The legal sector has long been fast-paced and high-pressure. For some, the number of deadlines to fulfil and the amount of information to remember might become overwhelming. Like many professionals, people in the legal sector have had to adjust to the ‘new normal' created by the COVID-19 pandemic, adding to their existing responsibility.

There's nothing wrong with feeling a little stressed out; it helps us perform better when juggling multiple tasks or responsibilities that require focus (and yes, I'm looking directly at you, solicitors). However, if it prevents you from properly functioning, it is best to take action.

The thought of asking your boss for a pay rise or a promotion is always nerve-wracking, and can strike fear in the most confident of business support professionals. Not only do many people often overthink the approach but the assumption of a negative response or reaction to your request makes the idea of putting yourself out there feel a lot worse than it is.

Remember, your boss is only human, and to get to where they are today means that they would have been in the same position as you are at one point in their career too.

If asking for a promotion or pay rise has been on your mind lately (or even over the last few months) take a look at our guide below to give your confidence a boost and kickstart the process of receiving exactly what you think you are worthy of!

Preparation

Bad day at work? Need to talk? Life in the law can be challenging and sometimes things can get on top of you. Talk to us – we’ve been there.

LawCare is the mental wellbeing charity for the legal profession. We offer free, confidential, emotional support, peer support, and resources to those working in the law in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. We promote mental health and wellbeing best practice in legal workplaces and drive culture change in education, training and practice. We’ve been supporting legal professionals for 25 years and we understand life in the law.

If you don’t struggle with managing your inbox, stop reading now.

If you do struggle, I’m right there with you.

Many people have a love-hate relationship with their inboxes. They like them for quick communication, but they hate trying to manage the overload of messages and information coming at them. I can completely relate!

Everyone knows that attending a job interview is a nerve-racking experience – and it doesn’t get easier with age!

The reason for the anxiety is that you are being put under a microscope. You are being scrutinised, and sometimes by several people, not just one.

To gain some insight and advice on this topic, our partner Simply Law spoke to our Patron, Amanda Hamilton. In this article, she shares her top tips and techniques for excelling in a Paralegal interview.

Going before a panel increases the anxiety ten-fold. You’ll probably be worrying and asking yourself: do I look okay; will I be able to answer their questions; what if I’m so nervous that I can’t even remember my own name?

Nominations have now opened for the 2022 PA of the Year Awards, hosted by SecsintheCity – the UK’s number-one job site for Business Support Professionals – and in association with Tay Associates.

The annual event is held to acknowledge and celebrate the talent and achievements that Business Support Professionals deliver for businesses throughout the UK. Each year, we endeavour to ensure that more and more attention is given to Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants and Office Managers for the excellent work that they carry out – the PA of the Year Awards are crucial to those efforts.

PA of the Year Award Categories

This year’s iteration has several categories, including:

We have some good news – we are pleased to announce that the tour of the Royal Courts of Justice is resuming. Now that the Covid-19 restrictions have been fully lifted, the RCJ is accepting group tours again. This is a wonderful opportunity for our Students to see how the courts operate and to really put their studies into perspective. 

The tour dates are as follows:

Tuesday 7 June

Monday 4 July

Tuesday 2 August

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

Junior Office Assistant – Owen Reed

Location: London

Salary: £21,000

Junior Office Assistant required to undertake a number of general office administration and reception duties. They will need to work closely with other administrative staff to help maintain a smooth and efficient office. The successful candidate must be proactive in their work habits and show high interest and engagement in all tasks delegated to them. They must learn quickly and will gain valuable experience that will enable them to develop further within the firm.

This role would suit a Legal Secretaries Diploma Graduate.

View the full job description here:           

Setting goals is an important part of building a long and successful legal career. For many, the ultimate goal as a Legal Professional is to secure a position with one of the biggest legal firms in the City, working on high-profile clients and gaining seniority in a competitive field.

However, increasingly, many people in the legal sector are seeking a good work-life balance as one of their key goals, and may be looking for more control. Joining a boutique firm can offer these benefits, as well as many of the same advantages as working for a City firm, and can be considered as a viable alternative.

The rise of boutique law firms

Join us for 48 hours of continuous personal development PLUS 1 month to access all the replays.

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Our online ES Global event contains 48 hours of practical training, personal and career development, and a huge dose of inspiration from the world’s top trainers for Administrative Professionals. We aim to not only improve your working life but to help you strive for bigger and better things every day.

We have over 50 speakers confirmed for this event. We will be releasing 5 new speaker announcements every week.

Register your place now and enjoy massive savings.

Please note: