Since our article on no fault divorce was published in our Legal Secretary Journal, we are pleased to say that there has been progress on this matter.

Due to new legislation which is being introduced in parliament, a married person will no longer have to attribute blame to their spouse in order to obtain a divorce. At the moment, married couples who want to divorce have to prove that the marriage has irretrievably broken down, which means assigning blame. However, this can be a very distressing and lengthy process.

The new developments aim to reduce the stress which couples and families go through within …

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP will be holding an Open Day on Wednesday 29 May 2019, for anyone interested in pursuing a career as a Legal Admin Assistant.

The day will include the following sessions:

• Welcome and Introduction to BCLP - This will include meeting members of our HR and Recruitment Team, it will also include meeting our PA Hiring Managers.
• A Q&A session with a variety of Legal PA’s and our Legal Admin Assistants - This will also include a conversation point about what life is like as a LAA and Legal PA.
• A talk from our Learning …

When looking for work as a Legal Secretary for the first time, you will come across job adverts which state that experienced is required. It is important to keep in mind that whilst some law firms will be looking for experienced Legal Secretaries, there are also recruiters who are keen to take on someone who has recently graduated with a good Legal Secretary qualification. There are entry level positions out there, it's just a matter of knowing how and where to find them.

If you take a look at ILSPA's Legal Secretary Jobs Board, you will see that you can …

ILSPA would like to take a moment to say happy National Paralegal Day to all our associates, Members and friends working within the Paralegal profession. As highly valued and indispensable members of the legal profession, it is wonderful to see Paralegals receive a day of recognition to celebrate their work. ILSPA's patron and CEO of the National Association of Licensed Paralegals, Amanda Hamilton said this about the day:  

"We are excited to announce the UK’s first National Paralegal Day. This is a day to celebrate the work that Paralegals do and the contribution they make to the legal profession. 

Whether …

When looking for work as a Legal Secretary or PA, you may experience frustrating situations during the process. Whether it is writing a CV, applying for jobs or attending interviews, it might not always be plain sailing.

It helps to prepare yourself for eventualities that might frustrate you so that you don't lose heart or become despondent during your job search. You need to be aware of what it may involve so that you can move on confidently after any set backs. 

Simply Law Jobs recently conducted a survey on what legal professionals find frustrating about their job search. Common frustrations included the time …

This month's edition of our Legal Secretary Journal has been published.

You can read about Jemina Blake who is an ILSPA graduate and is now running her own legal transcription business. After acquiring Legal Secretary experience and undertaking training, Jemina took the courage to step out on her own. If you are interested in having a more flexible working life, Jemina's story will help you to decide whether this is a path you want to follow.

We would also like to bring your attention to Legalex which is taking place at the end of March in London. For Legal Secretraies …

The UK VA Conference and Awards has just taken place at the PA Show in Olympia, London. ILSPA was proud to support the event as some of our Members work as Legal VAs and we recognise the brilliant work that they do.

During the conference, Virtual Assistants were able to learn from experts and network with others in the field, whilst the Awards celebrated and congratulated those who are making a difference in the industry. From VA training to accounting software, a wide range of services were recognised, as well as the people who are working as VAs themselves.To see …

Whether you have started a new role or you have been in your position for some time, you will find that you will need to ask for help at some point. However, you may feel worried about doing so.

When needing assistance, it is important to feel confident when asking for it and also to understand that it is for the greater good of the company. To work effectively as a Legal Secretary or PA, you have to be 100% sure of what is required of you and how to perform your work to the highest standard. If there is …

If you are working as a Legal Secretary or PA and would like to take a step up the career ladder, becoming a Paralegal can be a natural progression. Paralegals play an important part in the legal profession, helping Lawyers with cases, research and paperwork. While Lawyers are ultimately responsible for the work that is done, most Lawyers rely heavily on the services that Paralegals provide.

As a Legal Secretary or PA, you will already be accustomed to assisting lawyers with their work and you may already be performing some Paralegal duties. Therefore, if you would like to venture into …

It is great to have our first evening class of the year underway with our wonderful tutor Seamus Ryan! We are now busy enrolling Students for our next Legal Secretaries Diploma evening classes which will start on Thursday 11 April. The classes will run on Thursday evenings for 14 weeks at Regent's University in London. 

ILSPA's Legal Secretaries Diploma course will teach you about the day to day tasks of a Legal Secretary, various areas of law, the legal profession and how the court system operates. It also covers legal terminology, legal document production, how to complete legal forms, how to type …