“The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” George Bernard Shaw

Those legal professionals who are effective in client communications are those who stop, for just a moment, to reflect upon who their clients are, the client’s personal makeup and whether they are in the legal field familiar with legal terminology. To be effective is to know that both the receiver’s and the communicator’s interests and backgrounds are considered. That means a good communicator has listened to his receiver.

If you are preparing for a legal secretary job interview, make sure you don’t stumble on a question that many people simply forget to plan for, and live to regret. “Tell us what you can bring to this role?” is an incredibly obvious question, and you’re guaranteed to hear it at just about any job interview.

Yet somehow many of us struggle to have a knockout answer lined up, and therefore risk not sounding committed to the job in question and failing to sell ourselves effectively.

In front of a packed and vocal crowd attending the annual Legal PA of the Year awards ceremony, Gemma Boyle from Addleshaw Goddard (Manchester) was named 2013 Legal PA of the Year.

Gemma, still very emotional and dazed after receiving her award, said: “I just want to say how honoured I am that everyone at AG felt I was good enough to be nominated - let alone shortlisted or even win! Everyone at AG has been very supportive over the last 10 years and I feel fortunate that I get to work for Andrew and the Delivering Differently team and help lead the exciting changes the firm is making. I'm really looking forward to the next 10 years at AG!”

Child abduction by a parent has reportedly doubled since 2003-2004, stated the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). In 2003-2004, 272 new cases of child abduction by a parent were reported. In 2012-2013, 580 cases were reported. In an attempt to solve this increasingly troubling situation, ‘Caught in the Middle’, a film, was recently published on YouTube. The film looks at the children who suffer the most from parental disagreements that lead to abduction.

According to the statistics and legal advisers helping to bring children home, many of these cases occur around Christmas or after summer holidays. These two times of year are considered the most stressful, which can lead to rash thinking from one parent. Abduction is detrimental to the child, who is suddenly removed from their parent, friends and familiar homeland.

This month we are considering how the rapidly changing area of civil litigation has fared over the past year. There have been several articles in the Journal about the recommendations made by Lord Justice Jackson in his wide-ranging review in 2010. This review and the recommendations he made came into force in April this year as part of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. Many have suggested that we are now experiencing the most significant changes to civil litigation in nearly 15 years. So how effective have the changes been, and what have they done to the legal profession?

Damages-based agreements

The new year is a great time to make a fresh start and focus on what you would like to do to improve your life in both personal and professional ways. You may think about behaving more mindfully with your family, friends or colleagues; working more efficiently in your job; or dedicating more time to your studies.

Naturally, we have a fundamental human desire to better ourselves and to gain a sense of fulfilment in what we do. Willpower alone is often not enough to make changes. We can, however, hone skills to help us create a successful life.

Increasing your knowledge of law will help you be better prepared to enter the workforce or succeed in your current role. Legal events and updates happen daily and Members who go that extra mile will be much more confident and helpful to their employers and potential clients.

There are numerous ways to locate legal resources on the Internet, but if you are a Member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs, there is no need to look any further than the Membership area of our main website or our Legal Secretary Journal. 

I have decided to write this account of my own struggle of getting a job in the legal sector despite having a Diploma from the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs and also to question whether transphobia exists in the legal profession.

First of all, a bit about myself: I am a 42-year-old transwoman (that is, a pre-op male-to-female transsexual), and I live in North Kent. I currently attend the Gender Identity Clinic in London about once every four months as part of the treatment. The condition is officially known as gender dysphoria, and those undergoing gender reassignment are protected under the Equality Act 2010. I am also an ex-serviceman, having served with the Regimental Band 2nd Royal Tank Regiment in the late ’80s and early ’90s. 

Matrimonial and Family Law is a common legal area which lawyers deal with. If you are interested in learning about this area of law because it holds a particular interest for you or you would like to better your job prospects, read on.

The best place to start with this subject is, ironically, the end. When a couple decide that their relationship has ended, there will inevitably be a number of things that must be dealt with. This might include childcare, financial matters and housing. Many couples choose to separate and make informal arrangements to avoid the need for a court to decide the issues. In this article we will consider the example of a married couple that is not able to reach an informal arrangement.

Formal steps to become divorced

When you finish ILSPA’s Legal Secretaries Diploma and head out to find work, you will be joined by hundreds of others in just the same position you are in. It is important to be prepared for your job search and to be confident of the value you can bring to an organisation.
 
Before you apply
 
Applying for a job requires careful planning, and those who are well prepared will secure employment. A good way of going about your job search is to imagine you are employed in the business of finding yourself a job. You need to research and plan each step of the way to secure the right position.