2018

There are many avenues you can go down to secure a job as a Legal Secretary. You can register on a jobs website such as ILSPA’s Legal Secretary Jobs Board and apply for positions, you can register with a recruitment agency to find a suitable role, or you can contact law firms and send a speculative application. The latter option can be a much more direct and quicker route to getting a job.

Chelsey Newsom, manager and specialist legal recruiter at Sellick Partnership, provides the inside scoop on how to make recruitment consultants love your CV.

Imagine receiving 100 applications for a job vacancy, and having to read the CV and cover letter attached to each. Sound exhausting? Welcome to the world of the legal recruiter!

A recruiter’s job is to match the right candidate with the right employer, and they are often looking for a particular set of skills and experiences, based on a specific job specification. To even get a look in, your CV needs to hit the sweet spot with your consultant, as they can make or break your job search.

There are a few things that all recruiters dislike, so take note of these points to ensure your CV goes to the top of the pile.

This month ILSPA has the pleasure of catching up with a former student of ours, Melinda Toth. Melinda enrolled for our Legal Secretaries Diploma course last year and after successfully completing her qualification in early 2018, went on to secure her very first Legal Secretary role not long after with MW Solicitors. We had a few questions for Melinda about how she found her qualification, and what advice she would give to recent graduates of the course when starting their Legal Secretary job search.  

What was the reason you decided to train to become a Legal Secretary?

This month we are returning to the topic of no-fault divorce. When we last wrote about this, we examined the sad case of Mrs Tini Owens who was not given permission to divorce her husband despite it being an entirely loveless marriage.

In the Owens v Owens Supreme Court case from July 2018, the current failings of the system were highlighted. The Supreme Court ruled in July that the 68-year-old could not divorce her husband and escape her loveless marriage until a period of five years had elapsed. She and her husband, Hugh Owens, had been living separate lives since 2015. Mrs Owens will have to stay married to her husband until they had been separated for five years before she will be allowed to divorce him.

Deciding to embark on a career as a Legal Secretary can be a very exciting process, filled with myriad emotions. Alongside undeniable enthusiasm, it is perfectly normal to feel slight trepidation when writing out your first CV and coming to the conclusion that you have no experience in the position you are hoping to land. What a lot of people don’t realise is that their career history is likely to hold a wealth of transferable skills which can be applied directly to their new role, even if the two professions seem completely unrelated. It is vital when writing your CV that you are able to accurately identify and link previous experience to the position in hand by pinpointing the skills you possess that are relevant and transferable.

This month we are examining the impact of a June 2018 ruling by the Supreme Court on the state of relationships in Britain. More to the point, we are considering how the ruling could lead to a change in the law on civil partnerships.

A civil partnership is a legal union between same-sex couples. If you are a civil partner, you are entitled to the same treatment as a married couple on a wide range of legal matters. The problem that the case highlighted was that only same-sex couples can enter into a civil partnership. Those opposite-sex couples who do not wish to get married but want some kind of legal recognition are not allowed to form a civil partnership. Now, however, this may change.

Social media, with its ever-growing popularity, is fast becoming an important part of the job-hunting process for both job seekers and recruiters. Job seekers can use social media platforms to search for opportunities and to research companies they are interested in working for. Recruiters can use social media to track down suitable candidates and reach out to them. Recruiters can also use your social profile to find out a bit more about you and decide whether or not you’d be a good fit with the company culture. Social media profiles can give recruiters an impression of who the candidate is and what they are like as a person in a way that a CV is unable to.

Since starting her legal career as an Administrative Assistant at a well-known global law firm over 15 years ago, Michelle Clarke has progressed to the point where she is now working as a Fee Earner in her current firm, Land Law LLP. Along the way, she studied ILSPA’s Legal Secretaries Diploma and went on to study ILSPA’s Civil Litigation Advanced Diploma. Michelle kindly spoke to ILSPA about her career, her studies and the exciting new opportunity as a Fee Earner.

How did you come to work in the legal profession?

As you progress your career as Legal PA and start to work with more senior fee earners, you may find yourself faced with the prospect of working for a Partner who is notorious for being “difficult”.

We’ve all heard horror stories of Secretaries and PAs leaving the office in tears, but has the fear of this happening to you ever put you off from taking that step up you have always dreamed of? Or perhaps you have recently been assigned a new Partner and it’s just not working?

If so, here are some tips on how to overcome these fears and crack a difficult boss.

Have an open mind

Looking for a new job can be daunting, especially in an area with a high amount of competition such as the law. It can sometimes feel impossible to know where to start. In situations like this it is beneficial to think of the job search as a process to follow. Simply Law Jobs has used their expertise to break the job search down into 10 steps that all job seekers can follow to make the process more manageable. Follow these top tips, and you’ll be well on your way to that perfect job.

1. Check through your CV

Working as a temporary Legal Secretary can be a fantastic way of gaining new skills, experiences and exposure to different environments, helping shape your future career. We recently caught up with Georgia Montague, who is currently working as a temporary Legal Secretary via Ambition, to gain an insight into why she chose to take on temporary roles and how this has helped her career so far.

Tell me about your career to date, Georgia.

After completing my CILEX course at college, I worked in a small local law firm supporting a Licensed Conveyancer and a Partner. This was a fantastic experience and a really busy role; however, I always wanted to try a career in the city. When I was made redundant it felt like the perfect opportunity to make that move.

Navigating social etiquette whilst trying to get ahead in business can be a minefield. One of the main concerns for an individual trying to make it in their field can be the desire to assert themselves professionally without seeming aggressive. Many of us find it difficult to express ourselves confidently without becoming overwhelmed by emotion or thinking we are overstepping the line. Whether it comes to applying for a new job, aspiring towards a promotion or pay rise, resolving conflict within the workplace, or pushing ideas forward in a team, learning how to communicate in an assertive manner can provide you with considerable benefits.

Karen is a highly accomplished Legal Secretary/PA with over 32 years’ experience in the legal profession. She has been a Member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs since 2009 and was awarded the status of Lifelong Fellow of the Institute in 2016. Karen currently works as a Legal Assistant/PA for Roche Legal, an acclaimed boutique firm of private client solicitors based in York.

We recently spoke to Karen about her career, current position and what advice she would give to other Legal Secretaries just starting out in the field.

What does your role involve at Roche Legal?

One of the fundamental skills for every lawyer is writing well. As a Legal Secretary studying one of our Advanced Single Subject Legal courses or performing Paralegal duties within your firm, this is a skill you also need to have. This month we will consider some top tips, strategies and techniques that may help you be a better legal writer.

Five ways that will help you improve your writing skills are as follows:

Know your audience

Track Changes is one of the features of Microsoft Office Word which you may not have come across before, but which is an invaluable tool. When you first come to use it, you may find it confusing, but once you are familiar with it, you will find it indispensable and really quite straightforward. In this article, we will help you familiarise yourself with the key features of Track Changes.

What is Track Changes for?

You may have noticed recently that for a limited time, recruiters can advertise on our Legal Secretary Jobs Board for free. This means that there are a larger number of Legal Secretary and PA positions being advertised for which you can apply, so it is well worth registering as a candidate or, if you’ve already done so, ensuring that your candidate profile is up to date.

Have you ever wondered how experienced Legal Secretaries and PAs began working in the profession? Have you ever wondered what Legal Secretaries enjoy about their role on a day-to-day basis? Or which skills are really worth their weight in gold?

As the professional body for Legal Secretaries and PAs, ILSPA has the privilege of working with people at all different stages of their legal secretarial career. From those still training, or looking for their first position, right through to expert Legal Secretaries and PAs with years of experience behind them. ILSPA chatted with some of these experienced professionals and asked them what wisdom they would like to share with newer Legal Secretaries.

How did you come to work in the legal profession?

This year marks the 100th anniversary of women gaining the vote in the UK. A year after this was granted, the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act was passed, and women could become qualified lawyers for the first time. To celebrate the progress made in women’s rights, we’ll be taking a look at five inspirational women who have made their mark in the legal industry over the past century.

Gwyneth Bebb

1889 – 1921

Rebecca Bouhsine is a successful Legal Secretary and current Student here at the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs. Having previously completed ILSPA’s Legal Secretaries Diploma and our Civil Litigation Advanced Diploma, Rebecca is currently working towards her Criminal Law Advanced Diploma with us. Rebecca kindly took time out of her busy schedule to talk to us about her role, her studies and what advice she would give to others who want to enter the profession.

What does your role involve at Voisin Law?

A question we often get asked at ILSPA is “How can I improve my typing skills?” Many of our Students have acquired these skills through their work experience or college/university studies. However, some Students have not had the experience in this area that they need.

If you are one of these Students, fear not! Improving your typing skills is something you can easily do at home. You can even do it alongside your studies for ILSPA so that when you achieve our qualification, you are all set to go and will have the required skills for securing employment.

The UK’s complex Inheritance Tax (IHT) system could shortly be due for reform depending on the results of a review by the Office for Tax Simplification (OTS). Chancellor Philip Hammond has written to the OTS asking it to review the IHT regime and he said: 

“IHT, and the system within which it operates, is particularly complex and I would like to request that the OTS carry out a review. I would be most interested to hear any proposals you may have for simplification to ensure that the system is fit for purpose and makes the experience of those who interact with it as smooth as possible.”

Legal Secretaries will often be expected to proofread documents as part of their role. We have, therefore, put together a list of tips in order to help you proofread effectively.

1.            Remove as many distractions as possible. You will need all of your concentration when proofreading.

2.            Read the document slowly to ensure that you don’t miss anything.

3.            Print out a copy of the document that you are proofreading if possible rather than editing it on a screen.

4.            If you are editing on a screen, use the Track Changes function in Word in order to note the changes as you go along.

5.            If proofreading on a computer, use a spell checker during your first read-through, but remember that it is not infallible.

As an ambassador for the EA/PA profession, Paula Harding knows how important, rewarding and challenging the role of a Personal Assistant (PA) can be. ILSPA had the pleasure of talking to Paula about the role of the PA and what she feels makes a PA efficient and successful. 

Can you give us a brief explanation of what the role of a PA involves and how it differs from a Secretary?

A question that we are commonly asked here at ILSPA is how much time is needed to complete one of our courses. People want – or, probably more accurately, need – to know the study time required for their desired course before they embark on it. That way they know they are able to commit to the work needed to gain their qualification. However, establishing the time required is just the first step. Here is our guide to finding the time to manage your course along with your other commitments.

Set yourself a time frame and create a timetable

Legal Secretaries help Lawyers with their work and are an integral part of a team of legal professionals. One of the most important relationships Lawyers develop in their professional working lives is with their Secretary, so it is beneficial to be of as much assistance as possible to optimise their performance.

Legal Secretaries must have knowledge of law and legal procedures. You must understand not only how to perform certain tasks but also the reason for doing them. When entering the profession it is essential to have studied a course such as ILSPA’s Legal Secretaries Diploma, or if you are an experienced Legal Secretary, it is important to undertake professional development so that you are continually advancing your knowledge and skills.

With the PA of the Year Award nominations now open, we caught up with previous Legal PA of the Year Rachel Newman to discuss the PA of the Year Awards, talk about her career as a Legal PA and garner some top tips for other Legal employees in the industry.

Tell us about your experience of the 2014 PA of the Year Awards.

From delays and fare increases to navigating foreign cities and language barriers, there are seemingly endless challenges for business travellers and Legal PAs tasked with booking travel. In recent years, there have also been incidents domestically and worldwide, bringing concern about employee safety and security to the forefront of business travel management. Such challenges, coupled with financial pressures and the need to respond to clients at the drop of a hat, have given rise to new technology aimed at solving these problems and supporting employee duty of care.

Employee tracking

This month we will be considering the changing ways in which it is now possible to qualify as a Lawyer. In particular, we will consider the effects of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) decision to proceed with a new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and the potential impact this may have on other routes to qualifying as a practising Lawyer. But before we dive into the detail, below are three common questions that people ask when discussing legal training.

If you have studied ILSPA’s Criminal Law Diploma course, you will remember how many obstacles prosecution lawyers must overcome in order to secure a conviction against a defendant. Different offences have varying conditions to satisfy, and this article looks at the test for dishonesty, which is most often applied to cases involving theft and fraud.

Kathleen Riordan won Legal PA of the Year at SecsintheCity’s PA of the Year Awards 2017. The judges praised Kathleen, as one of her nominations said: she’s “the embodiment of team first, self second, Kathleen works conscientiously and tirelessly, often without recognition, to get the job done.” In this interview, we’ll find out how Kathleen became a Legal PA and what drives her to succeed in the role.

How did you become a PA?

After finishing university and working as a Senior Sales Administrator, I felt that I needed a change and started temping as a PA/secretary. During this time I realised how different and interesting PA roles could be, and I gained a lot of experience during this time which led me to my career as a PA.

It may sound innocent enough, but the interview question about salary expectations is a loaded one. Talking about money is awkward at the best of times, but in an interview situation it can be particularly tricky.

In a nutshell, while honesty is important, it’s better to avoid giving a specific figure. Give one that’s too high and you’ll quote yourself out of the role, too low and you’ll shoot yourself in the foot.

To navigate the question successfully and minimise embarrassment all round, there are a few steps you can take in advance of the interview.

Understand the question

Firstly, you need to know the multitude of reasons interviewers ask this question. The obvious one is “to know the amount they’ll need to pay you”, but it’s not as straightforward as that.

By Maudie Powell-Tuck and Becky Kells, AllAboutLaw

Where should I begin?

A good start is deciding what kind of work experience you actually want to get. There are thousands of law firms and legal organisations in the UK, so you’ve got to figure out which ones interest you. 

Perhaps the best way to do this is to decide on an area of law to explore. You could pick a specialist firm or organisation, or alternatively, you could go for a place that practises law more generally.

The Law Society has a really useful tool which lets you search for solicitors by geographical location and area of law. This is an invaluable way of finding out about the firms near you that have practices in areas of law that interest you.

Traditionally the beating heart of the legal sector, London was once seen as the number one location when looking for a top legal job. But with steep rents and the increase in regional demand across the country, London isn’t the centre of the legal universe anymore.

As recently as five years ago, the vast majority of employers were based in the capital, with only smaller, independent firms having a physical presence in the wider regions of this country. So why has this shift taken place?

The cost

Criminal Law is extremely interesting and as with many areas of law, it continually evolves to reflect the morals and ethical standards of society.

After a painstaking job search, you’ve enjoyed a run of positive interviews with prospective employers. Finally, you receive a job offer! Before you’ve even had time to consider it, you receive another. Most would agree that this scenario presents the most desirable dilemma of them all: in a competitive jobs market, you’ve managed to garner the interest of not one but two firms. Now all you have to do is choose one. It seems simple on the surface, but the more you weigh up your options, the further away from a decision you feel.

If you’re currently deliberating between two job offers, the following tips should help to guide you towards the right decision.

Determine your priorities

What is the duty of care that a police force owes to the citizens they protect? Should the police be liable if they fail to detect a crime? What if the police fail to act and this causes an injury? Do the police have a duty to protect victims or witnesses of crime? What if the police give a firearm to an officer who is unstable? The answer to all these questions for the most part has been that the police have no duty of care. In other words, any of these failures could happen and it would be difficult or impossible to bring a claim for compensation. That has been the case up to now, but change seems likely to follow after a Supreme Court judgment in February. The law that has changed relates to policy factors and when it is fair, just and reasonable for a duty of care to be owed.

Are you unwittingly scaring off potential employers because of basic social media mistakes?

Social media is a fantastic tool for connecting with people and finding work. It’s no secret that many prospective employers check the social media platforms of potential candidates before offering them interviews. However, it’s all too easy to let yourself down and jeopardise your chances of securing that dream career with a careless status update.

While this seems obvious for professional sites like LinkedIn, the content on your other profiles can also affect your career progression. We’ve put together some social media mistakes to avoid to help boost your chances of getting that next big job.

Choose an appropriate photo

What is the Forfeiture Rule all about? How did it come about? It is based on the fact that it is against the policies of public law to allow convicted murderers to claim an inheritance. The Forfeiture Rule also applies to gifts that have been left in a will for the “criminal” under intestacy rules, as well as to any property belonging to a surviving descendant, and also the benefits of life insurance. The law is designed to stop murderers from benefiting from their crimes – this is known as the Forfeiture Rule.

How did this rule come about?

The Forfeiture Rule comes from the wider Estates of Deceased Persons (Forfeiture Rule and Law of Succession) Act 2011 and impacts children of murderers.

The National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP) is happy to announce that it is offering ILSPA Legal Secretaries Diploma graduates a 10% discount on enrolments for their Level 4 Diploma in Paralegal Studies.

ILSPA’s Legal Secretaries Diploma course provides Students with a great significant foundation in law and legal procedures. It is a great starting point for a successful legal career, and with the right training, you can go on to work as a Paralegal.

Are you studying a Legal Secretary course and need to improve your everyday secretarial skills? Or maybe you are qualified as a Legal Secretary but feel you need to improve your everyday secretarial skills on the latest software?

Lewis College provides a range of distance learning courses for secretaries, and the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs has kindly asked us to discuss some of the courses we offer.

For your interest, inspiration that anything is achievable and also, I hope, enjoyment, I set out below in summary how I progressed my career from secretary to qualified lawyer and subsequently programme leader for over ten years at The Law School at The University of Westminster.

It all started following my A-levels and a brief spell in retail, as I decided to embark on a legal secretarial course at Enfield College. Although I struggled with Pitman shorthand, I very much enjoyed the trips to The Old Bailey and local County Court. I left Enfield College a far more able and organised individual, with a very high typing speed (my forte) as well as a legal secretarial qualification enabling me to secure employment.

If you are currently studying with ILSPA, you have the opportunity to attend one of the tours which take place monthly at the Royal Courts of Justice. The feedback which we receive from students shows the tour to not only be an enjoyable and informative day out, but also a valuable resource for their studies.

Every year Career Legal publishes a review of the legal market. Their 2018 market review has been very enlightening, particularly in respect of the changing role of Legal PAs in the big-city law firms.

Lawmaking in the UK is about proposals being made by the Government and finally being passed by Parliament. Proposals from the government are aimed at shaping a better society or to address specific issues and problems. Laws come to the government’s attention originally because of the different political parties competing for support from the British voters. They will campaign about their visions for the country, setting out how they would go about changing things. The winning political party is the one that forms the next government, basing its legislative agendas on what its manifesto is.

Proposals to government come from different sources

The civil justice system aims to ensure that there is a fair way for individuals and businesses to recover money they are owed. This aim has to be balanced against the need to protect the rights of those who owe money. The Ministry of Justice is currently consulting about the use of default judgments. The aim behind the consultation is to ensure that the process for debt recovery strikes a fair balance between the legitimate right of a business or individual to pursue a money claim and the right of the debtor to know about a claim against them and have the chance to defend themselves.

More than 110,000 divorce proceedings were begun in 2015, but soon the bulk of divorces may take place over mobile phones and computers. The Government has continued with the digitisation of various legal processes across England and Wales, and this includes divorce proceeding. HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) piloted a scheme last year which enabled people to apply for a divorce online, print off the form and send it to court. In the first week HMCTS received 130 online applications. Susan Acland-Hood, HMCTS Chief Executive, said of the changes: “These measures are drastically cutting the number of applications returned because of errors – streamlining the process and ensuring we are best supporting people going through a difficult and often painful time.”

SecsintheCity has just launched its new mobile app, which allows jobseekers to get the latest PA, EA and admin jobs direct to their phones as soon as they’re posted.

The app allows users to apply for the latest jobs with global brands, FTSE-listed firms and market-leading recruiters by:

• Saving searches to get notifications when relevant jobs are posted
• Uploading their CV to iCloud, Google Drive or Dropbox to apply for jobs on their iPhone
• Shortlisting jobs to apply for later

At SecsintheCity’s PA of the Year Awards 2017, there were two Legal PA winners. Meet Lyn Lennox, Legal PA at The Law Society and winner of the Outstanding Achievement Award.

How did you become a PA?

I studied a PA Diploma and A levels at college, after which I became a Legal Secretary at a major London law firm. After this role, I was lucky enough to be recruited as a PA to a Chairman of a London surveyors.

What’s great about your job at The Law Society?

After the personal tax allowance and the duty on alcohol and tobacco, one of the most eagerly scrutinised elements of the UK Government’s Annual Budget Statement is Stamp Duty. More correctly known as Stamp Duty Land Tax, this is a levy that is of interest to anyone who is considering the purchase of a house.

What is Stamp Duty?

Stamp Duty is a tax levy that is payable on the purchase of a residential property or piece of land. The tax is applicable to freehold and leasehold, whether the transaction is financed by a mortgage or is an outright purchase. Stamp Duty is also payable on second and subsequent homes but at a different rate.

Who pays Stamp Duty?

ILSPA’s Legal Secretary Jobs Board brings together Legal Secretary positions from around the country into one convenient place. It is the only niche Legal Secretary Jobs Board in the UK, and there are a wide range of roles advertised, from trainee to experienced. Recruiters and law firms advertise their roles with us because they know that our candidates have the experience and skills that they are specifically looking for. This means that there is a wealth of senior and experienced roles available which are perfect for those of you looking to progress in your career.

It is an unfortunate fact of life that many people in society are not going to be able to afford the cost of legal instruction when something serious crops up in their life. Be this an accusation of a criminal offence or the threat of homelessness due to a recent illness and not being able to keep up with mortgage payments, it really is imperative that a developed nation such as ours helps people out when they potentially face the worst moments of their lives.

You’ve seen an advertisement for the job of your dreams, but the candidate specification does not quite match your own professional profile. You are now faced with a dilemma: accept your loss and let the job of your dreams slip away or go for it with everything you’ve got. We here at ILSPA recommend the latter of the two options. Here are our tips to help you make the most of what you have and ensure you give yourself the best possible chance of securing the role.

ILSPA exists to not only provide people with professional qualifications but also to help people secure employment. Our Students and Members can benefit from expert advice on how to go about the job-seeking process, which will ensure that they achieve their goals.

Legal Secretaries are in great demand and are able to earn good salaries. If you have achieved ILSPA’s Legal Secretaries Diploma, you will be very attractive to law firms because you will have a solid knowledge of various areas of law and legal procedures. Job prospects for Legal Secretaries are very good, because the more experience you gain, the higher your position and salary will be. 

It is well known that the number of disputed wills and estates has been steadily on the rise. One aspect of dispute that you might not have expected is the question of what happens to a loved one’s body when they die. The Law Commission, as the body that reviews the law on behalf of the government, has announced in its 13th report on future projects that they may try to set out a modern framework for disposing of the dead. The thinking behind the project is to try and create a clear legal framework to enable the safe and dignified disposal of a person’s remains. It might also better help to respect someone’s wishes as to how their remains are disposed of. 

One issue the Law Commission has highlighted is the fact that the current law does not accommodate new, more environmentally friendly methods of disposal. In addition, the current law is outdated, piecemeal and complex. 

If your studies with The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs have delved into the intricacies of land law, you will appreciate that there are a number of rights in land that can arise within our legal system. From the beneficial interests that flow from trusts in land to covenants and easements, there are myriad ways in which a particular piece of land may be burdened by another person’s right, and this article aims to look at these in turn.

Restrictive covenants

The first thing you need to know about restrictive covenants is that they are never any more than an equitable interest in land (in line with S.1 of the Law of Property Act 1925). This is unlike the easement that we will discuss next, which can also be a legal interest in land. 

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:

With the heralding of the New Year, many of us will start to consider the fresh start this brings. Once the excitement of the holidays has eased off, some of us may find it difficult to readjust back into work life. This article aims to help guide you through the first week back at work and make the transition as smooth as possible by applying some useful organisational tips and maintaining your New Year’s enthusiasm. 

Maintain your tranquillity
Hopefully the holidays have left you feeling rested. By maintaining this feeling of calm as you transition back into the office, you will set yourself up to succeed in this first week back. If you work through the suggestions below with a feeling of calm, you are more likely to have a productive and enjoyable first week back.

A few thousand years ago, around the time we learned to cook with fire, human life was quite different. Still, in the 21st century our priorities are much the same, except that if we want something to eat these days, we go to a supermarket and pick it from a shelf. Back in the Stone Age we would sharpen some poles, step into the cold and walk for days until we found a herd of mammoths. If we didn’t get eaten by sabre-toothed tigers along the way, when we eventually found our dinner we would have to slay the giant beast with our sharp sticks and then be burdened with the task of dragging it home. 

During an interview there will almost inevitably come the time when the interviewer poses the inquiry, “So, do you have any questions?” This can be the point when normal interview nerves peak, while your mind starts to race through all of the information it has been presented with during the interview, searching for those magic questions that will make it evident that you are one of the most worthy candidates for the position. Being prepared for this moment by thinking through beforehand different options for suitable questions will help you to answer with confidence and make the best impression.

If your studies with The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs are taking you in the direction of family law, you will appreciate the types of rights that are available to couples who are divorcing and looking to divide their assets. However, if the title of this article has you scratching your head at this point, due to the fact that you feel there may be more to family law than was originally covered in your course, read on to find out just how redundant the term “common law marriage” really is in England and Wales.

Where does the term “common law marriage” come from?

You’ve got the job you’ve been working towards for a long time. The sense of achievement is a great feeling and well deserved. But why stop there?

It can be easy to rest on your laurels, especially once years of study, training and experience have come together to get you where you are. But you should always set yourself new goals, so you have a target and something to work towards. Otherwise, things can become a bit stale and the wrong questions start to be asked.

Self-development is important to all of us, and we can work on this in the workplace. But if you really want to fast-track your career, continuing to educate yourself is key for a number of reasons, and here’s why;.

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

Junior Legal Secretary – Owen Reed 
Location: London
Salary: £25,000 – £29,000

Owen Reed is looking to recruit a Junior Legal Secretary to join the Banking team of a top London law firm.

The Junior Legal Secretary will provide effective and high quality secretarial support, through delegation from secretaries and fee earners that appropriately meets fee earner requirements, enabling them to focus on providing legal services to clients. If this sounds like something you would excel at then apply now!

View the full job description here: 
https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/106967/&nb…;

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

Legal Secretary – Stone King 
Location: London
Salary: Market Rate

Stone King is looking to recruit a new Legal Secretary to work in either their Charity, Education or Corporate and Commercial team in London.

The successful Legal Secretary's role will cover a wide range of tasks. They must have excellent IT, typing and audio typing skills. They must also have fantastic inter-personal skills and a willingness to learn and take on new tasks.

View the full job description here: 
https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/110322

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

Legal Secretary – Stone King 
Location: London
Salary: Market Rate

Stone King is looking to recruit a new Legal Secretary to work in either their Charity, Education or Corporate and Commercial team in London.

The successful Legal Secretary's role will cover a wide range of tasks. They must have excellent IT, typing and audio typing skills. They must also have fantastic inter-personal skills and a willingness to learn and take on new tasks.

View the full job description here: 
https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/110322

The University of Westminster’s Legal Skills Academy is a joint initiative between the career development centre and the Westminster Law School to increase employability of students entering the legal profession. We host events and workshops nearly every week during the semester at the Little Titchfield Street campus, with representatives from various law firms, organisations and companies leading the presentations. The Legal Skills Academy provides individuals and employers with an excellent opportunity to showcase their expertise, network with their high-calibre students to promote employment opportunities, and attract new talent, whilst also enhancing our visibility across the university.

We are delighted to announce that one of our Students recently passed the Legal Secretaries Diploma course with a Distinction of 99%. Alison Carter lives in Dorset and studied the course online through distance learning. Not only did she achieve a fantastic result, but she also showed great commitment and completed the course in just 10 weeks.

Alison gained an excellent understanding of the law and proved that she has great attention to detail and a high level of accuracy when producing legal documentation. It is no easy feat to achieve such a high score for the course and it shows that Alison has particular aptitude in the field.

SecsintheCity have just launched their 7th annual PA of the Year Awards, championing the business-critical contribution that PAs and EAs make to the organisations they work for.

If you’re a talented PA or EA, or work with someone who you think should be recognised, submit your nomination today.

Click here to nominate yourself or a colleague.

Why enter?

Winning Legal PA of the Year is recognition of your hard work and a career highlight not to be missed.

There are fantastic prizes to be won, and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at The Ivy, London, on Thursday 8th November.

ILSPA’s Legal Secretary Jobs Board is a hub for Legal Secretary vacancies. We advertise a wide range of positions in London and throughout the UK, from law firms, legal recruiters and other legal jobs boards.

For a limited period, recruiters can post their vacancies for FREE on our jobs board. We simply want to provide the best opportunities for recruiters and candidates right now. ILSPA’s aim is to bring together legal recruiters and top-quality candidates to help them achieve their goals.

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

Conveyancing Legal Secretary – Bude Nathan Iwanier

Location: Golders Green, London

Salary: £26,000

Bude Nathan Iwanier is looking for a personable and experienced Conveyancing Secretary/PA for their busy practice.  Familiarity with all Land Registry, SDLT, common Landlord & Tenant forms, both online and using in-house software is essential.

View the full job description here:

https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/122823/

Receptionist and Admin Support – David Conway & Co

This year the Executive PA Awards are being held on Wednesday 14 November at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre in Australia. And one very lucky UK PA will have the chance to attend courtesy of Executive PA Media!

The Executive PA Awards are a fantastic event which hosts up to 300 EAs from around the world. They are the oldest and most established awards for administration professionals and with nominations accepted from 121 countries they are the only EA & PA awards that are run globally. The awards provide a platform to profile and recognise the essential work of the executive support profession to an international audience. 

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

Part Time Legal Administrator - GC Business Lawyers   

Location: Leeds

Salary: £22,000 p.a pro rata

GC Business Lawyers is looking for a part time legal administrator to work around 12--16 hours per week mostly on their own. The work will include file openings, preparing risk assessments, file closures, and working with Leap software .

View the full job description here:

https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/128722/

Legal Secretary/PA – Jazz Personnel 

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Salary: £20,000 - £24,000

We are delighted to announce that we have a new blog on our main website. Every week we will be sharing our news, views and suggestions with you so that you can keep up to date with us on a regular basis.

Through our blog, we can express ourselves in a more informal way than our journal. We will be making recommendations to advance your skills and encouraging professional development, as always! You will be able to see what discounts are currently available to you through ILSPA, whilst learning about other companies which can help you with your career.

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

Float Senior PA – Gowling WLG   

Location: Birmingham

Salary: Competitive

Gowling WLG, an international law firm with 1,400 legal professionals working around the world, is looking to hire a Float Senior PA to join their team in Birmingham. The role will involve covering both planned and unplanned absences, providing fee earners with the administrative support needed to provide seamless legal services to clients.  

View the full job description here:

https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/131578/

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

Legal Secretary – Gillhams Solicitors LLP   

Location: Golders Green, London

Salary: £18,000 - £20,000

Gillhams Solicitors LLP is looking for a full time Legal Secretary to join their busy team in Golders Green, London. The role will cover everything from welcoming guests and manging administration to assisting Solicitors by reading and researching topics.   

View the full job description here:

https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/131961/

Crown Court Department Clerk – Jazz Personnel 

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

Legal Secretary – Stone King LLP   

Location: Bath

Salary: Competitive  

Stone King, a fast growing firm with office throughout the UK, is looking to recruit multiple Legal Secretaries to join their team in Bath. The Legal Secretaries will be required to work in the following departments; Education, Charity and Social Enterprise, Business and Private Clients.

Stone King welcome applications for candidates looking for full and part time hours.

View the full job description here:

On 8 November, the 7th annual PA of the Year awards took place at the prestigious Ivy Restaurant in London. Hosted by SecsintheCity – the UK’s only job site dedicated to Personal and Executive Assistants – the ceremony recognises and champions the very best talent and achievements in the industry.

We asked Joyce Dadzie, Legal EA at progressive firm Axiom and winner of the Outstanding Achievement award, to shine a light on her career thus far and give us a rundown of the glamorous awards ceremony.

Q: How did you become an EA?

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

Immigration Law Legal Secretary – Chapman Legal Recruitment Ltd   

Location: Blackburn

Salary: £18,000  

Chapman Legal Recruitment Ltd has a new opportunity for an experienced Legal Secretary to work with our award-winning client based in Blackburn, Lancashire. Your role will be to provide comprehensive secretarial support to the Immigration Department.

View the full job description here:

https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/136742/

Legal Administrator – Kennedys