Legal secretary

You could take a course in audio transcription, legal word processing, or a qualification like a Level 3 Diploma for Legal Secretaries.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

You could get into this job through an intermediate and advanced apprenticeship in legal services or as a paralegal.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 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
• guide to apprenticeships

You could start as an admin assistant with a legal business or organisation and then apply for a trainee position. For most trainee legal secretary jobs you'll need excellent word processing skills of around 45 to 50 words a minute.

You could complete qualifications offered by The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx). Both have information about part-time and online distance learning courses.

Further information

You can get more advice about legal secretary careers from The Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs.

You'll need:

• administration skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• excellent written communication skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• knowledge of English language
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

In this role you could be:

• producing legal documents like wills and contracts
• preparing court forms and statements
• handling confidential information
• working from solicitors' written notes and audio files (dictation)
• dealing with clients
• making appointments and managing diaries
• accompanying solicitors to court or police stations
• delivering and collecting documents
• keeping records, filing and general administrative work

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