Asking for Feedback


Do you know what your boss thinks about your performance at work?

Some readers will be able to answer “yes” to this question without much thought because they go through evaluations at least once a year, and those evaluations are built into their work calendars. These meetings are a great opportunity not only to get feedback from their bosses, but also to give feedback about how their own job is working out for them – and to consider that all-important question of salary. 

Spare the Spellcheck


Be self-reliant when proofreading your documents

“Halo, I’m sorry to trouble you, I know your busty, but you sued us recently for some tiepin work and I wandered if you wood car to rate our services on a scale of wan to ten. …”

The Professional Paralegal Register Conference


           The Professional Paralegal
               Register Conference
                            on 
                      21 April 2016
                             at 
      Wybston Lakes Executive Centre
          Great North Road, Wybston
                        MK44 3AL
 

The Professional Paralegal Register (PPR) is delighted to invite ILSPA members to attend the first-ever Paralegal Conference to have been organised in England and Wales. A special rate of £40 per ticket is available for ILSPA members.

Legal Secretaries who perform any kind of legal work are, by definition, Paralegals. The PPR recognises that many Legal Secretaries undertake substantial legal work and could benefit from further professional recognition as a PPR member.

Legal Secretary Vacancies - March 2016


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

Conveyancing Legal Secretary/Receptionist - Verbatim Property Lawyers
Location: Ilford
Salary: £17,000 - £20,000 
Closing Date: 31/05/16

Verbatim Property Lawyers are URGENTLY looking for an experienced member of staff to assist with an expanding conveyancing practice in Woodford Green. The applicant should have a minimum of 6 months’ practical experience.

View the full job description here: 
https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/40106/

Former Executive Assistant to Oprah Winfrey Appears at office* 2016


The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs is very pleased to support *office with their valuable event this year.  There will be a wealth of excellent seminars and exhibitors available to assist you in your working life.

With visitor registration now open, office* – the award-winning business event for executive office support professionals, taking place at the new venue of ExCeL London on 11-12 May, has announced Libby Moore, former EA/chief of staff to Oprah Winfrey, as its first Keynote speaker for 2016.

Renowned for attracting a host of ‘inspirational’ big names from around the world, former headline Keynote speakers include Karren Brady, Deborah Meaden, Zelda La Grange, former PA to Nelson Mandela, Judith Croasdell, former PA to Professor Stephen Hawking, Freda Kelly, former secretary to The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein, Margaret Mountford, Michelle Mone and Jacqueline Gold.

ILSPA’s Scholarship Scheme 2016


ILSPA’s Scholarship Scheme enables one Student each year to study our Legal Secretaries Diploma course for free. ILSPA would like to offer financial support to someone who may not be able to fund the course themselves, enabling him or her to have a successful Legal Secretary career.  

The application process for our Scholarship Scheme is open until 31 March 2016, and the successful applicant will be informed on 11 April 2016. If you are interested in applying for our Scholarship Scheme, or if you know anyone who would benefit from it, you can request an application form by emailing us at info@institutelegalsecretaries.com.

A Very Surprising Cohabitee Case in Probate Law


Anyone familiar with the intricacies of probate law was probably watching Joy Williams’ recent case for a half share in her deceased partner’s property with a rather sympathetic smirk stretching across their face. Little could they have known what the eventual outcome would be, especially when it turned out to be a ruling that was utterly unexpected by all.

Nevertheless, it would seem that Joy Williams, 69, has managed to achieve the impossible by securing a ruling in her case that many probate legal experts would say actually goes against the current law to quite a large extent. Ms Williams had been cohabiting with Norman Martin for some 18 years; however, the property was actually in the name of his estranged wife, to whom the estate went upon Mr Martin’s death back in 2012.

The Rule in Pigot’s Case (1614) and Its Effect in Contract Law


As I am currently in the middle of an in-depth course that deals with the law of obligations, I have to admit to feeling a little ashamed of myself for never having heard of Pigot’s Case – especially the rule and the impact it currently has on English contract law. I have gone through every last textbook connected to the course with a fine-tooth comb, and there is not a single mention of this case anywhere.

So, would this lack of knowledge about and coverage of the case of Winchcombe v. Pigot [1558-1774] All E.R. Rep. 50 mean that the rule established in this case is no longer applicable in our common law?