Legal ethics form the foundation of the legal profession, ensuring fairness, integrity, and the rule of law. While lawyers often take the spotlight when discussing ethical responsibilities, support staff such as Legal Secretaries play an equally critical role in maintaining these standards. This guide explores the core principles of legal ethics and provides practical advice for support staff.

What Are Legal Ethics?

Legal ethics are a set of rules and principles that govern the behaviour of legal professionals. In the UK, Solicitors are bound by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Code of Conduct, while Barristers follow the Bar Standards Board …

We’re delighted to share an exciting update to our Key Legal Secretary Skills unit. We’ve introduced a new section on artificial intelligence, designed to equip our Students with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the evolving legal landscape.

At ILSPA, our aim is to equip our Students with both the foundational skills essential to a Legal Secretary role and the insight needed to keep pace with the advancement of technology. This balanced approach ensures they are confident in traditional practices while also gaining a clear understanding of how emerging tools like AI can enhance their work. Whether they are part of a firm that embraces advanced technology …

Executive and Personal Assistants are expected to move quickly and think even faster. Managing complex schedules, coordinating critical logistics, and handling last-minute changes are part of the job. The demands are constant, and the to-do list never stops growing.

But being an effective Assistant isn’t just about doing more. It’s about making smarter decisions about what not to do.

Creating impact means focusing time and energy where it matters most. Building a Stop Doing list is a practical way to refocus your efforts and increase the value you bring to your executive every day.

Why a “Stop Doing” List Matters …

The annual SecsintheCity Salary Survey has once again shed light on the business support profession, offering valuable insights into trends, rewards, and workplace dynamics across sectors. This year, legal secretaries and PAs stand out as the champions of loyalty, recognition, and adaptability. Here’s a closer look at the key takeaways from the survey:

Legal Secretaries and PAs Lead in Loyalty

In 2025, Legal Secretaries and PAs demonstrated the highest company loyalty among surveyed roles, with an impressive 47% remaining in their roles for more than seven years. This unwavering commitment highlights their deep integration within the legal sector and their …

Do you work in the legal profession? Have you faced experiences in your role that challenged your personal values or sense of right and wrong?

The University of Bath and King’s College London are conducting a research study to explore moral injury—a phenomenon that can occur when individuals encounter deeply challenging moral or ethical situations in their work. While moral injury has been studied in military contexts, there’s a growing need to understand its impact in professions like law, where ethical dilemmas are common.

What’s Involved?

•  A short online survey (10-15 minutes) to explore your experiences, well-being, and professional challenges.  …

Specialisation is one of the most effective ways Legal Secretaries can advance their careers and stand out to employers. While general legal knowledge provides a strong foundation, developing expertise in a specific area of law adds significant value and can open doors to more fulfilling, higher-paid roles.

At ILSPA, we’re proud to support your professional growth by offering Foundation and Advanced Level courses in a variety of specialist legal areas. As part of our commitment to your development, ILSPA Members receive a 20% discount on the Advanced Level courses.

Why Specialise?

With law firms and in-house teams seeking support staff …

TotallyLegal’s 2025 Salary Survey has shed light on the career experiences and compensation trends for Legal Secretaries and Personal Assistants (PAs), revealing encouraging data on job stability, salary progression, additional rewards, and working arrangements within these roles. Below, are some of the key findings:

Longevity in the Profession

Legal Secretaries and PAs demonstrate remarkable career longevity. The survey found that:

• 50% of Legal Secretaries have been in their current roles for over 10 years.
• Similarly, 46% of Legal PAs reported the same level of tenure.

This consistency underscores the stability and commitment within these positions, highlighting them as attractive long-term …

Navigating the complex landscape of communication with executives and fee earners can feel like a high-stakes chess game, especially for personal and executive assistants. In a world where every word counts and every interaction can impact your career, mastering the art of effective communication with top executives is not just beneficial—it’s essential to creating a successful career.

Regardless of whether you’re a manager, an assistant, or hold any crucial role within your team, knowing how to connect, convey, and conquer in these interactions can set you apart. After years of research, we want you to dive into these proven techniques that …

As the legal industry evolves, so too does the technology that supports it. One of the most exciting advancements in recent years is Artificial Intelligence (AI). Far from replacing skilled professionals, AI is becoming an invaluable tool that can enhance the work of Legal Secretaries and PAs. In this article, we will explore how AI can support you in drafting legal documents and correspondence.

Speed and Efficiency

Legal Secretaries and PAs often face deadlines when preparing documents. AI-powered tools can automate repetitive tasks, such as formatting, structuring standard clauses, or converting notes into polished text. Tools like Chat GPT, Microsoft Word's …

ILSPA is proud to announce our new partnership with Your Excellency Limited, one of the world’s leading training providers for Executive Support professionals. This collaboration is set to enhance professional development opportunities for Legal Secretaries, Personal Assistants and administrative professionals, reinforcing both organisations’ commitment to empowering the profession.

Through this partnership, Your Excellency and ILSPA will provide access to high-quality training, resources, and qualifications designed to elevate the skills and capabilities of PAs and Legal Secretaries across the sector. The initiative aims to foster career progression, confidence, and excellence within the profession.

Lindsay Taylor, Co-Founder and Director of Your Excellency, expressed enthusiasm for …