With over 20 years of experience in the legal sector, Elizabeth Forbes has had a very successful and interesting career. From starting out as a Legal Secretary Temp in a local firm at age 19, she progressed all the way to become a Secretarial Co-ordinator for a large Southeast based firm. Her goal had always been to become a Paralegal. So, when a vacancy for a Trainee Paralegal became available in her department 18 months ago, she knew it would be perfect for her.

We caught up with Elizabeth to hear all about her current role as a Trainee Paralegal and the steps she took to get there. She explained why she chose to do further qualifications with ILSPA to help reach her goal and gave some excellent advice for Legal Secretaries at the start of their career.

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

Junior Litigation Secretary – Goodwin

Location: London

Salary: Competitive

Goodwin Proctor is looking to hire a Junior Litigation Secretary to help support the growing Litigation team in London. The ideal candidate will be a team player, who is intellectually curious and has the ability to build relationships across the firm.

View the full job description here:           

https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/238372/

Junior Legal Secretary – Lawson Clark Ltd

Location: London

Salary: £39,000

Working from home is fast becoming a common feature of the working week for many of us, and in the legal sector, hybrid and remote working bring many benefits for both individuals and law firms.

For a Legal Secretary, increased productivity, enhanced focus and a better work-life balance are just a few of the ways in which home working can help you manage your workload better. However, it can sometimes be difficult to separate work duties from home responsibilities, and you may need to create some structure to help yourself avoid blurring the lines between work mode and relaxation.

Here are some of the best ways to manage your time when working from home.

Create a schedule

The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs is delighted to announce that our evening classes are returning to Regent’s University on Wednesday 13 September 2023. Regent’s University is situated in Regent’s Park in the heart of London. The beautiful architecture and setting provide an impressive and tranquil learning environment.

SecsintheCity, the UK’s number one specialist job site for PAs, EAs and business support professionals, has published the results of its 2023 salary survey. Over 1,500 professionals detailed the intricate insights of their working lives, shining a light on salaries, bonuses and benefits.

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

Team Assistant – Simpson Thacher and Barlett

Location: London

Salary: Competitive

This is a fantastic opportunity for a school leaver or someone with a few years’ experience working within a secretarial team to join our office as a Team Assistant. The role will provide pro-active secretarial and administrative assistance to support the Assistant(s) within the team.

View the full job description here:           

https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/237352/

Admin Assistant/Receptionist or Legal Secretary – France and Associates

We don’t often come across court decisions concerning trespass, but it is an interesting area of law to delve into. In a way, it is similar to the tort of nuisance but more divided. For example, trespass encompasses trespass to the person (assault and battery), false imprisonment (including wrongful arrest) and trespass to goods and conversion. Trespass and nuisance are often seen banded together, which is much more common, but not so common as the tort of negligence, which is the ‘leader of the pack’, so to speak. Historically, trespass is possibly one of oldest of the torts. Why? Because this tort basically applies to land and, historically, land was the most important of things.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the amount of people working from home has increased from 4.7% to 38%. For many, remote working offers a better work-life balance and greater comfort than working in the office. The trouble is, it can be difficult to access training and development opportunities when working outside of a traditional office environment. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to upskill yourself as a remote legal secretary or PA. Here are three ways to grow your skill set and develop your career.

1. Learn how to use the latest digital communication tools

Whether you are studying, working, or both, a well-focused mind is an essential tool. So, how can you ensure that your brain is working as efficiently as possible? 

Practice mindfulness

"Mindfulness is about focusing attention on the present moment, and practising mindfulness has been shown to rewire the brain so that attention is stronger in everyday life," says Dr Kim Willment, a neuropsychologist from Boston. She recommends taking a moment each day, even if for just a couple of minutes, to sit quietly and refocus your mind. By paying attention to what you are doing and the sensations around you, this small habit helps you to centre yourself and regain clarity.

Train your brain

One of the many advantages of being a Legal Secretary is that it’s not a dead-end job. Not only can you receive a higher salary when you gain experience, but you can also work your way up the legal ladder. Paralegals, Legal Executives and Solicitors have all been known to start their careers as Legal Secretaries. By being able to gain valuable experience on the job and having the option of taking some additional training, Legal Secretaries have incredible career prospects.

ILSPA believes that our Students have the potential to achieve ambitious career goals with enough confidence and determination. This belief has been supported through the many high-achieving Students who have graduated with us.