ILSPA’s Royal Courts of Justice Tour


ILSPA’s tour of the Royal Courts of Justice has always been a popular and interesting element of our Legal Secretaries Diploma course. Over the years hundreds of Students have benefited from attending a unique and specifically tailored tour from our Patron and former evening class tutor, Amanda Hamilton. Our guided tour is created to help Students put their learning material into perspective and really understand the court system and processes they are being taught.

Can a Contract be Created by Email?


The law of contract has slowly been developing in line with changes in the way people enter into contracts and use technology to communicate. One recent example of these changes is how the law treats a contract made by email. Some have argued that an exchange of informal emails would not be enough to create a formal legal relationship, but they are sadly mistaken based on recent case law developments.

How to Create a Legal Cover Letter


The legal sector is highly competitive so securing an interview requires a strong CV and a cover letter that grabs the employer’s attention. This article by Simply Law Jobs set out how to write an impressive and interesting cover letter to help you stand out from the crowd.

What should a cover letter do?

The aim of a legal cover letter is to firstly show off your legal knowledge and secondly demonstrate that you have conducted thorough research into the company you are applying to. You should always write a new cover letter for each role that you apply for.

How to Round Up 2019 for a Great Start to 2020


December is here and Christmas and the new year are just around the corner. Hopefully, you are all looking forward to a well-earned rest over the holiday period, but there are still a few weeks left to work through before we can put our feet up. The end of the year can be a busy and rather hectic time for law firms. It can be hard to think about the little things that may need doing. Here are a few tips to really help you round up the year and set yourself up for 2020 while you’re at it.

Take a look at your CPD

ILSPA’s New Online Webinar Classes


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.

Legal Secretary Vacancies December 2019


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

Legal Secretary – Property and Litigation – Sherrards

Location: St Albans

Salary: £22,000 - £30,000

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a full-time Legal Float Secretary within a leading law firm in the beautiful city of St Albans. The individual will be providing legal secretarial support for both the Property and Litigation departments.

View the full job description here:          

https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/166430/

Legal Secretary – Matthew Waite & Co  

Location: Tring, Hertfordshire

Salary: £21,950 - £23,950 DOE

Receive a 50% Discount on Microsoft Office Courses


One of ILSPA’s aims is to provide affordable training to Students and Members. We are delighted to work in partnership with Prodigy Learning to provide you with a fantastic 50% discount on Microsoft Office courses.

Microsoft Office provides courses in Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. If you would like to improve your word processing skills, learn more about working with spreadsheets, become familiar with using Outlook for emails or know how to conduct a PowerPoint presentation, then you can now do so at half the cost.

PA of the Year 2019 Finalist - Eleanor Lawson, Legal PA at DWF Law LLP


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?

Whose File is it Anyway? Releasing a Client's Papers


On occasion, a solicitor’s firm may find itself in dispute with its own client. This can happen, say, in a case where there is a disagreement over the legal bill or when a client wishes to change advisors. In these types of situations, a firm may find a client demanding that “their” file be released but the firm is reluctant to do so immediately (particularly where a legal bill is in dispute). In cases such as these it may be necessary to consider who owns the file, what the contract between the parties says, and what personal data a client may be entitled to.

Ownership – When a solicitor acts in a case, the documents which are created fall into two categories:  

a) Those where the solicitor is acting as a professional advisor; and

b) Those where the solicitor is acting as an agent.

Is Your Membership Up to Date?


Membership Level

ILSPA offers four levels of Membership dependent on your qualifications and experience. If you have recently qualified with ILSPA or you have been working as a Legal Secretary for a few years since you first applied for Membership, you can upgrade your Membership level.

Those who have passed the Legal Secretaries Diploma course are eligible for Affiliate Membership, which shows employers that you are a qualified Legal Secretary. Keep this in mind when renewing your Membership with us. Once renewed, you will receive an attractive Affiliate Membership certificate, which you can show to employers or put in a frame on the wall.