Whats the difference between a PA/Secretary and a Legal Sec??

[Twinkie1]

Its seems not much at all to me but I am coming up against some brick walls trying to make people understand that I am competant and I think can do the job standing on my head afatre working on a Trading Floor for most of my career!! I am quick to learn and as some of my friends work for big Legal Co.s they say that its a piece of cake compared to jobs that I have done in the past. (One may be able to sort something out for me but is on hols at the moment and I am getting mega frustrated and upset about it - DH is working longer hours and not getting paid anymore until bonus/pay rise time and I am stuck here with the kids (as much as I love them I need stimulation) for what seems like an age every day!!)

I can type - FAST, I can use all of the packages and have qualifications in all the subjects they are asking for but cannot get any sort of optimistic feedback!!!

Its really the only job that I can do and still earn a decent amount of money for doing it as the hours are evenings and means DS doesn't have to be at nursery all day!!

Why can't I get a break?????

you need extra training to be a legal/medical secretary. so are you looking for one of those 'evening' pa jobs? they pay quite well. have you seen agencies?

You don't have to have legal training to be a legal secretary. I did but some other girls I worked with didn't. Keep sending your CV out to the law firms (are you looking for a London job?) and your CV should speak for itself if you worked on a trading floor. Keep trying, good luck.

Thanks KBear - thats what I thought.

No not a PA - just doing their overflow typing at night - I just want to get out and have some sort of life of my own away from my home to be honest.

Plus the posiitons pay really really well as you don't have to pay so much for childcare!!

check out reed.co.uk and fish4jobs

As a solicitor myslf I have often steered clear of recruiting a sec who has no legal experience because I want someone with an eye for detail,who understands legal jargon and their spellings, can set out documents such as wtiness statements and court forms etc in the correct way etc. A lot of this comes with exeprience. You also need an element of discretion if dealing with clients. I have known over eager secs to dish out their own advice over the phone to my clients which is not on!

I'm not saying you're not employable as a legal sec but I think to get your foot in the door you would need to demonstrate you have the right qualities such as an eye for detail etc and a willingness to learn quickly as well as good interpersonal skills

hth and good luck

Thanks teabags - that's very good advice - although what you are asking for doesn't seem far removed from what I have had to do in the International Investment Banking field I have worked in for most of my career - an eye for detail there is a huge issue too as one wrong date or decimal point and we could loose millions in one fowl swoop.

I am super good at being confidential about stuff too!!

I will take it on board though and myabe keep applying but also get myself some sort of handbook so at least I can have a look at witness statements and such like.

Once again thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

I've no doubt from what you say you'd be great at the job. good luck!

Twinkie1 I employ medical secretaries - the biggest reason we don't offer a position is lack of attention to detail. A single spelling error in a CV or application is enough to eliminate lots of candidates. Presume you've checked your CV really really carefully?

I've used legal secretaries and agree with tb, but you can learn the things you need like that in a short time. If you're accurate, are told the importance of not even saying the name of a client to your husband/wife i.e. the confidentiality rules etc, what to say and not to say if someone calls for information (can't be too different from banking in that respect), pick up legal jargon spellings etc.

Some of the firms I worked for also employed legal secretaries overnight for over night deals or evenings which worked well for some women with children trying to juggle them with their husbands. Just keep writing to law firms.

most legal firms (certainly the larger firms) use precedent documents and the use of "legal jargon" is discouraged but Amazon still stock the "Legal Secretaries Handbook" which may be a useful guide. Sounds as if you'll have no problems though, keep sending out your cv to the lgal firms and you should be fine. Good luck.