Legal Secretary

[Bowieblue]

Does anyone know the best way to get into the legal side of administration/secretarial work. Would it be best to try for a qualification e.g. Legal word processing or just to apply for a job and hope to be trained while working?

[Miss Zippy]

Provided you have a good typing speed (min of 50 wpm) there is no reason why you need to take a specialist legal secretarial course. I've worked in a few law firms in the past and all have hired secretaries with no previous legal experience. Aim for a larger firm where there will be more openings and opportunities for junior secretarial staff. Invest in a decent legal dictionary too: you will find this invaluable, especially when audio typing!

[Feetrixifee]

I've been a legal secretary for over 10 years. I did a specific legal sec course and A-Level Law at college, but if you have good typing skills (min 50 WPM) and have basic secretarial skills or even some previous experience of working in an office, I would suggest you get in touch with some agencies as they will want you to go in and have a chat (informal interview) with them along with a test. Then depending on how your results come out will depend on what they can offer you. It'll be a good first step - sorry don't know what part of the country you are in, but if you're looking for work in London, I can recommend some agencies - let me know.

Sorry to ask a personal question, but are you a school leaver, or just looking for a change of job? If you have had some years of work experience this could stand you in good light. However, if you are a school leaver, some of the larger firms offer trainee legal sec courses - I did one of these straight from college. I was trained for 3 months and then joined a float "pool" of secs.

Good luck though!

[Bowieblue]

Thats brilliant, thanks for the ideas from both of you. Wish I was a college leaver! - no, I'm 48 and looking for a change of direction, more stability and need to move on after a difficult few years. I live in the SW so there are lots of agencies I can go to. Got lots of office experience, but nothing on the legal side so I will definately try the agency route I think.

[keith wymer]

In London, the legal secretarial jobs market is highly competitive so it's hard to get a position where you learn as you go.

You probably need to get a Diploma. Try www.holborntraining.co.uk