A legal secretary is a key member of staff within law firms, barristers' chambers, and legal departments of large organisations. Their main responsibilities include preparing legal documents, managing correspondence, organising diaries, and ensuring the smooth running of the office. Legal secretaries need to have a good understanding of legal terminology and procedures, along with excellent organisational and communication skills. They often act as the first point of contact for clients and play a vital role in supporting solicitors and other legal professionals. The work can involve handling confidential information and requires attention to detail, as well as proficiency with IT and office software.
Legal secretaries in the UK typically earn between £18,000 and £35,000 per year, depending on experience and location.
There are over 20,000 people employed as legal secretaries across the United Kingdom.
Each year, there are approximately 2,000 new job openings for legal secretaries in the UK.
Specialises in assisting solicitors with property transactions, preparing documents and liaising with clients during the buying and selling of houses.
Supports solicitors working in family law by preparing paperwork for cases involving divorce, child custody, and adoption.
Works with legal teams handling disputes and court cases, managing documents, court submissions, and communications with clients and courts.
Legal secretaries must have excellent written and verbal communication skills to interact professionally with clients and colleagues.
Effective communication is key for drafting clear correspondence, answering phone calls, and accurately relaying messages. Practise your writing and speaking skills through school assignments, debating clubs, or helping with newsletters.
Legal secretaries regularly use computers, so fast and accurate typing, as well as familiarity with office software, is essential.
Most legal work involves preparing documents using word processors. Consider taking a typing course and learning to use Microsoft Office, especially Word, Excel, and Outlook. There are free online resources and local college courses that can help you improve.
Most employers require at least 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, including English and Maths.
English is particularly important because of the need to produce error-free documents. Maths will help with basic office tasks like billing. If you have already left school, equivalent qualifications or functional skills courses can also be suitable.
You can take a diploma or certificate in legal secretarial work to boost your prospects.
Courses such as the Level 2 or Level 3 Legal Secretarial Diploma (available from organisations like the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs or local colleges) cover legal procedures, audio transcription, and advanced administration.
Gaining experience in an office environment, especially within a law firm, can improve your job applications.
Try seeking out work experience placements, internships, or part-time jobs in legal settings. Even general office administration experience is valuable. Volunteering in charities with legal departments may also help build relevant skills.
Start applying for entry-level legal secretary positions or junior roles in legal offices.
Prepare a CV that highlights your administrative skills, qualifications, and any relevant experience. Tailor your cover letter to demonstrate your interest in law and attention to detail. Register with recruitment agencies specialising in legal roles to increase your chances.
Paralegals assist solicitors by carrying out legal research, preparing documents, and sometimes handling cases under supervision. They require a deeper knowledge of the law than legal secretaries.
Solicitors provide legal advice to clients, prepare legal documents, and may represent clients in court. Becoming a solicitor requires further study and formal legal qualifications.
Office managers oversee the administrative functions of an office, ensuring everything runs smoothly. In a law firm, this role may include supervising legal secretaries and other support staff.
Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Legal Secretary. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.
A Legal Secretary and a Legal Executive both work within legal settings and require a solid understanding of legal procedures and terminology. While Legal Executives often have more advanced qualifications and take on more responsibilities, both roles support legal professionals and are closely related in the legal industry.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a law degree, or a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) if your degree is not in law. You would then do:
You'll usually need:
You could take the following college courses to qualify:
After completing a college qualification, you would do a 3-year period of qualifying employment. This means you'll carry out legal work under the supervision of a solicitor, senior chartered legal executive, barrister or licensed conveyancer.
You could do this in a legal practice, a legal department of a private company or in a government department.
You'll usually need:
You could take start by taking a Paralegal Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
You could then move on to a:
As part of an apprenticeship you will study to gain the following professional qualifications:
You'll usually need:
A lot of people work for a law firm and study for qualifications part time.
You could study for CILEx qualifications even if you're not working in a legal environment, as long as you meet their entry requirements. Qualifications may be studied full-time, part-time or by distance learning.
You'll still need some work experience to give you a chance of finding a job once you're qualified.
You can get more details about a legal executive career from:
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