Last month, I was looking at the motto of the Olympic Games (“Swifter, Higher, Stronger”) and indicated that it didn’t just apply to Olympians but to anyone who wanted to be the best, or at least be amongst the best, in whatever sphere where they wanted to excel. But, like with anything worthwhile, you have to work at it; it won’t be handed to you on a plate.

So, the first essential that you must work towards is “determination”. It’s logic – if you don’t really want to succeed, then you’re not going to! Being a really successful Legal Secretary is not governed by chance – it’s governed by you. Only you can make it happen. Here’s something to think about: “What makes a star a star?” Well, one answer could be that it sparkles! Ask yourself, “What will make me sparkle in my job?” You spend a large part of your life at work, so it makes sense to invest in it.

There is no denying that working as a Legal Secretary can prove to be an exceptionally exciting and rewarding career choice. If you are involved in dealing with litigation cases, you should find that no two days are ever the same. Even more important, those dreadful Monday morning blues will hopefully become a thing of the past when you actively look forward to turning up for your job at the start of a brand-new week. 

When you consider that the vast majority of the law connected with Wills comes from an Act of Parliament that received Royal Assent at the very start of the Victorian era (the Wills Act 1837) and the capacity issue for writing a Will comes from a case precedent in 1870, it will not come as a surprise to any of us that the Law Commission has been evaluating the possibility of reform in this area. The Commission feels that the current legal age of 18 should be lowered to 16.

Keeping Pace with Our Modern Society

SecsintheCity, the UK’s only specialist job site for PAs and EAs, has launched their annual PA of the Year Awards.
 
For the sixth year running, we’re shining a light on PAs’ critical contribution to business, showcasing the country’s powerhouses of proactivity and professionalism.

Why Enter?

Scooping an award is the ultimate career accolade. So if you’ve earned a shot at the shortlist or know a PA who makes anything possible, it’s payback time. 

There’s a wealth of exclusive prizes on offer, and winners will be announced at a prestigious awards ceremony at London’s The Ivy restaurant on Thursday, 9 November.

Michelle Gager from Career Legal had the opportunity to gain valuable insight into the world of job sharing at global law firm Allen & Overy. She interviewed Jane Templeman and Joanne Mackay, who started their careers as Legal PAs and now job share as Group Managers in Litigation & Tax. Jane and Joanne are a great inspiration to ILSPA’s Students and Members. When Jane started at Allen & Overy as a Legal PA, she did not have any previous legal experience and learnt on the job. Joanne started the firm as a junior Legal PA and worked her way up.

Jane Templeman – Group Manager in Litigation and Tax at Allen & Overy

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

Corporate Transaction Documentation Support - Scribestar
Location: London/Remote working
Salary: £12 - £14 per hour

Scribestar Limited is recruiting a number of skilled Legal Secretaries on a flexible basis.

The successful candidates will be highly proficient in using word processing packages, be 100% reliable and have excellent written and spoken communication skills. They will also be able to work under pressure, be willing to learn a new processing platform and ideally have document production skills. Candidates must either have experience working within law firms or other corporate environments.

Career advancement is simple to achieve if you put your mind to it and have the right attitude. You need to make sure you stand out from the crowd and are recognised for your worth.

Ensure you’re noticed and credited for work

First and foremost, ensure that you take the credit for any great work you have achieved. Never be shy or humble in this respect or let others take the glory. There are sometimes people who are standing by who will do exactly that! Bring your successes to the attention of your bosses and claim that credit in your next appraisal. Prove to your boss that you actually go above and beyond your standard job description; however, be careful to find the right balance here. No-one likes overtly ambitious employees, as this can come across as arrogance when it is not sufficiently contained.

Advance your knowledge and skills

“Citius, Altius, Fortius”

One year on from the referendum which resulted in a vote to leave the European Union, many people in the United Kingdom are interested to know what the outcome will be on our legal system. If you are studying constitutional and public law through any of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs’ courses, you should already have a good appreciation of the effect the EU has on our country’s sovereignty; however, even the legal experts are scratching their heads and can only speculate on exactly what this country will be like in the future once this important influence has been removed from our constitution.

How do things stand at the moment?

Dealing with clients can be one of the most challenging aspects of legal practice. Some clients can be patient and appreciative of your work, whilst others can be very hard to satisfy, demanding, stressful and upsetting. Clients may even not pay their fees, complain to the Law Society or sue for negligence if they feel that they have been treated unfairly. 

As a Legal Secretary, part of your job is to make sure that your firm’s clients feel looked after and that they are receiving a good service. There are many different types of clients whom you will come across in your career. Here are a few tips which can help you deal with them.

Understand your role