Working in Property Law

[nads]

I'd like advice on entering the legal profession, as a legal secretary/admin person.

I have a tertiary qualification in business (PR/Marketing) and four years of marketing/admin experience (incl. 6 months working for the Westminster Council's Housing Department in London).

Am researching the possibility of working in admin within the legal sector (in particular, property law since this is my interest).

Does anyone have advice on how I would get my foot in the door?

What are my chances of getting an admin job without much legal experience (other than 6 months in London)?

I don't mind starting out doing normal admin stuff then moving up to Legal Sec someday (dont want to do reception work).

 

[TheBacon]

Do you know how much admin peopl (dont) get paid at RE companies? Or are you talking about working for lawyers that do real estate?

Good Luck

TheBacon

 

[nads]

The Bacon,

Im referring to legal firms that specialise in property. Have already considered admin for a real estate agent and there is NO WAY I am going to sacrifice at least $10k p.a.! Plus, I don't want to work Saturdays. That's why I left the hospitality/retail industry three years ago

 

[MarkB]

Nads

I think you should ring some of the big law firms and ask them. Since they are the people you'd be wanting to work for.

Or if there is a smaller firm that specialises in property law (your interest) that you know of, call them.

From what I know it is a very competitive field.


Suppose you were to move into the legal profession and work as a legal secretary / admin person.

I recall reading some salaries survey which said that a similiar position in a big firm could pay about $60k a year, if you were PA to a Partner.

Naturally if you are PA to a Jnr Solicitor you wouldn't get $60k, as depending on the firm this would be what some of the straight from law school lawyers got paid.

Smaller firm / firm in a regional town/city, likewise, you could expect your salary to fall.

Naturally you could improve your salary and standing if you studied something like conveyancing (in NSW you don't need to be a Solicitor to conveyance - not sure about Vic).

You could also study for an LLB, but it is a full 3 year degree (for someone who already has a degree), plus then you have either your Practical Legal Training (PLT) or "Articles" (an apprenticeship of sorts) before you get admitted to practice.


FYI - I am not a lawyer (economist), but my partner is admitted in the ACT as a Legal Practitioner and we have often talked of such matters.

Best wishes

MB

 

[NigelW]

Nads

If you're really keen on property law and want an inside view, why not go to work as a "paralegal" for a conveyancer or firm that does settlements.

It ain't glamorous but you'll soon know what's involved in conveyancing...

do some web searching for firms that specialise in property/planning law...

bigger isn't always better when it comes to property law (unless you're looking to jump into some 100m+ developments straight away )

Good luck with it all
N.

 

[Olly]

Have a look at the job sites on the net (www.seek.com.au for one) and see what's available. Same in the job section of the newspapers. Register with employment agencies that specialise in legal positions. They may be able to advise what you need to do to help achieve your goal. Look in the telephone book and find legal firms that specialise in property and send them your resume telling them what you'd like to do/be. You might grab their notice just as they are about to advertise for someone and jump the queue right into a job. Being in the place at the right time so to speak.

I recently downloaded the salary survey run by Hays Personnel and these are the salaries for the types of positions you are looking at -

POSITION
Admin Asst RANGE 30 - 38k USUAL34k
Team Sec RANGE 33 - 40k USUAL36K
Pers Asst RANGE 38 - 48k USUAL42k
Exec Asst RANGE 45 - 65k USUAL52k
Legal Sec RANGE 35 - 45k USUAL38k
Legal Pers Asst RANGE 42 - 55k USUAL45k

Hope this is of help
Good Luck
Olly

 

[MarkB]

Nads

This is an extremely useful site:

http://jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au/

Search (alphabetically) for:

- Paralegal

- Conveyancer, and

- Solicitor, among hundreds of others.

The site includes both generic and state specific information.

MB