Every Pitman Training legal secretary course is highly practical, so you will have the confidence and skills to use your new knowledge instantly back at work!
There’s no doubt that legal secretarial work is highly paid and a Pitman Training qualification may be your quickest route to a new job or promotion!
Pitman Training Centres in the UK are recognised by the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) as training providers for Continual Professional Development (CPD).
The Legal Secretary – An Introduction.
This Pitman Training legal secretary course gives you all the basics you’ll need to work in a legal department or law firm.
In approximately 10 hours of study at Pitman Training London (High Holborn or Notting Hill) or in Manchester, you’ll cover everything you need by way of an introduction to the work, responsibilities, practice and structure of the legal office.
- Lesson 1: The legal office; rules and guidelines; new terminology.
- Lesson 2: Lawyers; the solicitor; sole practitioners and partnerships; office location; qualifying as a solicitor; the Law Society; the barrister; qualifying as a barrister; the legal executive; support staff.
- Lesson 3: Procedures; accuracy; speed; confidentiality; limitations.
- Lesson 4: Introduction to where the law comes from; classifications of English Law; case law; Acts of Parliament; rules of interpretation; statutes; delegated legislation; European Law; European member states.
- Lesson 5: Legal publications and journals.
- Lesson 6: Criminal and civil law; the English court structure; the Magistrates Court; the County Court; the Crown Court; the High Court of Justice; the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council; alternative dispute resolution.
- Lesson 7: Incoming and outgoing post; the DX system; letters; proof reading; copies; faxes; email; couriers.
- Lesson 8: Introduction to documentation; documents in draft; endorsement sheets; engrossments; certifying a copy.
- Lesson 9: Standard documents; document reference; forms; specialist software; filing.
- Lesson 10: Opening files; new clients; solicitor’s accounts; petty cash; time sheets; bills; glossary.
Legal Secretary Training – Civil Litigation (Self-Paced).
This secretarial training course is designed to give an introduction to the work, responsibilities, practice and structure of the Civil Litigation Department in a legal office.
In approximately 10 hours of study time at our High Holborn, Notting Hill or Manchester training centres, you’ll cover the following lessons:
- Lesson 1: Introduction to Civil Law; instruction form for debt collection; letting before action.
- Lesson 2: The claim form; particulars of claims.
- Lesson 3: Filing and serving the claim form; certificate of service and notice of non-service; the admission; defence and/or counterclaim; defence form; list of documents.
- Lesson 4: Proceedings in the High Court; insertion form for personal injury; response to request for further information.
Legal Secretarial Course – Company Law (Self-Paced).
The aim of this course is to give an introduction to the work, responsibilities, practice and structure of the Company Law Department in a legal office.
You’ll quickly understand how to carry out all the administration behind the set-up and management of a limited company.
Approximately 7 hours’ study time at our High Holborn, Notting Hill or Manchester training centres will be required to cover the following lessons:
- Lesson 1: Introduction to Company Law; instruction form.
- Lesson 2: Companies House; Form 10.
- Lesson 3: Form 12; Memorandum of Association; Articles of Association.
- Lesson 4: Incorporation; company seal; company meetings
- Lesson 5: Forms 287 and 288a; annual return; stock transfer form.
Legal Secretary Training – Conveyancing (Self-Paced).
This course, aimed at anyone wishing to become a legal secretary, gives an introduction to the work, responsibilities, practice and structure of the Conveyancing Department in a legal office.
Requiring approximately 7 hours of study at our High Holborn, Notting Hill or Manchester training centres, you’ll cover the following lessons to give you a solid grounding in the way conveyancing works:
- Lesson 1: Introduction to conveyancing; freehold and leasehold; the conveyancing transaction; land registration.
- Lesson 2: pre-exchange; the title deed; registered land; unregistered land; office copy entries; the contract; the local search; other searches; enquiries before contract; approval of the contract; reporting to the client; exchange of contracts; formulas for exchange of contracts.
- Lesson 3: pre-completion; the transfer; requisitions on title; report on the title; the mortgage deed; the pre-completion search; the completion statement.
- Lesson 4: post-completion; release of mortgage; stamp duty registration of title; schedule of deeds; stages in the conveyancing transaction.
Legal Secretarial Course – Family Law (Self-Paced).
This course has been designed to give an introduction to the work, responsibilities, practice and structure of the Family Law Department in a legal office and in particular the administrative aspects of handling divorce cases.
Five in-depth lessons typically requiring 7 hours’ study time at our High Holborn, Notting Hill or Manchester training centres you will cover the following lessons:
- Lesson 1: Introduction to Family Law; basic divorce procedure; instruction form.
- Lesson 2: The petition; example of a petition; certificate with regard to reconciliation.
- Lesson 4: Filing the petition; the acknowledgement of service; serving the petition.
- Lesson 5: Decree Nisi; Decree Absolute.
Legal Secretary Training – Wills and Probate (Self-Paced).
Our legal secretarial training can introduce you to the important world of wills and probate.
It will give an introduction to the work, responsibilities, practice and structure of the Wills and Probate Department in a legal office.
Approximately 7 hours’ study time at our High Holborn, Notting Hill or Manchester training centres will be required to cover the following lessons:
- Lesson 1: Procedures to be followed when preparing a Will.
- Lesson 2: Codicils; enduring Power of Attorney and Deed of Revocation.
- Lesson 3: Procedures to be followed when obtaining Grant of Probate.
- Lesson 4: Documents associated with the distribution of an Estate.
Legal Secretarial Training – Criminal Law (Self-Paced).
Criminal law is a source of considerable interest for students on our legal secretary courses.
Our course will give an introduction to the work, responsibilities, practice and structure of the Criminal Law Department in a legal office.
It will enable you to develop an excellent knowledge of the workings and structure of a Criminal Law Department.
Approximately 7 hours’ study time at our High Holborn, Notting Hill or Manchester training centres will be required to cover the following lessons:
- Lesson 1: Initial stages in a Criminal Law case; different categories of Offence; attendance notes.
- Lesson 2: Statements of Accused.
- Lesson 3: Witness statements; instructions to Counsel.
- Lesson 4: Dealing with Offenders; Legal Aid claim forms; preparing an invoice.
If you’re serious about becoming a legal secretary, make our range of courses your first step outside the core prerequisites of fast typing and shorthand.