In the increasingly complex world of the private client lawyer there are many challenges, both old and new. This month we will consider four of these potentially challenging areas and review what recent developments have occurred. 

Capacity

The longstanding test to establish if someone has mental capacity to make a Will is set down in “Banks v Goodfellow 1870”. However, since the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 came into force there have been several (unsuccessful) cases challenging whether the MCA should replace the “Banks” case as the test for mental capacity. For the moment the “Banks” test remains the one the Courts will use and, in simple terms, establishes that a person must:

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

Receptionist and Legal Secretary – Helen Gagan Solicitor

Location: Bognor Regis

Salary: Negotiable depending on experience

Helen Gagan Solicitor, sole practitioner, running a niche private client office situated in Felpham village, Bognor Regis practising in the drafting of Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and the administration  of estates on death requires a Legal Secretary to sit in the reception area of the office to meet and greet clients in the first instance.  The role is however very varied and will include the typing of Wills, Lasting Power of Attorney documents  and some Probate together with general administrative duties for the office.

At the end of last year, SecsintheCity published a motivational piece entitled “5 Key Attributes of a Great PA”. This article showed what qualities PAs have and gave readers an idea of what skills and characteristics they need to excel in the role. Based on the success of this piece, in collaboration with The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs, their sister site, TotallyLegal wanted to expand on this topic further and talk about the key attributes of a Legal PA.

Although resigning from a position can be a daunting prospect for most people, it’s actually very common, especially at the start of the year.

In fact, data from website ‘Statista’ found that ‘in the first quarter of 2022 approximately 354,000 job-to-job resignations took place in the United Kingdom, which was one of the highest number of resignations taking place in a single quarter during this provided time period.’

But even if the prospect is a welcome one, it’s important to follow the best practice when handing in your notice to ensure leave your position with appropriate courtesy and respect. Part of doing this correctly is by handing in a formal resignation letter that includes all the necessary information regarding your departure from the company.

ILSPA partner, TotallyLegal, has launched their 2023 salary survey and they need you to take part!

As the UK’s leading specialist legal job site for lawyers and legal professionals, TotallyLegal is setting out to gauge how the post-pandemic landscape has shaped the candidate-driven legal recruitment market.

Consulting findings from previous TotallyLegal audience insight surveys, they strive to investigate the current trends facing the legal recruitment landscape, following the steady recovery from our recent chapter of uncertainty. 

Whether you know it or not, you have a preference in regards to managing your time. It’s no different than liking pineapple on your pizza or preferring period dramas to sitcoms. It’s just part of who you are.

Those who struggle with time management often either don’t understand their time style preferences or actively try to work against it because they think the way they’re doing it is wrong.

In a previous article we considered four “basic” skills that any legal secretary should have – communication, discretion, organisational and I.T. This month we will highlight some further skills and consider how to create a development plan to fill any gaps you may have.

Document management

After the pandemic reshaped the universal approach to working arrangements, many more of us have been reaping the benefits that remote work can offer. Between the 24 million people who were believed to be working from home during the pandemic, they saved an estimated £1 billion every week on costs related to going into the office. As such, it’s understandable that when moving jobs, you may want to hold on to the freedom and flexibility that comes with this more modern set up.

Whilst you could want these reassurances during the interview, it can be a potentially tricky subject to broach.

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

Legal PA – G2 Legal Limited 

Location: Central Manchester

Salary: £25,000-£30,000

A new opportunity has arisen for an experienced Legal PA to join an award-winning personal injury specialist law firm based in Wythenshawe, South Manchester, working for the Head of Costs. The firm offers hybrid working, working from home two days a week and three days in the office. You will be required to have Legal Secretary/Legal PA experience and costs experience would be advantageous but not essential

View the full job description here: