The topic of online trolls and bullies is hot news at the moment, but it’s also been around for some time. The tragic death of Hannah Smith has highlighted this issue and brought to the attention of parents and other people that while online media has its benefits, it hides a dark flaw and allows people to abuse and bully. Unfortunately many people clearly feel that nothing can or will be done to prevent such overt abuse.

There are current laws in place which would cover trolling and bullying. 

The Protection of Harassment Act 1997 

This month we will consider a recent publication by the Legal Ombudsman about client care¹ and note what lessons might be learnt. The leaflet contains many general points about client care, but in particular it focuses on vulnerable clients such as the elderly and issues they might have. This is a subject that those who have completed the Wills, Probate and Administration unit of the Legal Secretaries Diploma course will be familiar with. 

Following the massive success of last year’s awards and after months of preparation and work behind the scenes, nominations for the Legal PA of The Year Awards are now OPEN!

Shining a light on the UK's most inspirational Legal PAs and Secretaries, the Legal PA of The Year Awards is the only ceremony of its kind fully supported by the legal profession.

The categories open this year are:

A lack of self-confidence is often the underlying cause of a lack of job offers. So what can you do to pump up your feelings of self-worth and personal positivity before an interview?

Career experts are increasingly advising job candidates to work on issues of self-awareness as part of their job interview preparation. The more confident you feel on the day of an interview, the easier it will be to cope with stress and to respond well to interview questions. The aim, then, is to arrive for an interview with the mindset: “Yes, I really do have what it takes to do this job. I would be an asset to this company, and here’s my chance to show how.”

Here are five ways to help you get to that stage:

Conduct research

Employment law updates are not broadly announced unless you look for them. On 29 July 2013, updates to current employment legislation were made under government reforms. There were only a handful of planned reforms that launched on 29 July; nevertheless, these reforms should be highlighted for both employers and employees. 

National Minimum Wage Increase

This reform is not being launched until October, yet the increases were announced and it’s the one update that employers in particular keep their eye on. 

Planned increases are as follows: 

• 21 years and over – £6.31
• 18-20 years – £5.03
• 17 years and under – £3.72
• Serving apprentice – £2.68

Flexible Parenting Leave

The role of a Legal Secretary in the United Kingdom is viewed as a specialist niche area within the legal profession. Law firms rely heavily on Secretaries due to their expertise in administration and technology and their knowledge of law and legal procedures. Based on that theory, Legal Secretaries are beneficial not just to law firms. Anyone who has achieved the Legal Secretary Diploma from The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs can be sought after in many business sectors. 

Banking and Finance 

On 1 April 2013, the provisions of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act came into effect to cut the legal aid bill. Legal aid has been withdrawn for clients who are involved in family disputes such as child residency disputes. Prior to the changes in April, the Legal Services Commission enabled Family Law clients access to legal aid for all services. 

How the Changes Affect Family Law 

As we become more technology savvy across all industries, there has been an impact on the recruitment process. In the past, a straightforward printed CV, sent in the post with a covering letter, would be the standard procedure of application; however, times have changed. Video CVs, online CVs, online automatic applications, all mean that there are a number of ways that jobs can now be targeted. The application process is more varied, but if you tackle it with professionalism and tenacity, this simply means there are more opportunities for you.

In a law jobs market as competitive as today’s, it is likely that an active jobseeker will have to face up to many rejections. Letters, phone calls and emails bringing the news that you have not been selected for the Legal Secretary job you set your sights on are painful to receive. There may be times when you feel like giving up, especially if you are experiencing several rejections in succession.

But now is the time to tap into your inner strength. To keep on track until the right job for you is in the bag, it’s vital to stay focused and positive.

Silver River Productions have been asked by Channel 4 to produce a new history series that tells the story of social change over the past 40 years through the stories of four different professions – Doctors, Police Officers, Teachers and Secretaries.

The films will be constructed from the testimonies of workers. Each profession’s history will be told from the perspective of the people who lived through it, telling stories that are funny, shocking and revealing and giving viewers a personal, human insight into social changes we’ve all taken for granted.