How to Become a Legal Secretary in the UK
Legal secretaries keep solicitors' work moving. You type letters and legal documents from dictation, manage diaries and deadlines, open and update files on the case management system, prepare court bundles, chase clients and other firms, and handle confidential information every day.
No degree or licence is needed. Firms look for fast, accurate typing, strong English and an understanding of legal terms and procedures. Many people move across from general admin or secretarial work, often after a legal secretarial course, and specialise in an area such as litigation, property, family or corporate law.
Quick facts
- Starting salary
- £24,000 - £28,000
- Mid-career salary
- £28,000 - £36,000
- Senior salary
- £38,000 - £48,000
- Work environment
- Office or hybrid
- Time to entry
- 2 - 5 years
- Degree required
- Not required
- Category
- Business, Finance and Legal
Compare pay across careers in the UK salaries by career report. Also in: No-degree careers.
What a Legal Secretary does
Support solicitors with admin, documents, scheduling and case management.
- Litigation Secretary - Support litigation teams with bundles and filings.
- Corporate Secretary - Support M&A and corporate teams.
- Property Secretary - Conveyancing and property team support.
- Family Law Secretary - Support family law solicitors.
How to become a legal secretary in the UK
There is no compulsory qualification. Most firms ask for good GCSEs in English and maths, fast audio typing and confident use of Microsoft Word and Outlook. A legal secretarial course, such as a diploma from the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs (ILSPA) or a college or CILEX legal qualification, shows you know legal terminology and procedure. You can also start through a Level 3 business administrator apprenticeship in a law firm, or as a legal administrator or receptionist, and train up to secretary.
- Build your typing speed and accuracy, then practise audio typing from dictation, as firms often test both at interview.
- Take a legal secretarial course to learn legal terminology, document formats and procedures in areas such as conveyancing and litigation.
- Get comfortable with Microsoft Word features such as styles, tracked changes and mail merge, which legal documents rely on heavily.
- Apply for legal administrator, receptionist, junior legal secretary or business administrator apprenticeship roles at law firms to get your foot in the door.
- Learn your firm's case management system and court and Land Registry deadlines so you can manage fee earners' diaries without missing dates.
- Specialise in an area such as litigation, property, family or corporate law, and consider moving into paralegal or PA roles.
| Route | How long | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal secretarial course, then junior role | 6-12 months | Varies by provider | Career changers with admin skills |
| Level 3 business administrator apprenticeship in a law firm | About 18 months | Paid by the employer | School leavers |
| Legal administrator or receptionist, then promotion | 1-3 years | Paid while you learn | People wanting to learn on the job |
How long it takes
You can get a junior legal secretary or legal administrator role within months if you have strong typing and admin skills. Building the experience for senior or specialist roles usually takes two to five years.
Legal Secretary salary in the UK
Legal secretaries usually start on around £24,000 to £28,000. With experience, pay rises to £28,000 to £36,000, and senior legal secretaries or team secretaries supporting partners can earn £38,000 to £48,000. City of London and large commercial firms pay the most, especially in corporate and litigation teams. Fast audio typing, specialist knowledge and the ability to support several fee earners push pay up, while high-street firms outside London usually pay less.
Key skills
- Audio typing
- Legal terminology
- Discretion
- Case mgmt systems
- Scheduling
Legal Secretary FAQs
How do I become a legal secretary in the UK?
Build fast, accurate typing and audio typing skills, learn legal terminology through a legal secretarial course, then apply for junior legal secretary, legal administrator or apprenticeship roles at law firms. Experience in general admin or secretarial work helps.
Do I need qualifications to be a legal secretary?
No specific qualification is required. Most firms want good GCSEs in English and maths and strong typing skills. A legal secretarial diploma or a CILEX qualification can make you stand out, especially if you have not worked in a law firm before.
How much does a legal secretary earn?
Starting salaries are typically £24,000 to £28,000. Experienced legal secretaries earn £28,000 to £36,000, and senior secretaries supporting partners can earn £38,000 to £48,000. City and large commercial firms tend to pay the most.
Can a legal secretary become a paralegal or solicitor?
Yes. Many legal secretaries move into paralegal work, and some go on to qualify as chartered legal executives through CILEX or as solicitors through the SQE, using qualifying work experience gained at their firm.
Is Legal Secretary right for you?
Career Compass ranks careers from your interests and priorities and explains every suggestion, with UK routes and trade-offs. See how well Legal Secretary actually fits you. £19.99 once, full report included.
Not sure legal secretary is the right career for you? A good career test narrows the field before you spend money retraining.