This month we are focusing on Wills, as sadly, this is an area where lawyers are finding their services very much in demand. There are challenges at the moment for Wills specialists as they struggle to ensure that the requirements of the Wills Act 1837 are properly met. It is not the first time there have been calls to reform the Wills Act, but it is unlikely that a quick solution will be found. We will focus on the most pressing current issue (witness requirements), consider possible changes to the law and offer some practical solutions.

Background

ILSPA's partner, TotallyLegal, has created a list of the best free online courses and resources for legal professionals. Ranging from enhancing your soft skills and increasing your typing speed to brushing up on your knowledge of GDPR, these free online courses provide huge variety in terms of learning and development opportunities. Career-focused legal professionals of every level should spend time developing their skills and knowledge.

Free online courses for soft skills

Every day, legal professionals rely on a range of soft skills like communication, creativity and negotiation to get their jobs done. The following online courses focus on a variety of these skills, which you no doubt already have but can always improve.

Creative thinking

The 50th anniversary of Earth Day took place last month. Earth Day was created in 1970 to help protect the planet, and, at the time, millions of people took to the streets to raise awareness of environmental issues. Earth Day is now the largest civic event in the world. Experts and scientists come together to discuss important issues and make positive changes. Many environmental laws have been passed as a result of this incredible collaboration.

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

Personal Injury Legal Secretary – G2 Legal Limited

Location: Shrewsbury

Salary: £15,001-£20,000

A brilliant opportunity has arisen for a personal injury legal secretary to join this established law firm based in Shrewsbury on a full time, permanent basis.

View the full job description here:          

https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/173013/

Junior Legal Secretary – Larbey Evans Ltd 

Location: Greater London

Salary: £25,000-£26,000 (plus benefits)

The emergence of remote working has grown from a novel thought to an increasingly sought-after business perk within the legal profession. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic mandating that all types of lawyers at all types of seniority level work from home, is remote working here to stay for the considerable future?

SecsintheCity – the UK’s number one job board for PAs, Secretaries and other office support professionals – has just published the findings of its 2019 Audience Insight Report.

In autumn 2019, 4,000 office support professionals responded to our annual salary survey, providing the details of their daily working lives for a report that allows you to benchmark your current earnings and find out more about the stories and statistics behind your profession.

Responses revealed that, at 8%, Legal Secretaries and PAs make up a significant portion of our audience, while 10% of respondents said they were crafting a career in the legal sector.

Due to the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, the role of office support professionals has changed dramatically, with the office crucially now removed from the equation.

Working from home is a challenging prospect for EAs, PAs and office professionals alike, but remote work can open doors that previously may have been shut. One of the most profound benefits of working from home is the extra time you have on your hands. Remove the commute from the equation, and you’re left with time – both in the morning and the evening – which you can use to focus on yourself.

Returning to study after a period of time off can sometimes be a daunting task. People can be prevented from studying due to various reasons such as work commitments, health issues and looking after family. Whatever the reason, here is our advice to ease you into studying your course again with confidence:

Think ahead

Podcasts are a fantastic resource and so easy to listen to during your everyday life. Here are some of the best podcasts for Legal Secretaries and PAs:

The Assistant Room Podcast

Each episode presents Jess Gardiner, founder of The Assistant Room, talking to a different professional about their work, their career and their success stories in the PA sector. Starting life as an article feature on the site called ‘The PA Diaries’, this podcast is great for ambitious PAs. Not only is it inspiring and enjoyable, but it is also full of useful advice and tips.

Law Pod UK

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

Receptionist/Admin Support – David Conway & Co

Location: London

Salary: Negotiable

David Conway & Co is a successful niche west end law firm. They are seeking a full time employee to fill a new role, to take primary responsibility for “front of house” and a number of administration tasks that are currently spread across the office, as well as assisting with secretarial work from time to time.

View the full job description here:   

https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/170373/

Receptionist/Junior Legal Secretary – Harcus Parker Limited

Location: London