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?
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.