News/Events

SecsintheCity is looking for exceptional Legal PAs, EAs and Office Managers to be nominated for the PA of the Year Awards 2020. Could you be a winner?

Now in its ninth consecutive year, the PA of the Year Awards has become an iconic celebration of the essential support that Personal and Executive Assistants provide to the companies and individuals for whom they work.

The awards are hosted by SecsintheCity, the UK’s only job board dedicated to PAs, EAs and other office support professionals. The nominations are open from now until 14 September, after which an esteemed judging panel faces the challenge of choosing a winner in each of the following categories:

ILSPA Members are now eligible to receive a 20% discount on our Advanced Single Subject Legal Courses. This was previously available only to our Legal Secretaries Diploma graduates.

Many of ILSPA’s Members work in specific legal departments such as litigation or family law. Being able to advance your knowledge and skills in the area you work in will not only help you perform better in your role, but it will also show your employers that you are dedicated to your job.

If you are working in a certain area of law at the moment and you would like a change, that’s another good reason to study one of our advanced-level courses. You can acquire the knowledge and skills you need to make the move to another department or firm.

As announced last year, ILSPA has partnered up with LegalEx as it makes its much-anticipated return to ExCeL London on 18-19 March 2020, hosting the most comprehensive and all-encompassing event dedicated to facilitating business growth and professional development for legal professionals and firms.

This year’s exhibition promises to be the most content-rich to date. Your FREE ticket will give you access to 150 cutting-edge exhibitors and more than 100 CPD accredited educational seminars from some of the world’s top legal experts, innovators and most forward-thinking speakers.

Last November, Joanne Wilson was named Legal PA of the Year at SecsintheCity’s PA of the Year Awards 2019. Joanne is a Fellowship Member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs.

After the ceremony, SecsintheCity caught up with Joanne to learn more about her career to date and her current role at Hall Brown Family Law, plus the advice she has for aspiring Legal PAs.

How did you become a Legal PA?

The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs is delighted to be offering new online webinar classes, which start on Tuesday 7 January 2020. Webinars have become a very popular form of learning due to the growth of virtual communication.

ILSPA now provides three study method options for our Legal Secretaries Diploma course. You can study through evening classes in London, online webinar classes or online via distance learning.

The beauty of our new option is that you can study our course from the comfort of your own home as well as being taught by one of our tutors. Our online webinar classes enable you to have an interactive experience, where you can communicate with your tutor and be part of a group of Students. It is a great blend of our evening classes and our distance learning courses.

On November 7th, the UK’s most talented PAs, EAs and Office Managers gathered at London’s Ivy restaurant for the PA of the Year Awards 2019.

Event host SecsintheCity caught up with Legal PA of the Year finalist Eleanor Lawson to find out more about her role at DWF Law LLP, her experience of the Awards and her advice to aspiring Legal PAs.

How did you become a Legal PA?

After finishing my A-levels, I decided I didn't want to go to university, so I applied for a job as an Apprentice Business Administrator at DWF Law LLP. After completing my apprenticeship, a vacancy for a Personal Assistant became available in my team – Corporate – and I was offered the role and promoted.

What do you love about being a Legal PA?

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.

While an abundance of high calibre nominations has already been submitted for this year’s event, we know a wealth of talent and achievement remains untapped. With limited time left to nominate yourself or a colleague, we want to hear from you today.

Your questions answered

Alongside event judge and Chief Executive of Tay Associates Susanna Tait, SecsintheCity recently answered some of the questions that are most frequently asked about the PA of the Year Awards.

What do you look for in a Legal PA, EA or Office Manager?

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.

On the 18th and 19th of March 2020, the London ExCeL will host the most forward-thinking Legalex to date, housing 150 cutting-edge suppliers and 100+ educational, CPD accredited seminars from some of the world’s top legal experts and innovative thinkers – leading the industry as the most accomplished event for ambitious and successful legal firms looking to modernise their practices.

Legal Secretaries and PAs will get the opportunity to network and meet with representatives from firms, learn about new tools and innovations in their area, and update their knowledge in specialist areas of their role.

Nominations are now open for SecsintheCity’s 8th annual PA of the Year Awards

SecsintheCity – the UK’s only job board for PAs, EAs and Office Support Professionals – is looking for the most talented and dedicated PAs, EAs and Office Managers to be winners at their eighth annual PA of the Year Awards.

Sponsored by specialist PA recruitment consultancy Tay Associates, the PA of the Year Awards acknowledge and celebrate the business-critical support that Personal Assistants provide to the companies and individuals for whom they work.

Chief Executive of Tay Associates, Susanna Tait, reiterates that the awards were created “to champion the profession and acknowledge the significant contributions that PAs and EAs make to the organisations they work for.”

Set to be held at a prestigious Central London location, SecsintheCity’s annual networking event returns on the evening of Wednesday 10th July 2019.

This exclusive event, described by attendees last year as “a fabulous evening”, provides PAs, EAs and Office Support Professionals with an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues and contemporaries over complimentary wine and canapés.

There will also be a career management presentation from Corinne Mills, Managing Director of Personal Career Management. With 17 years of experience in career coaching and a background in HR, Corinne is author of the bestselling CV book You’re Hired! How to write a brilliant CV and has worked with organisations including Sky and the BBC.