out of their careers.

Of course, CPD is most effective when you have a clear idea of what you hope to achieve. Setting continuing professional development goals is one way to accomplish this. By taking the time to develop and set goals, you not only define exactly what you wish to achieve but also map out a plan to accomplish it.

Professional Development

Small talk matters in the business arena. It’s part of good business etiquette and helps build rapport with others. Small talk often leads to bigger things such as new clients and new business. Here are five timeless tips to enhance your ability to make small talk anywhere your business takes you:

1. Keep the spotlight on others

Be genuinely interested in others. It’s about them, not you. Get the other person talking by asking open-ended questions: the who, what, when, where, how, why questions. Ask about their job. If they are new in town, ask where they previously lived and worked. People will think you are fascinating if you get them to talk about themselves and their interests. 

2. Be well read

If you’re looking for a way to advance your skills and progress your career, you might consider taking one of our Single Subject Legal Advanced courses. These courses are designed for Students and Members who want to learn more about specific legal areas, enabling them to specialise in certain fields, gain new jobs, or earn promotions with a current employer. These courses are available for you to work on at your own pace, and you can start at any time of the year.

Course Level

Our advanced-level courses provide an in-depth understanding of specific areas of law, helping you not only master the subject but also gain paralegal skills that may help you advance your overall career. Upon passing an advanced-level course, you will receive a Diploma Certificate.

Course Subjects

Smartphones and tablets have already revolutionized our lives – allowing us to shop on the go, apply for jobs, take and send photos and video clips, email from the beach, and instantly access maps as and when we need them.

A recent British survey found that we spend roughly 23 days a year looking at our phones. They really are a part of our lives, so it makes sense to try to use them to improve our productivity – rather than letting them hold us back from getting things done.

New apps are being developed all the time, and many of them can be used to make everyday life more manageable. Here are a few that could make your working day run more smoothly:

Whereas “the Magic Circle” may not be the official name of the group of UK law firms that the term denotes, there is definitely some magic surrounding the firms. The Magic Circle are a group of five firms that are considered to be the leading law firms in the UK. All five are headquartered within the UK itself with offices around the world. Although some of the firms traditionally rank among the top earners in the world each year, all of them command the respect of clients around the world.

Here are the five members of the Magic Circle, as well as some information on what makes each one so special.

Allen & Overy

You’ve found a job sent from the employment gods. You’re perfect, the company is perfect and the interview will be only a formality.

Before you apply and change your life forever, there is one vital thing to remember.

The CV.

Have you fallen foul of the classic CV mistakes that hundreds of thousands of job seekers make when applying for jobs? Well, with our guidance, you’re guaranteed to avoid the dreaded “no pile” and get that interview.

1.    Spellcheck

Despite the obvious problems it presents, you wouldn’t believe the number of CVs that have grammatical errors and typos in them when sent to prospective employers. If your CV has spelling errors, it WILL be binned, no question.

In the eyes of the employer, if your attention to detail is poor enough to allow typos, what does that say about you as a person and a worker?