SecsintheCity – the only job board dedicated to PAs, EAs and Office Support Professionals – is searching for outstanding Legal PAs and EAs to be winners at the eighth annual PA of the Year Awards.

We recently had an excellent opportunity to sit down and speak with Gemma Williams, Paralegal at the largest news publisher in the UK, Reach PLC. In this interview, Gemma shares some invaluable insights into her Paralegal career so far, as well as some expert advice for aspiring Paralegals.

Tell me about the education route you took to become a Paralegal and your legal work experience prior to working for Reach PLC.

People learn in different ways. So, if people learn in different ways, then it is only logical that they should study in different ways. When you are studying, you may prefer to read out loud, rewrite text or even act something out to commit it to memory. You may like lists, colours or Post-its around the house. Your preferred study method gives a good indication of what sort of learner you are.

The term ‘business support’ can be quite a broad term but in general terms, jobs that fall under the category ‘business support’ are roles that provide administrative support to a business. Typical roles include; PA, Secretary, EA, Team Leader and Secretarial Manager.

Many fields of work are competitive, attracting far more candidates for every open position than some might believe. Law firms receive large quantities of applications for every role advertised. Narrowing the field by hand could be an almost insurmountable task. Reading every application takes time and can result in missing some of the best candidates.

An efficient, effective PA is the beating heart of any successful team and the key to the success of a senior executive.

Due to developments in technology, working practices and working environments, the PA role has changed dramatically over the years.

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

Legal Secretary – Family Law – Stuart Gordon Solicitors     

Location: Leeds

Salary: £20,000 - £24,000

Thousands of people are working as Paralegals without realising it. How do you find out if you are one of them – and what you should do?

Many people are working within a company performing certain tasks day in, day out, not realizing that what they are doing may class them as a “Paralegal”.

After the success of last year, we are happy to announce a newly formed partnership between The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs and Legalex 2020.

When Charlotte Moon enrolled for ILSPA’s Legal Secretaries Diploma course in 2011, she knew that she wanted a career in law but probably never imagined that one day she would be opening up her own department in a law firm. Charlotte in now a Senior Caseworker specialising in Family Law and has just completed her Level 6 Law and Practice Diploma.