Institute of Legal Secretaries Newsletter March 2000 July 2000

We seem to be at the height of the holiday season, when the office is not too busy and the telephone does not ring too frequently. We are taking advantage of this slow time of year to send out our Summer 2000 salary and benefits survey. This is enclosed and we would be grateful if members could take the time to complete and return it to this office. The last survey we undertook was in the Summer of 1996, at which time around about 50% of the membership responded. The categories and geography have been simplified in order that the information received can be more easily collated.

We would like to hear from our male membership with comments about the difficulties or benefits of being a male Legal Secretary. Any sexist problems you have encountered vis a vis acceptance by your peer group or bosses. We are interested in researching this area for passing general information on to the media.

We have not had any response to our request for articles on a day in the life of. This can be serious and/or humorous, provided it reflects aspects of your job and home life. Articles can be circa 650 to 1300 words and should be accompanied by a black and white photograph. We are desirous to bring some human interest articles to the Advocate from members and this is your opportunity to practice those journalistic instincts you may be hiding under a bushel.

We get a lot of enquiries from the media, including Television and newspaper companies. Just recently we were approached to find someone who would be willing to take part in a documentary experiment, swapping places with a Legal Secretary who works freelance from home, with someone working for a big city practice. Unfortunately the television companies invariably need to get in touch with someone that day, for filming almost on the next. We are not sure why they always leave this type of arrangement until the last minute. Possibly because they have been let down and we are their last hope. They should have come to us first! We would like to receive letters from any members who work un-social hours, or work on a job share basis. In fact anyone who does not work the normal 9 to 5 legal secretarial job. We would like to publish letters received in the Advocate or newsletters, but also keep details on file for the next time we get a media enquiry.

We are currently in the process of instructing course writers to produce an English Grammar course for Legal Secretaries and also a Marketing and Client Care course. We would hope to release both of these courses at some time during 2001. We have had a lot of positive feedback from our Accounts Procedures course. Many of those members who have undertaken it have commented on how very useful it has been to them and their practice. If you have not yet enrolled on an ILS course and would like to build up your PAPS points, this would be an excellent start. The course is applicable to all Legal Secretaries, whatever field of law you work in. Institute A.G.M. This year's A.G.M. is scheduled to take place Thursday 23rd November. Any members wishing to attend, please write in for details of venue and time, (normally held at 4.30pm) in London. We will then arrange a suitable size venue for those attending. Office Closures Would members please note that the office will be closed on Friday August 11th and Monday August 14th. However you may fax us or leave a message for urgent matters and we will return your calls on Tuesday August 15th.

Annual Membership Fee Reminders
To save on administration costs and the need to send out several reminders to members please try and pay your fees promptly. Please enclose an SAE if you require a receipt. Two postdated cheques are acceptable if you wish to pay in two instalments. Free Jobs Registry We continue to have members register for this free facility. If your practice has vacancies do not forget to register them with us. Please do so in writing, by fax, or post and members on the register will be notified of the positions.

Help the Aged On Sunday, 1 October, over one million people in 100 countries will join together in a chain of celebrations and walks circling the globe for a 24-hour period. The Worldwide Walks-Global Embrace 2000 is the brainchild of the World Health Organization with the UK leg of walks being co-ordinated by Help the Aged and sponsored by Stannah Stairlifts. The help of many different partners, individuals, organizations and groups in the UK is required for it to happen. All you need to do is organize, or take part in a sponsored walk. It needn't cost you a penny but could raise vital funds to help older people combat loneliness, lack of mobility and fear of crime. Help the Aged is encouraging people of all ages to stay fit and active. Physical activity is one of the most important things you can do to stay healthy in mind and body. Soon a third of the population will be over the age of 60, Help the Aged want to encourage increasing numbers of older people to remain as independent as possible for many years after they retire by leading a healthy active lifestyle. If you are interested in taking part or would like to receive more information about the Worldwide Walk-Global Embrace, please telephone the events hotline on: 020 7253 2926 or e-mail them at: events@helptheaged further information can also be found on the Help the Aged website: www.helptheaged.org.uk Fred Pryor Seminars During October 2000 Fred Pryor Seminars are running the seminar entitled Management Skills for Secretaries, Administrative Assistants, and Support Staff - the skills required for an ever increasing management role for secretaries 15 PAPS points can be allocated, minimum registration with ILS £5 Enrolment cost: £99 + vat Various Locations & Dates throughout October:

For further information and booking contact: 0800 89 2617 or visit website: www.pryor.com Part-time workers now have the same rights as Full-time workers 1st July 2000, the Government introduced new rules for part-time employees, which meant that they would be entitled to the same rights as comparable full-time employees in important matters such as pay, pensions, training and holidays. This applies not only to employees but also to home and agency workers. Leeds Solicitors Nelson & Co explain the regulations. For many years, the country's part-time work force has not had any employment rights specific to their part-time status. However, with the introduction of these new regulations, not only are part-time employees entitled to the same rights as their full-time counterparts, but if someone changes from full-time to part-time work then they will be able to compare the conditions with their previous full-time position. The most common area is likely to be women returning to work after maternity leave and requesting to come back on a part-time basis. Emma Grace, Head of Employment Law at Nelson & Co Solicitors said,

Ms Grace added,

Below is an overview of the main points of the legislation:-

Summer's here and your office is full of temporary staff-as an employer, do you know your legal rights As an employer, it is common practice for you to approach an employment agency when recruiting for a sub-contractor or consultant. As such, you may presume that the agency takes responsibility if a temporary member of staff had a grievance whilst at work. But in legal terms, this may not be correct when it comes to discrimination, whether this is sexual, racial or someone suffering from a disability. Leeds Solicitors Nelson & Co explain this area of employment law. Now that the summer holiday season is upon us, it is more likely that your office will be full of new faces with the employment of temporary staff. If this is the case, then are you or your company fully aware of the employment legislation if a temporary employee brought a discrimination case against you?" asks Emma Grace, Head of Employment Law at Nelson & Co Solicitors. Ms Grace added,

This has been highlighted recently by the case of an employee who had diabetes and was engaged by a company via an employment agency. (The employee had his own company, which had a contract with the agency). The main company decided to cease his employment once they knew he had diabetes however, despite the fact that the employee was not employed directly by this company, he sued them for disability discrimination. One of the arguments in this particular case was that this was only intended to apply where there was only one contract in-between the applicant and the respondent - i.e., where an individual made a contract with an agency, which then sent him to work for the company. Here there was another company involved; the applicant's own company. Crucially, the Court of Appeal felt that it is probable that Parliament intended to confer rather than deny protection. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 specifically states that a "principal" can be liable for discriminatory acts. There are also similar provisions in both the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and Race Relations Act 1976.

Get over half your course fees paid by the government:- 1st One Million Applications. Individual Learning Accounts are a new initiative operated by the government to subsidise anyone over the age of 19 who wishes to learn through enrolment to courses run by colleges of further education and other course providers. The scheme specifically covers Continuing Professional Development in addition to other learning. The first million successful applicants to open individual learning accounts will receive £150 towards their course fees. Provided they put in £25 of their own money and thereafter a 20% discount is available. Some IT courses are eligible for 80% discounts. This Institute has now registered as a training provider under this scheme. Therefore if you have, or open, an Individual Learning Account you will be able to apply for your discount on any of the three courses we currently provide for continuing professional development.
How Do I Open An Individual Learning Account?
You may telephone the Individual Learning Account Centre on 0800 072 1072 and ask for a full application pack. Their office is open between 9am and 9pm Mondays to Fridays and 9am to 12pm on Saturdays.

Alternatively individuals may request membership via the DfEE Web site, which we are advised is a very attractive and speedy method of application. www.dfee.gov.uk/ila Once your application has been successful you will be sent an Individual Learning Account Card. Please note that discounts can only be applied for when enrolling on a new course.

Discounts cannot be applied to courses you have already enrolled on. Once you are in possession of an Individual Learning Account Card, and wish to enroll on one of our courses, the following procedure applies:-

Property Search Agency won third place and a £1000 cheque at the London final of the ISI/InterForum E-commerce awards held at the Financial Times Building on Friday 16th June. Open to companies with less than 250 employees the Government-led Information Society Initiative (ISI) was established to recognize and reward best practice in the use of electronic business.
Property Search Agency Ltd received the award for Searchflow.Searchflow is a highly innovative e-commerce solution, developed by Property Search Agency, to meet the need for the electronic provision and commissioning of property conveyancing searches. It is an online search facility that provides land, property and other conveyancing-related information to solicitors, property developers and those seeking to establish clear title to land or property throughout England & Wales. Alan Rae from Executive Studio, ISI West London and a judge of the event commented:

In March the company achieved recognition to Investors in People and in July achieved accreditation to BS7799, the new internationally accepted standard for information security management. Mark Riddick Chairman and CEO said:

On the 1st September 2000 the DfEE introduced a discount of 80% for holders of Individual Learning Accounts purchasing basic IT and maths courses. Ministers have decided to introduce a cap on the level of subsidy available on this discount to any Individual learning Account holder. From Monday 23rd October, they intend to introduce a limit of £200 per account holder in any one year. The take up of this discount has been substantial. Ministers are very keen that as many people as possible should benefit from this generous discount, and that its use should be targeted on people who are just starting out with IT or maths. Most of the provision in basic IT and maths that meets this objective, and is eligible for the 80% discount, is not expensive.

However, in the early weeks of the introduction of this discount, there has been some take up of expensive IT courses; some of them representing poor value for the use of public money. The intention of the cap is to ensure that as many people as possible will be able to access basic courses at a lower cost, thus ensuring the maximum impact from the public money available. A cap at £200 will enable people to access basic IT courses, while still encouraging them to invest their own money in learning. As with other incentives available to Individual Learning Account holders, the final choice of learning package will rest firmly with them.

The costs of the courses on offer will be an important factor to take into account in arriving at a decision. The cap on the 80% discount will work in the same way as the £100 cap currently in place for the 20% discount. This means that Individual Learning Account holders are free to choose eligible courses costing any amount, but they cannot have more than £200 of public funds, which is 80% of £250 worth of learning. The intention is that any courses registered for the 80% discount with the Individual learning Account Centre from close of business at 9pm on Friday 20th October, will be subject to the £200 cap. The cap will not apply to any courses registered for the discount before that date and time. This means that learning already registered, but due to take place later this year, will not be subject to the cap. Further information is available on the website at: www.dfee.gov.uk/ila or enquiries by telephone at the Individual Learning Account Centre; Tel: 0800 0724949

Leading resources website for PAs and secretaries www.pa-assist .com has teamed up with Executive PA magazine in an exclusive content partnership to further enhance the unique site. The new-look website went live at 9am on Friday September 29th. pa-assist.com now provides unique free-of-charge on-line services and resources for office professionals including advice and guidance, contacts, suppliers, on-line purchasing and information. Through strategic partnerships with leading business-to business specialist companies, it provides users with a unique range of on-line services:

Following a successful first six months, pa-assist.com attracted major growth funding from Oftex-listed Hoblyn Internet plc. This will enable ongoing site development and integration of new technologies. The updated pa-assist.com site also incorporates the dedicated, password entrance section for members of the Executive PA Network. Open both to corporate members (which include Carlton, Reed Business Information and AstraZeneca) and individuals, the Network is a unique networking and development forum, offering members a series of training days, social events, information and resources. Members of the Executive PA Network will gain on-line access to a news and information service, other exclusive services, and the pa2pa function which enables members to search for a colleague or peer to help with specific issues or queries. Executive PA editor Penny Cottee said:

The Legal Services Commission recently published the specification for the research programme into salaried defence services and invited tenders for the research. This is viewed as a major step in the programme to establish salaried defence offices in England & Wales, as part of the new Criminal Defence Service, and to undertake a major programme of research into the services they provide. The initial period of operation of the service will be a start-up phase, with the LSCs' plans to establish salaried defence offices at six locations throughout England & Wales, which will coincide with the research programme over four years.

During, and at the end of the four year period, the Government will review the services and make decisions on their future development. The purpose of the research will be to provide the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Legal Services Commission with independent and objective information on which to base decisions on the future development of salaried criminal defence services in England & Wales. The research will address the following areas: Attracting and retaining clients Cost effectiveness Impact on local pattern of supply Independence Management structures Most appropriate models for future development Quality of service. A shortlist of locations for the six offices will be announced when the recruitment process for heads of the offices begin. From April 2001, the Legal Services Commission will only pay for quality assured criminal defence services provided by practices' that hold a criminal contract. A draft General Criminal Contract was recently published for consultation.

The draft contract covers all Criminal Defence Service work funded by the Legal Services Commission, i.e., advice and assistance - police station advice - court duty solicitor work - magistrates' court representation - and some associated civil proceedings defined to fall within the scope of the Criminal Defence Service. The contract will not limit case starts nor will it limit the total value of payments that may be made.

Contracted solicitors will be paid for all work actually undertaken in accordance with the contract. Additionally, the Legal Services Commission are also publishing a draft of new duty solicitor arrangements that will apply from April 2001, which will operate alongside the new framework when undertaking work provided by the contract. The development of the contract provisions has been informed by research into the Criminal Contracting Pilot. This began with 70 firms in June 1998.

The research into the pilot was undertaken by a team, led by Professor Lee Bridges of Warwick University. The team produced two reports one on Quality and one on Work Structures and Pricing, of which a synopsis of both reports has been published as part of the consultation process. Copies of these documents have been sent to all franchised criminal defence solicitors and to lawyers representative bodies.

The deadline for comments is 31st October 2000. Looking for a particular legal book? Hammicks Bookshops have launched the UK's most exciting business books internet site, featuring the best titles on each discipline, the site has around 1000 titles available for immediate dispatch and delivery within 48 hours.

Hammicks have learnt from the success of their specialist legal books website, that solicitors seeking legal works are not interested in searching through all the current best-sellers or other specialist reading titles, but want to deal with specialist booksellers who understand their own field. www.hammickslegal.co.uk