The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs
Dedicated to your career every step of the way
Enhance your career with ILSPA – the trusted choice for legal secretarial training, recognised by law firms and recruiters across the UK and globally.
Our Legal Secretaries Diploma is designed to equip you with essential legal knowledge and hands-on skills, ensuring you are fully prepared to excel as a Legal Secretary. Whether you're just starting out, an experienced professional seeking a formal qualification, or a law graduate looking to build practical expertise, our course is tailored to meet your needs.
If you’re interested in specialising in a specific area of law, explore our Foundation and Advanced level courses.
At ILSPA, we welcome Students from diverse backgrounds – all ages, nationalities, and levels of experience. No prior legal experience is required to enrol.
Choose the study option that suits you best:
With our distance learning option, you have the flexibility to choose the areas of law that interest you most. For those attending our online classes, a structured syllabus with set units is provided. Whichever path you take, you’ll earn the same prestigious qualification, setting you on the road to success in the legal field.
Why choose ILSPA's Legal Secretary course?
Earn a respected Legal Secretary qualification - Become a skilled and qualified Legal Secretary with credentials recognised across the legal industry.
Acquire comprehensive legal knowledge - Build expertise in various areas of law to confidently support legal professionals.
Master legal document production and procedures - Learn the essential skills to produce and manage legal documents and complete complex legal forms.
Enhance your professional word processing skills - Refine your typing and formatting abilities for efficient, accurate document preparation.
Receive personalised support throughout your coursework - Benefit from dedicated tutor assistance, ensuring you stay on track and excel in your studies.
Achieve success with our high pass rate – Join the 95% of Students who pass and earn a professional qualification that opens doors to career opportunities.
Gain expert CV and career guidance - Access personalised CV advice and job-seeking strategies to secure a rewarding Legal Secretary role.
Access extensive study and career resources - Leverage a comprehensive library of materials and tools to enrich your learning and career journey.
Receive one year of FREE Membership with the Institute - Enjoy a full year of Membership benefits, including resources, and professional support.
Have discounted access to the Royal Courts of Justice Tours - Explore the historic Royal Courts of Justice with an exclusive discount, enriching your legal knowledge.
Gain eligibility for a TOTUM Student Discount Card - Take advantage of the UK’s leading Student discount card to save on food, fashion, travel, and more.
ILSPA is recommended by the UK Government’s National Careers Service - Trust in an organisation recommended by the National Careers Service as a pathway to a successful Legal Secretary career.
ILSPA's Legal Secretaries Diploma course is equivalent to a level 3 qualification. It is designed to provide you with legal knowledge and practical skills to help you secure employment or advance your existing career. Through this comprehensive course, you will master general legal procedures, key Legal Secretary skills and various areas of law. You will also advance your word processing skills through legal document production, completing legal forms and typing professional correspondence.
Explore ILSPA's Legal Secretaries Diploma syllabus to see how it can elevate your career:
Online Distance Learning
Our online distance learning course offers complete flexibility, allowing you to start anytime and study at your own pace. While most Students finish within 3-6 months, you can complete it even sooner by dedicating more time to your studies. You’ll have up to a year to submit your coursework, giving you full control over your schedule.
As a distance learner, you also have the freedom to tailor your course by choosing the legal subjects that interest you most. Along with three mandatory core units, you can select additional subjects that align with your career goals or personal interests.
Once enrolled, you’ll gain access to our exclusive Student and Member area, where you can easily find all your study materials, coursework, and resources. There are no examinations as your progress will be assessed through coursework, which you can complete at your own pace.
Throughout your studies, our dedicated support team is here to guide you. You can reach out for assistance anytime through our online portal, ensuring you have the help you need to succeed.
Live Online Classes
Our live online classes take place one evening a week for 12 weeks via Zoom, offering an engaging and interactive way to learn. You'll gain valuable knowledge about law and legal procedures, connect with your tutor, and collaborate with fellow Students. Plus, each class is recorded and sent to you afterwards, so if you miss a session, you won’t fall behind.
As a class Student, you’ll follow a set syllabus and receive guidance and encouragement from your tutor, who is known for being both friendly and helpful. Students frequently tell us how much they enjoy the classes and appreciate the support they receive. In addition to your tutor’s assistance, our dedicated team is available to help with your coursework through our online portal.
To stay on track, you’ll need to set aside time each week to study and complete the online coursework that complements your classes. Upon enrolment, you’ll gain access to our Student and Member area, where you’ll find all your study materials, coursework, and helpful resources. You’ll have up to a year to submit your coursework, ensuring you can progress at a pace that suits you.
Whether you study via distance learning or attend our online classes, ILSPA's Legal Secretaries Diploma course material and coursework is easily accessed through the Student and Member area of our website. Upon enrolment, you will receive your login details, giving you full access to everything you need. There are no examinations—instead, you’ll be assessed through online coursework, which includes multiple-choice achievement tests, practical assessments or assignments, depending on the subjects you study.
The multiple-choice tests will assess your understanding of each unit, while the practical assessments focus on creating legal forms, documents, and letters. These tasks help you demonstrate your ability to follow instructions, apply word processing skills, and perform key Legal Secretary tasks with confidence. The assignments, consisting of essays or direct questions, allow you to showcase your knowledge and apply it to real-life legal scenarios.
No prior experience is necessary to complete the coursework. The course materials provide clear instructions and examples to guide you through each task. If you need help along the way, our dedicated team is always available through the online portal to offer support.
Each piece of coursework you submit will be graded, and when you complete the course, an average of your results will determine whether you achieve a pass, merit, or distinction. If needed, you can retake any part of the course once, at no extra cost.
With a 95% pass rate, you can feel confident in your ability to succeed. Upon passing all units, you’ll be awarded ILSPA’s prestigious Legal Secretaries Diploma Certificate, marking a significant milestone in your career journey.
ILSPA's course is designed for a diverse group of Students, ranging from those with no legal background to experienced Legal Secretaries and even law graduates looking to enhance their skills. Whether you're just starting out or looking to advance your career, our Legal Secretaries Diploma can help you achieve your goals.
Our course is perfect for:
No matter your background, our course will provide you with the knowledge and expertise to thrive in the legal field.
There are no formal entry requirements for our course, but to get the most out of your studies and career, we recommend having a good typing speed, basic computer literacy, familiarity with Microsoft Word, and strong spoken and written English skills.
If you’re looking to improve in any of these areas, we’ve got you covered! Once enrolled, you’ll enjoy a 50% discount on Microsoft Office courses to help sharpen your skills. We can also recommend a free online typing course, used by thousands of Students, to boost your speed and accuracy. Feel free to contact us for more details!
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