Applying for legal secretary positions

Gunslinger92

Hi there,

I'm about to finish up my undergrad law degree, and am looking to apply for legal secretary positions. Thing is, I have no idea what to write in my cover letters! I don't really have any legal work experience unfortunately. I did work as a receptionist in a hotel last summer, and I have loads of other hotel-related experience - waitressing, housekeeping etc.
I'm good with computers, I have a quick typing speed, I'm expecting a high 2.1 overall.

I'd appreciate any help!

Claw Hammer

Forget about the degree. The firms are interested in typing speed, computer literacy, familiarity with the software used in the office, telephone manner and appearance. You will have to start by temping and trying to get longer stints so you can build up experience. Be careful of you appearance. Some lawyers are very old-fashioned and are quite often two or three generations back in terms of attire.

Santa Cruz

With a high 2.1 degree any legal firm will be expecting that you will be furthering your studies to become a solicitor or barrister. Be prepared to answer why you are not (if that is the case)
It is tough enough to get a start these days so give a good bit of thought about your future plans. Legal secretary can be a very interesting and rewarding career but if you have the ability for a 2.1 then you really should be aiming to progress.

Claw Hammer

The o/p would be better off not mentioning the degree.

Santa Cruz

Claw Hammer wrote: »

The o/p would be better off not mentioning the degree.

How does he/she account for the four year gap in their employment history when applying?

LegalEagleCork

Beware, competition is fierce! I apply all the time and hear nothing back, nothing, even from uk jobs, they do say once you get the interview it all comes down to likability! Regardless I have been told I don't fit the spec, (have 1.1 degree in law, masters, diploma, 2 Years office work, 10 years waitressing) maybe I should hide the degree too but it's slightly insulting that someone with fetac whatever in legal executive training has more job pulling power than a law graduate, that seems to be the situation though because legal executive training is more directly linked to practice. Solicitors do a lot of administration which we learn nothing about at uni so it's true to say that a law degree has very little relevance aside from demonstrating an interest.

Frankly, legal secretary work is boring anyway and this may be a case of be careful what you wish for, it's mainly typing, filing- which in fairness a monkey could do, and writing letters and in some offices they may not even trust you enough to write a letter. Oh and did I mention the endless photocopying?!! Endless! We're talking hours of the stuff. And in one office I worked at I was even supervised while photocopying- they didn't trust me to do it right! That really got to me. It's not all bad, you do gain insights into practice and you get to read files and network which are all positives.

My opinion: If you have enough brains and ability to get a high 2.1 in law of all things the odds are that legal secretary work will not sustain you long term, you may need more of a challenge. As a seasoned job hunter, and unemployed graduate extraordinaire finally finding her way through the wilderness, I suggest making that decision sooner rather than later. Think outside the box, look at other jurisdictions, career options, travel, believe me there are far more rewarding and enriching experiences than being a legal secretary and I'm saying this not out of bitterness but because I wish someone had shook some sense into me when I was naive enough to think being a legal secretary was the be all!

End of rant! Whatever decision you make, good luck it's tough out there but the trick is to decide what you really want and never give up.

Claw Hammer

Most firms are not keen on law graduates for secretary jobs. They don't want secretaries doing FE1 s and being too interested in cases. They don't want someone getting bored and thinking that the work is beneath them. Someone who will grind out the typing and copy documents, know where things have been put and who looks and sounds pleasant are what is required.

LegalEagleCork

@Claw Hammer- I'm glad you said that because it helps me to make sense of my experience. I think law grads applying for secretarial roles is definitely a sign of the times. And as you say, having the Degree probably shows a level of ability and ambition that is just not compatible with a long term position as a legal secretary- having experienced it I agree, I was all of those things-bored, under-stimulated, resented the monotony of tasks, was way too interested in cases and used to steal time to Google aspects of cases, filing nearly drove me to drink/meltdown and I certainly didn't care very much about it. I like to think that I hid all of that well but maybe I didn't. The highlight of my days used to be random errands to the Court house, just loved the atmosphere there. ... God, even writing about being a secretary is bringing me out in hives!!! The only incentive is money-important thing in life- which is why I still apply. If the o/p does decide to go for secretarial roles she definitely needs to actively address why that is not the case in her situation.

@Gunslinger92-I don't want to be overly negative here! I know that when I was about to graduate, someone close to me (established in law) said something really negative about being a barrister which totally discouraged me from going down that road. Then, my father told me not to do a PhD "why would you do that? Where would it lead?" and my mother told me not to do my chosen Masters because it was too far away! -Kent- Ridiculous. I listened to too many people and they were all wrong. - There are always exceptions and you may find that you love being a legal secretary. I have one friend who, following a JobBridge placement, was taken on as a secretary at a small firm. She was given a lot of responsibility, (I think she practically runs the place), has a good wage and doesn't have any plans to do FE1s in the near future. She has a very calm disposition, and great attention to detail; I think her temperament is well suited to the work. So it can work out but I would still advise to think broadly about your options.

Gunslinger92

Thanks everyone for replying, I do appreciate it! I've been given some interesting food for thought