Prior to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) coming into force in April 2013, a consumer of legal services could access funding for most types of legal disputes. But the statute introduced funding cuts to legal aid, resulting in fewer consumers of legal services being able to gain access to advice and assistance.

Since LASPO, in civil cases there is no access to legal aid for:

• Welfare benefit appeals
• Debts (unless a debtor is being evicted from their home)
• Housing (unless someone is being evicted, is homeless, there is serious disrepair, or because of action …

One of the benefits of being a part of ILSPA is that you can receive help with your CV when looking for work. Your CV provides the first impression you make on a recruiter, so it must be of a high standard and tailored for a Legal Secretary position. Your Legal Secretary knowledge and skills should be highlighted within your profile as well as a section called 'Key Skills'. If you have gained a Legal Secretary qualification, it is also beneficial to outline the syllabus so that recruiters can see exactly what you have learnt.

Sometimes people apply for vacancies with …

We are delighted to be running our Legal Secretaries Diploma course at Regent's University in London from September 2023. Regent's University is situated in the beautiful setting of Regent's Park. It is a cosmopolitan university and a great place to study.

During the pandemic, ILSPA was unable to hold our evening classes at the university due to the restrictions in place, so we had to adapt. We have been running our classes online over the past three years but it is time to offer in-person tuition again.

The class tutor will be Seamus Ryan. Seamus has been teaching ILSPA's courses for over 10 …

ILSPA would like to congratulate the winners of the British Conveyancing Awards, who were celebrated at a glamorous event in London last week. The awards recognise the very best of the Conveyancing industry, which may inspire those of you who currently work in Conveyancing departments or are interested in going into Conveyancing after your studies. The event was held by Today's Media which publishes Today's Conveyancer, the home of news, updates and trends relating to the Conveyancing industry. The Conveyancing sector has certainly experienced some unusual and turbulent times over the past few years due to the pandemic and its aftermath, however there have also …

The National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP) is the UK’s oldest established and foremost professional membership body for paralegals. It is also the only paralegal professional membership body that is also recognised by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations (Ofqual) to offer fully regulated paralegal-specific qualifications. NALP is also recognised as an End Point Assessment Organisation for the Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship Standard.

Paralegals are the fastest-growing group of professionals in the Legal Sector today. Paralegals do not only work in law firms but also form a major part of in-house legal departments for many larger organisations and local councils, …

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: 8th March 2023

Three female legal professionals working across the global legal sector share their current thoughts and experiences working in law. 

They offer their opinion on this year’s theme ‘’DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality’ and also share their current achievements and what they are most proud to be working on in 2023.

• Wendy Lloyd-Goodwin - Founder of Life Science Law 
• Sophie Kirk - Paralegal at Life Science Law 
• Tina Durward - Senior Legal Consultant at Life Science Law 

 We asked:

1. What’s your opinion and experience as a woman within the legal sector? 
2. Have you …

Career prospects for Legal Secretaries are excellent due to the fact that they gain valuable and transferable experience in their roles. Starting your career as a Legal Secretary can be a great way to get your foot in the door of the legal sector and work your way up the ladder. You can become a Paralegal, Legal Executive or even a Solicitor with some additional training.

ILSPA's Legal Secretaries Diploma course is popular with law graduates as it enables them to gain the vital practical skills they need to work in a legal environment. Sometimes, budding Lawyers will work as …

If an administrative professional from the 1950s happened to be magically transported to today’s office, they’d be in for quite a shock!

Gone are the days when filing, phone skills, and semi-legible shorthand were key requirements for an admin job. Today’s job descriptions are more likely to include analytical reasoning, critical thinking, complex problem-solving skills, and UX design. And an admin who is unable or unwilling to keep up with the ever-changing technological demands of the profession will get left behind.

Don’t let the changing requirements scare you! Instead, make a concentrated effort to look ahead to the future and …

If you are currently looking for a Legal Secretary job, it is useful to know that certain law firms have careers or recruitment sections on their websites where they advertise vacancies. However, not all vacancies are advertised, so it can be very beneficial to contact law firms directly.

Website Applications

Many law firms invite speculative applications from candidates who think that they have something to offer the company. Their websites will give you the option to submit your CV without applying for a specific position. Examples of these firms are Birketts, Norton Rose Fulbright and Michelmores.

Email/Postal Applications

It is also …

SecsintheCity: the UK’s leading specialist job site for PAs, EAs and other business support professionals.

Working with specialist recruitment agencies, commercial organisations and public sector bodies, we provide our audience with the latest office and business support vacancies for Legal Secretariesand PAs, with a dedicated sector for legal support roles.

With entry-level legal support positions alongside senior Personal Assistant jobs, SecsintheCity is the definitive destination for job-seeking business support professionals.

Each year we host our PA of the Year Awards to recognise and champion the roles of PAs, EAs and Office Managers, including a Legal PA …