Legal secretarial training: the benefits

Aug 28, 2019

Written By Megan James

The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs (ILSPA) has been working with aspiring legal secretaries since 1990, and one of their main aims is to provide recognised and affordable training to students. Here’s a brief outline of the legal secretarial training provided and who could benefit from it.

A legal secretary’s role requires them to carry out a variety of legal procedures, including completing legal forms, creating legal documentation, communicating with clients, assisting with legal research and more. There are set guidelines that legal secretaries must adhere to in order to carry out many of these tasks correctly. It’s also advisable that legal secretaries have knowledge of the area of law in which they work, so that they can fully understand the tasks themselves as well as the reasons behind the tasks. For this reason, many people choose to enrol on a legal-secretary course to gain the necessary knowledge to help them enter the profession, or to expand their existing knowledge and excel in their role.

Legal Secretaries Diploma

Whether you have no previous experience in law and want to enter the profession or you are an experienced legal secretary who wants to gain a formal qualification, this course is suitable for you. Widely recognised by law firms and legal recruiters, ILSPA’s Legal Secretaries Diploma course will provide you with valuable legal knowledge and the practical skills you need to become a competent and qualified legal secretary.

ILSPA’s Legal Secretaries Diploma course is equivalent to a level 3 qualification. It 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 and how to type professional correspondence, and will help to advance your word-processing skills.

The course can be studied through evening classes, which are held at Regent’s University in London, or through distance learning.

Single Subject Legal Courses – foundation level

ILSPA’s Single Subject Legal foundation level courses are suitable if you would like to gain knowledge of a particular area of law and learn about the legal secretarial procedures involved. You don’t need to have any previous experience of law, but you are required to have secretarial skills.

A range of subjects are available at foundation level that can be studied through distance learning, at your own pace. These include:

• Civil Litigation

• Family Law and Practice

• Land Law and Conveyancing Practice

• Wills, Probate and Administration Practice Single Subject Legal Courses—advanced level

ILSPA’s Single Subject Legal advanced level courses are suitable if you would like to gain an in-depth understanding of an area of law and acquire some paralegal skills. Ideally, you should already be working within the area of law or have gained a legal qualification so that you have some existing knowledge.

A range of subjects are available at advanced level that can be studied through distance learning, at your own pace. These include:

• Civil Litigation

• Corporate and Commercial Law

• Criminal Law and Practice

• Family Law and Practice

• Land Law and Conveyancing Practice

• Wills, Probate and Administration Practice

Legal secretarial training is a fantastic way to learn to become competent in the role, gain a recognised qualification and contribute to your continual professional development. Whether you’re starting out and want to know the basics to help you secure a job or you have experience and want to progress further, it’s a great step for your career.

Next article: Key steps in securing a legal secretary job

If you’re interested in becoming a Legal Secretary or PA, please contact The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs.

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