News/Events

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.

On 27 & 28 March, 2019, London’s ExCeL will play host to the latest edition of Legalex. This industry-leading show will create Europe’s most comprehensive and all-encompassing trade show package for legal professionals.

This year, the exhibition promises to be the most forward-thinking to date - housing 200 cutting-edge exhibitors and 150 educational seminars from some of the world’s top legal experts and innovative thinkers. Leading the industry as the most accomplished event for forward-thinking, ambitious and successful legal firms looking to modernise their practice. LegalEx 2019, is one not to miss.

The PA Show 2019 (formerly Office* Show) will once again play host to the UK VA Conference. The show will take place at the Olympia exhibition centre in London on ‘VA Day’, 27th February 2019.

The UK VA Conference 2019 has compiled an agenda that will appeal to a whole range of Virtual Assistants and their skill levels – from start-up newcomers to established and successful Virtual Assistants.

Read on to see the complete agenda along with information about the hugely popular free VA Breakfast session that will be held before the event to kick off VA Day.

Session One 10:15am: #MyVAFuture - What should my VA business model be?

ILSPA has been working with aspiring Legal Secretaries since 1990 and one of our main aims is to provide recognised and affordable training to Students. As such, ILSPA's Legal Secretaries Diploma course is one of the most comprehensive and best value courses on the market.

The course is a vocational qualification, designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge required to gain employment as a Legal Secretary. One of the ways the course can be studied is through attending evening classes at Regent’s University in London.

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?