Government Says No to Marriage Reform

In May last year the Journal reported in an article called “Family Practice: Time for a Change? – No Fault Divorce”, on the Law Commission’s scoping paper “Getting Married”. The Commission’s paper reviewed marriage law in the UK and made several proposals. Despite the paper concluding that the law was badly in need of reform, on 26 October 2017 Justice Minister Dominic Raab wrote to the Commission to say that it was not the right time for a full review of marriage law. Obviously this will be disappointing to those who support the Law Commission’s view that current marriage law is unnecessarily restrictive and outdated. 

The following is a recap on some of the Law Commission’s main findings:

Legal Secretary Vacancies December 2017

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

Legal Secretary – Moore Blatch
Location: Richmond, London
Salary: Market Rate

Moore Blatch is looking for a Legal Secretary to join its law firm based in Richmond.

If you are an experienced Legal Secretary who enjoys being busy and takes a pride in organising and supporting others then this may be the role for you. 

The successful candidate will have recent experience of supporting a Real Estate team. You will also need an eye for detail and fast, accurate word processing skills, a good knowledge of Microsoft Office and a good standard of numeracy.

Why the Flexible Court Hours Pilot Has Been Postponed

In this age of austerity, the court system of England and Wales probably knew that at some point it would be closely scrutinised to ascertain whether efficiency savings could be made. Because every single government body is being examined so carefully nowadays, it was only a matter of time until court opening times were evaluated in order to determine whether there was a more efficient way of doing things. This is why the flexible court hours pilot was conceived in an attempt to streamline the court system.

8am to 8pm justice

ILSPA’s Job Candidate Database

ILSPA’s job candidate database is an extremely valuable resource for candidates and recruiters alike. We have created a niche platform specifically designed for Legal Secretaries and recruiters to connect and form mutually beneficial relationships. Our exclusive database enables each party to easily navigate the process of job and candidate seeking, allowing for promotion of both sides, specialised searching and ease of contact. We are passionate about providing a service that encourages the interaction between worthy candidates and recruiters, allowing a better employment experience for all.

Candidates

SecsintheCity’s PA of the Year Award Winners Announced!

The SecsintheCity PA of the Year Awards were bigger than ever in 2017 with over 450 nominations and 16 shortlisted PAs and EAs.

The individuals who made the cut were from a variety of sectors and companies, including TSB Bank, Warner Brothers, Arsenal Football Club, The Law Society and Cath Kidston. The shortlisted PAs/EAs were interviewed by a panel of judges and the winners announced at an awards ceremony at the prestigious Ivy restaurant.

This year, there were two Legal PA winners:

Kathleen Riordan – Legal PA of the Year

Different Ways of Submitting Evidence in Court

As a student with The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs, it is always a good idea to acquire a clear appreciation of exactly how the English legal system works. From the conventions of Parliament that have accrued over many centuries to how evidence may be given in court in light of the fact that we now live in an advanced technological age. It is this latter dimension of our judicial system that we will turn our attention to in this article.

Good old-fashioned methods

Dealing with Confidential Electronic Documents

A few years ago I wrote a really detailed blog about dealing with confidential electronic documents and paperwork. This is obviously an important subject for assistants because we have to, have to, have to keep our Executive’s confidence. We must be trustworthy and, as hard as it is, keep all confidential matters to ourselves.

Today I thought I would write an update on my blog from a few years ago and concentrate on electronic documents. With cloud technology, the increased use of email and other electronic forms of communication (Slack, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc.), we have to be even more aware of how we deal with confidential and information that is discussed and communicated through technological channels. Here are my ten top tips on dealing with confidential electronic documents.

Should Mediation be Compulsory for all Cases?

In England and Wales mediation has become a common feature of many types of litigation. Sir Rupert Jackson’s 2009 report on civil litigation recommended that the courts can and should in appropriate cases encourage mediation. This may be limited to simply pointing out its benefits or requiring an explanation from parties when they are not willing to meet and/or discuss mediation. However, where a party is found to have unreasonably refused to mediate, they can be penalised in costs by the court.

Legal Secretary Vacancies November 2017

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

Receptionist/ Administrator – Dewar Hogan
Location: City of London
Salary: TBC

Dewar Hogan, a niche property firm based in the City of London, is looking for a full time Receptionist/Administrator to start as soon as possible. 

The ideal candidate will have an excellent command of English, a smart telephone manner and excellent Microsoft Word and Excel skills.

View the full job description here: 
https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/102304/

The Role of a Legal Secretary in the Conveyancing Process

Legal Secretaries are a crucial but sometimes overlooked part of the conveyancing process, as they perform a number of different roles which contribute towards the smooth running and ultimate success of the project.

The main role of a Legal Secretary in this context is to provide Conveyancers or Property Solicitors/Fee Earners with support in the legal aspects of a property purchase process. Depending on the complexity of the purchase, the structure of the firm, the checks that are required, and the skills and/ or experience of the Legal Secretary, their role can vary from providing basic office or administrative support to offering more in-depth co-ordination role acting as the “right-hand man” to the Conveyancer. Sometimes the Legal Secretary is even the first point of contact for the clients involved in the process.