Why did I become a legal secretary?
Upon completing my Law Degree in May last year, I decided that I didn’t want to commence the LPC in the following September. Instead I decided that I wanted to work in a law firm for a couple of years to gain further legal experience, have a break from studying and to save for a deposit. Initially I was looking at going straight into a paralegal role, however I came across a job vacancy for a legal secretary and thought ‘why not’? I can honestly say that this job has been so intellectually stimulating, furthered by the fact that it’s within an area of law that I really enjoy… family. Not only has this job given me so much exposure to the real world of law, but I’ve also learnt so much, established connections and experienced many exciting opportunities!
What does a typical day involve?
No two days are the same when you’re a legal secretary, of course you may be doing the same types of tasks I.e. dictations, filing, processing bills, producing legal documents etc, but the contents of each task will be totally different which is what makes the job so varied.
I typically arrive at the office at 8.30am each morning and I start work at 9.00am; I arrive half an hour early so that I have time to make a coffee and organise/get sorted for the day ahead. Upon starting work, the first thing I do is check my emails for any client queries, general correspondence, or any updates/Firm news so that I know what I need to respond to/what needs to be dealt with first. I will then check for any dictations/work that has been sent through to me. Once I’ve got an idea as to workload for the day, I will make a to-do list so that no jobs get forgotten and I will prioritise these in accordance with urgency. After working as a legal sec for a while you soon understand what jobs are urgent and what jobs can be done later in the day.
If you’re going to be a legal sec, and do a good job, then you need to be organised. Most of the time it’s definitely a fast-paced job, you have lots to do, you’ll get asked to do things throughout the day and you’ll be taking lots of phone calls/managing emails. If you don’t stay on top of things then jobs may not be dealt with and you don’t want this to happen. So I find that the best way to manage my time/stay on top of things is to have a to-do list which I add to throughout the day.
So, once I’ve made my to-do list for the day, I just get on with things. My mornings may include typing letters, typing up attendance notes, producing bills, producing legal documents, preparing court bundles, corresponding with clients to provide them with an update, to collect further information that we require or just to deal with any questions they may have. I find that the mornings tend to fly-by and before I know it, it’s time for lunch. I always try to go for a walk and get some fresh air during my lunch break in order to clear my head and be ready for the afternoon. Sometimes I do work through my lunch if we’re really busy or if there is some urgent work that needs to be finished, but most of the time I do try to take the full hour for lunch as it’s really important to have a break and not burn yourself out.
During the afternoons I will finish off any dictations, get all files up to date & schedule any necessary appointments. Throughout the day we also get calls from potential new clients seeking advice so we deal with these too. So, as you can probably tell, it’s very varied!
Are there any opportunities for progression?
When I went for my job interview, I was really honest with my employer in terms of my long term career goals; I made it clear that my intention is to practice law I.e. I didn’t want to be a legal secretary for the rest of my life. The lady who I worked for totally understood and was completely on board with my career aspirations. During my interview I was told that progression within the Firm was definitely an option and this gave me even more of an incentive to work hard and impress my employer! I think it’s really important that when you do go for an interview that you’re really honest about your long term aspirations so that they know where you’re heading and can therefore hopefully help you with your goals. Moreover, if progression isn’t an option then it’s important that you know this too so that you can manage your expectations and your time within that certain job.
I feel that the lady whom I worked for really did care about my career goals and wanted me to progress. As time went on and I showed that I was a hard worker, and capable of the tasks she was giving me, she soon allowed me to experience many new and exciting opportunities. For example, she allowed me to attend court to observe hearings, I would sit in on meetings with clients and Counsel, I prepared legal documents using information available to me (which my employer would obviously check and tweak if needed), I was given the opportunity to research areas of law when needed, and I would sometimes even type up my own attendances notes from when I went to court or to record a specific conversation that I had with a client.
So in all honesty, if the Firm has told you that progression may be an option, you work hard and show that you’re committed, then you’re likely to be given more responsibility/exciting opportunities!
What have I learnt?
… lots!
I’ve learnt how the Firm operates I.e. certain procedures, billing, taking on new clients and things like that. I now understand what a typical day in the life may look like for a solicitor so I feel more prepared. I’ve become more confident in dealing with clients and certainly more confident in a legal environment generally. I’ve developed and refined skills such as working under pressure, team work, time management, organisation, communication & IT skills. I’ve also gained a much deeper understanding of how family law operates in practice.
I hope this blog post has revealed just how rewarding and insightful life as a legal secretary can be!
Abby 😊
[All opinions are my own]
legallifeofabby.law.blog 