Legal secretary

You could take a course to learn some of the skills and knowledge needed to get a role as a trainee legal secretary. Courses include:

• law
• law and legal work
• T Level in Legal Services

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
• guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
• search for courses|/find-a-course

You could apply to do a Paralegal Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, with a legal firm.

This takes around 2 years to complete and combines on-the-job training and time spent with a learning provider.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

You could start as an admin assistant with a legal services company, then apply for a trainee position as a legal secretary.

For trainee roles, you'll need:

• a good standard of spoken and written English
• to be well organised
• excellent IT skills, especially word processing

You could complete a qualification, like the Legal Secretaries Diploma, through a professional body, such as The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs .

Alternatively, you might do the Foundation Stage of the CILEx Professional Qualification .

These qualifications are aimed at people who are working in a legal setting, as well as those looking for a career change into law.

Career Tips

Some employers will look for typing speeds of 50 words a minute or higher.

All employers will value accuracy and you may be tested on this as part of an interview task.

Further Information

You can learn more about a career as a legal secretary from The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs.

As a legal secretary, you could:

• draft, check and edit reports
• prepare court forms and statements
• handle confidential information correctly
• work from solicitors' written notes and audio files (dictation)
• respond to client enquiries
• make appointments, set up meetings and manage diaries
• accompany solicitors to court or police stations
• deliver, collect and file documents
• handle billing and invoices

You could work in an office, in a court or at a police station.