SecsintheCity, the UK’s only job site dedicated to Personal Assistants, is hosting the 13th annual PA of the Year awards in 2024. These awards celebrate the vital support that Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants and Business Support Managers bring to businesses across the UK. The clock is ticking to submit your Legal PA of the Year 2024 nominations, as the deadline of 20th September is fast approaching!

Legal PA of the Year is one of the awards’ most popular categories. Those in Legal PA jobs are indispensable members of many law firms, Barrister’s chambers and in-house legal teams, providing administrative and clerical services on a one-to-one basis.

We recently caught up with Lauren Sweeney, winner of the Legal PA of the Year award 2023, to find out more about her role at Eversheds Sutherland, the highs of being a Legal PA, and her reaction to winning the award.

How did you become a Legal PA?

I started my career as a Junior Legal Secretary 18 years ago in a local firm in Barking, Essex. My mum had always said ‘Go to London Lauren’, and so I did. It wasn’t long before I applied for my first Legal Secretary role in the West End.

I’ve always had a can-do attitude and been eager to stretch my skill set, which has led me to travel to various locations within the UK, as well as working in Qatar.

What can you tell us about your role at Eversheds Sutherland?

My role is fast paced and no two days are ever the same. I started my career at Eversheds Sutherland as Legal PA to the Head of Financial Services, who was also the London Office Partner. I was then asked to support the Global Head of Company Commercial and promoted to Executive PA.

The role is exciting as you have to be able to deliver under a pressured environment and always be one step ahead, whilst ensuring client service excellence at all times. I’m also a PA champion – a voice for the Company Commercial support teams for inclusion and profile.

What do you love about being a Legal PA?

Everything! I love being organised and taking ownership and leading on projects from start to finish. I love that you are the one go-to person that your stakeholders come to with any issues/challenges to find a solution, if you haven’t already done so!

There is so much a PA can do and I love to share my experiences with younger colleagues just starting out in their careers, to show them just how much you can stretch a PA role and how important we are to the business.  

How did you find the PA of the Year Awards interview process?

Exciting from start to finish! It was lovely to meet Susanna and Sarah who made me feel at ease in the interview. It was like talking to friends whilst remembering all of the highlights of my career.

To be nominated for Legal PA of the Year is the ultimate recognition of all my hard work over the years.

What advice would you give to other Legal PAs thinking about self nominating?

Do it! Companies would not function without the PA role. We should be proud of our own achievements and should share our accomplishments with others in the same field.

Sometimes our stakeholders don’t realise what it has taken to complete a task as we only tell them the outcome or what they need to hear. The SecsintheCity Awards is a platform for us to share details of the level of support a PA provides.

What do you find rewarding about being a Legal PA?

The ability to help my stakeholders win their day! The feedback I receive from my stakeholders and other senior members makes me feel valued and that is why I enjoy what I do.

What’s your top tip to Legal PAs starting out in the profession?

Be open to change and stay away from autopilot mode – sometimes we repeat actions of those already in the business because they work and get the job done but could they be done better? 

How did it feel to be named Legal PA of the Year? 

I was extremely honoured and proud to be named Legal PA of the Year. To share the moment it was announced with Keri Rees, Co-Head of Company Commercial, who nominated me was one of my favourite career highlights to date - I’m not sure whose smile was the biggest for the rest of the evening.     

How did you find the celebratory evening at the Ivy?

Brilliant! The venue, the food, the company was all exceptional and of course the drink was flowing. I really enjoyed meeting so many lovely people and hearing about their career journeys. I felt famous at the end of the evening when we were having our photos taken. 

How did your company react to you winning the award?

I think Keri shared the news on LinkedIn before the evening had finished! There were so many messages of support and congratulations, it took me a while to respond to them all but my colleague Louise Haynes and I have been promised a celebratory dinner with a few of the Partners.

PA of the Year Awards 2024

Nominations for the PA of the Year Awards 2024 are currently open with less than two weeks left to submit your nominees! For Legal PAs, winning this award shows recognition for all of their hard work and dedication as a business support professional.

In addition, all finalists are invited to a private evening at the Ivy, where they can celebrate their successes with their boss and peers. The winner of the Legal PA of the Year award will also take away a gift voucher for Sabor, where they can enjoy an exceptional dining experience.

If you’re inspired by Lauren’s story and think a colleague, a friend or even you should be nominated for Legal PA of the Year 2024, head to SecsintheCity to submit your nomination today!