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Original poster

Stuck in a rut, what to do?

7 replies

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 27/09/2023 12:30

Probably no one will be able to help but…

I’ve been temping contracting past 4-5 years as PA/EA in government and private companies. I’ve worked as PA/EA for years before so lots of experience.

My last permanent job was as a legal secretary which I left (regret it now) just before I started temping contracting.

I’m more suited to legal work really as worked in that field for 8 years but now most law firms won’t touch me or a few just use paralegals or do the legal sec work themselves.

I’ve thought about retraining.

What can/should I do? So depressed at having to stick with temping contract roles when all I want is a permanent or long term contract role which could go permanent.

I’ve tried to apply for in house legal or EA/PA roles where generally I don’t get even to interview stage. I got to final stage down to 2 applicants with big 4 bank but they went with an internal candidate.

OP posts:
Saverage · 29/09/2023 07:21

Have you tried temping at legal firms and then trying to go permanent in that company?

Or if you like corporate EA/PA work how about other professional services companies, like commercial property companies?

I'm a PA but don't like the big corporate work so went the other direction to small private companies.

eurochick · 29/09/2023 10:19

A lot of legal firms have massively cut their admin staff. During lockdown lawyers were stuck doing their own admin and the managers have let that continue to cut costs. The staff that remain tend to be "EA/PA plus" in my experience - so they do a finance or marketing role on top of traditional EA/PA tasks.

Original poster
GonnaGetGoingReturns · 29/09/2023 10:45

eurochick · 29/09/2023 10:19

A lot of legal firms have massively cut their admin staff. During lockdown lawyers were stuck doing their own admin and the managers have let that continue to cut costs. The staff that remain tend to be "EA/PA plus" in my experience - so they do a finance or marketing role on top of traditional EA/PA tasks.

That’s what I’ve found from speaking to people working in law firms.

Or they want a lot more from a legal sec/PA as in one job I interviewed for recently.

OP posts:
Original poster
GonnaGetGoingReturns · 02/10/2023 09:20

Saverage · 29/09/2023 07:21

Have you tried temping at legal firms and then trying to go permanent in that company?

Or if you like corporate EA/PA work how about other professional services companies, like commercial property companies?

I'm a PA but don't like the big corporate work so went the other direction to small private companies.

No not tried temping at legal firms.

Commercial property not tried either.

I just don’t think I’m a natural EA/PA anyway and at 52 a few of my skills are outdated!

OP posts:
Hummingbird233 · 02/10/2023 09:34

What kind of salary do you need?

Original poster
GonnaGetGoingReturns · 02/10/2023 10:46

Hummingbird233 · 02/10/2023 09:34

What kind of salary do you need?

Salary not a huge need. Roughly £35K a year, more Would be great to get more obviously.

OP posts:
Hummingbird233 · 02/10/2023 17:49

Realistically I think you'll need to stay in your area of expertise for that salary then. Have you asked for feedback from the interviews?

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