The legal profession is changing, and so is the role of the Legal Secretary and PA. Artificial intelligence is transforming how legal work is managed, automating routine tasks, streamlining processes, and creating new opportunities for those who understand how to use it.

AI is not here to replace you. It is here to enhance your skills, increase your efficiency, and elevate your role. The most successful Legal Secretaries will be those who embrace AI as a tool to work smarter, freeing up their time for higher-value responsibilities that require human expertise, critical thinking, and strategic insight.

The Changing Expectations for …

TotallyLegal, the UK’s leading legal job board, has launched its 2025 Salary Survey, and want to hear from you! Building on the success and invaluable insights garnered from previous surveys, TotallyLegal are reaching out for audience contributions.

By sharing your experience as a legal professional, you enable TotallyLegal to garner crucial insights into legal employment, highlighting the current trends and challenges the legal sector has been facing and what lawyers, paralegals and solicitors are looking for in a new job. 

2024 was a year characterised by resilience in both employers and employees alike. This year, the Salary Survey will broaden the …

For many people, undertaking a remote education course provides a great opportunity to work while also learning new skills related to their chosen discipline. However, even online courses require a certain level of commitment, so maintaining a healthy balance between your work and education is essential.

Getting it right takes navigation, so to help make the transition as stress-free as possible, here’s how you can structure your time for a healthy work-study balance.

Know your hours
No matter how many hours you’re contracted to work – or how many hours you’re committing to your studies – it’s important to have …

As we step into 2025, it’s natural to start reflecting on what the year ahead might hold for you and your career. Perhaps you’ve already set specific goals, or maybe you simply feel it’s time for a change. Whatever your aspirations, creating a career plan can be a powerful way to clarify your thoughts and chart a path forward. By defining clear short-term and long-term objectives and outlining a strategy for your professional growth, a well-structured plan can help you make the most of your time and unlock your full potential.

As a Legal Secretary, there are many routes of …

There was a time that the role of paralegal was thought of as no more than a stepping stone – a way to gain some experience before moving on to qualify as a solicitor. However, this is not the case today. 

People currently entering the sector, many of them having been legal secretaries, are choosing to become professional paralegal practitioners. Making their ambition not to qualify as a solicitor, but instead, to specialise in one or two areas of law and offer their specialist services to solicitors, in-house legal departments, or to the public. This can add value to a law firm, …

The 2024 PA of the Year Awards hosted by SecsintheCity, the UK’s only dedicated PA and EA job site, were recently held at the prestigious London venue - The Ivy.

Jo Benjamin, EA to a Managing Partner at Baker McKenzie took home the Legal PA of the Year Award for 2024. The evening saw finalists and their peers celebrate the essential support that Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants, Legal Secretaries, and Business Support Professionals have provided to businesses and executives throughout the UK.

The winners of the PA of the Year Awards 2024 are:
●    PA of the Year - Sarah Yallop, …

Many of ILSPA’s Students choose to study the Legal Secretaries Diploma alongside their university degrees to enhance both their skills and career prospects. Recently, we spoke with Ella Ramsey, who completed the course during the summer before her final year of university. Ella shared why she felt the Diploma was the perfect complement to her other qualifications and how it helped her with her work experience placements.

What were you doing before you joined ILSPA?

Before I started my Legal Secretaries Diploma, I was about to finish my second year of undergraduate study in Law with Criminology at university. I was …

Although not a qualified Solicitor, a Paralegal is legally trained and educated to perform legal tasks and offer legal assistance. Many Paralegals started their law careers as Legal Secretaries, so making the transition from one area to another is not alien. Many Paralegals are content in their role – some are employed by law firms, some set up as general Paralegal Practitioners, some specialise or work in glamorous industries such as football, fashion, film, stage and television. There are Paralegal positions to be explored in all sectors whether public, private, or charitable. There are a huge number of options for career …

At The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs, our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Programme is more than just an opportunity for learning—it’s a pathway to excellence. This initiative is designed to empower Legal Secretaries and PAs by enhancing their knowledge, refining skills, and bolstering their professional development.

The Benefits of CPD

• CPD ensures Members stay current with evolving legal practices and technologies. By engaging in structured learning, they can deepen their understanding of legal procedures and tools, keeping their expertise sharp and relevant.
• Demonstrating a commitment to professional growth enhances career prospects. A CPD Certificate from ILSPA is a testament …

The landscape for Legal Secretaries is changing quickly, and 2025 promises to be a year of significant opportunity. The Legal Secretary job is vital for members of any legal team, providing critical assistance in administrative tasks and document drafting while aiding in case preparations as well. Whether you're beginning your legal secretarial career or aiming for career growth opportunities, grasping the skills and various career trajectory possibilities will equip you to navigate through the industry successfully. With the right blend of legal expertise and professional growth, 2025 offers promising prospects for Legal Secretaries looking to thrive in a rewarding career.

The responsibilities …