Student Course Guidance

COURSE DURATION

One of the key benefits of studying with ILSPA is the flexibility to work at your own pace and submit your coursework when you feel ready. The more time and focus you dedicate to your studies, the sooner you will be able to complete the course. On average, Students take between 3 to 6 months to achieve their qualification, however you can take up to a year if you need to.

If you are enrolled in our online classes, you have the option to complete the course within the scheduled class period or take additional time if needed. All Students are given a one-year deadline from the date of enrolment to submit their coursework. Your specific deadline will be confirmed when you enrol.

COURSE MATERIAL

Everything you need for your course is provided through the Student and Member area of our website. You will find your study material and coursework, be able to track your progress and results, and have access to help and support. You are required to learn your study material and then complete the relevant coursework after the completion of the unit. The coursework consists of multiple-choice achievement tests, practical assessments, or assignments, depending on the subjects studied.

If you are studying the Legal Secretaries Diploma course, we recommend that you download one unit at a time as you work through it, rather than downloading all of the units at once. Law and procedure continually changes and our course material is regularly updated to reflect these changes. When completing your coursework, you must study the current version of the course.

ACHIEVEMENT TESTS

ILSPA's achievement tests are designed to test your knowledge of the subject area you are studying. Once you have read the study material and gained a good understanding of it, you can complete the test.

You may refer to your course material during a test, as you can leave and go back to it at any time. The tests are not timed so you can take as long as you need to provide your answers. The answers to the questions you have completed will be saved in our system. We test you on what you understand rather than what you can memorise.

Make sure that you are confident in your knowledge of the subject before completing the tests as your results will go towards your final grade. After submitting your test answers online, you will receive your results straight away. You need to achieve 16 correct answers to pass the test, which equates to 80%.

If you fail a test, you will have the opportunity to retake it one more time, but we can only award you a maximum result of 80% if you pass on your second attempt. If you do not pass your retake, you will fail the unit. It is necessary for you to pass all the coursework included in your course to achieve the qualification. If you are studying our Legal Secretaries Diploma course and fail a unit, we can award you certificates for the other subjects you pass which include both achievement tests and assessments/assignments.

ASSESSMENTS

ILSPA's practical assessments involve producing legal forms, documents, and letters. You can begin these tasks after studying the relevant subject and completing the achievement test. These hands-on activities are designed to help you develop competence and confidence in Legal Secretary work.

Comprehensive instructions and examples are provided to guide you through the coursework. Please ensure you have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, as some of the PDF documents required for your assessments must be opened and completed using this software. You can download it for free here: https://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/.

Blank legal forms required for certain assessments are provided for you to complete as part of your coursework. To support your learning, we have also included examples of completed legal forms. Please note that the scenarios used in these examples may differ slightly from your assessment instructions to ensure originality and prevent direct copying.

It is essential to proofread and check your work carefully before submitting it, as this greatly increases your chances of achieving a high grade. To help you avoid common mistakes, a list of frequent errors can be found in the Student Resources section of our Student and Member area.

By completing the assessments, you will demonstrate your ability to follow instructions and apply word processing skills to a variety of documents commonly used in legal practice. Please read each assessment criterion thoroughly and ensure that your work reflects a high level of accuracy and attention to detail—both of which are key to passing the course and earning a strong grade.

Assessments must be submitted once you have completed and uploaded all coursework for a unit. Results will be provided within 14 days. If your work does not meet the required standard, you will be given the opportunity to revise and resubmit it one more time. Please note that if you pass on your second attempt, the maximum grade you can receive is 80%.

Your Course Assessor will provide personalised feedback on your work, including clear guidance on any necessary corrections.

Please note: Artificial intelligence is gradually being adopted within the legal industry, with some law firms integrating AI tools into their practices while others continue to follow more traditional methods. As the profession moves through this transitional phase, ILSPA’s assessments are designed to reflect the established, traditional way of working as a Legal Secretary. This ensures that all Students, regardless of their work environment, gain a solid foundation in the core responsibilities and practical skills required for the role. Whether or not a law firm uses AI, the knowledge and experience gained through ILSPA’s assessments will provide a strong understanding of the practical aspects of Legal Secretary work and prepare Students to adapt confidently to different workplace settings. Make sure that you study the section on Artificial Intelligence in our Key Legal Secretary Skills unit to advance your understanding. If this content is not included in your course, you have the option to take it as a separate unit.

ASSIGNMENTS

Some of our course units include assignments in which you need to submit your answers to questions in essay form. The purpose of these are to test your understanding of a subject as well as apply the knowledge you have gained to a real-life scenario and explain it in practice. It is best to complete these after you have read the study material and completed the achievement test (if one is included).

You can find guidance on writing assignments in the Student Resources section of our Student and Member area.

COURSEWORK PORTFOLIO

When you have completed the course, you can print off your assessments and create a portfolio of your work. Not only is this beneficial to show to recruiters when attending interviews, it can also form a valuable source of reference during your career as you will be able to refer back to the tasks you completed for guidance.

COURSE EXTENSIONS

You have up to one year to submit your coursework. If you are not able to complete your studies within the one year time frame, you can apply for a three month extension. We are able to grant exemptions in extenuating circumstances. To apply for an extension, please put your request into writing by emailing us at info@institutelegalsecretaries.com and explain why you have been unable to complete the course within one year. Please note that you must do this before your course deadline.

COURSE RESULTS

Students are given a percentage for each of their pieces of coursework. An average percentage is taken from these results and the following grades are awarded for the overall result:

Pass: 80% to 89%
Merit: 90% to 94%
Distinction: 95% to 100%

When you pass all your coursework, you will be awarded ILSPA’s qualification. Our pass rate is very high - 95% of Students who complete their coursework achieve the qualification. 

Please note, it is necessary to pass all the units in the Legal Secretaries Diploma course to achieve the qualification. If you fail one of the units, we will award you qualifications in the individual practical units you pass. We do not award qualifications for units which only have achievement tests.

HELP AND SUPPORT

You have access to help and support during your studies. You can submit queries online which will be promptly answered by a member of our team. Please use this facility whenever you would like assistance, as it can make all the difference in you successfully passing the course. You might need clarification on a test question or guidance on an assessment. Whatever it is, we are here to help you. You will find the course help and support area on your course home page. You can also request help with specific assessments/assignments as you work through them. Please note that queries are answered within office hours, which are Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5.00pm (excluding bank holidays).

STUDENT RESOURCES

The Student and Member area includes some useful resources for Students. You can find guidance on how to stay focused and motivated during your studies, read about other Students' experiences, and apply for a TOTUM Student discount card to receive discounts at high street stores and restaurants throughout the UK. There is also a Glossary of Legal Terminology that complements your studies.

If you are looking for work, please take a look at the Guidance to Secure Employment section. It includes helpful advice on how to improve your CV and apply for positions. You can also find details of our Continuing Professional Development programme, useful legal resources, our Legal Secretary Blog, our social media and there are discounts available for those who want to advance their Microsoft Office or legal skills.

Good luck with your studies and please do not hesitate to contact us if you require assistance.