About ILSPA

At ILSPA, we're dedicated to helping you achieve a rewarding career in law, whether you're just starting out as a Legal Secretary or looking to advance your career. As the professional body for Legal Secretaries and PAs, our recognised qualifications and professional development opportunities are designed to open doors and boost your career. From valuable career advice to access to our highly regarded Legal Secretary courses and jobs board, we’re committed to providing you with the tools and resources you need to succeed.

Our passionate team, made up of legal experts and dedicated staff, is here to support you no matter where you are in your career journey. With Students and Members from around the globe, we pride ourselves on our diverse and inclusive community.

Established in 1990 by a dedicated group of legal professionals, ILSPA was created with a clear goal: to elevate the roles of Legal Secretaries and PAs to new heights of excellence and recognition. From the beginning, our mission has been to provide support, training, and professional development to help our Students and Members stand out in the legal field.

ILSPA's Mission

We’re here to support both trainee and experienced Legal Secretaries and PAs by offering:

Recognised qualifications to kick-start or advance your career
Career advice tailored to diverse backgrounds and experience levels
Professional development opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge
Updates on new laws and procedures to keep you informed
Awareness of the high standards expected in the profession
A vibrant community that connects and unites Legal Secretaries and PAs at all levels

ILSPA Graduate, Georgie Theobald

ILSPA Tour of the Royal Courts of Justice, London

ILSPA REVIEWS

I picked ILSPA in particular because it encompassed a very solid foundation of legal subjects, unlike other courses I have found, and secondly, because of its focus and support in securing employment. ILSPA made me feel very secure that I would have a very good chance at becoming employed after finishing the diploma and investing my time and effort, which was the end goal for me. A lot of the other companies promise good courses but seem to be missing that element of support. I really liked the aspect of membership offered by ILSPA, because it opened up access to a new supportive community.Evelina Tarabuta, Brighton

From when I started as a Legal Secretary, I always wanted to become a Paralegal and I was aiming for that, but I wanted to be a really good Legal Secretary also and I enjoyed that role a lot. After having my two daughters and changing law firms, I found ILSPA and I was impressed with the flexibility of the learning and courses on offer. That’s when I started to aim more for becoming a Paralegal. During my time at the new law firm as a Legal Secretary, I worked for the head of department whilst doing my courses with ILSPA.Elizabeth Forbes, Kent

The diploma was a dream to complete because I needed to complement all the years of work experience I had in this sector with an actual diploma from a professional Institute. My experience with the Institute was wholeheartedly fantastic and I would highly recommend anyone interested in this field to gain their diploma and to embark upon it with sheer confidence. The entire team at ILSPA are welcoming and professional and helped me develop my career further which I am extremely grateful for.Shama Ali, Dubai

The main benefit to membership is the responsibility for learning coupled with a reputable institution’s recognition. This offers not only the external benefits provided by ILSPA but the desire to achieve and maintain a level of expertise. I don’t think we could have done such a task if we had not been part of ILSPA.Sidley Austin LLP, Worldwide