Survey Reveals Lengthening Recruitment Process for Legal Secretaries

The survey also points to a longer recruitment process timeframe in the legal sector. Legal secretaries now often go through three or four interviews in addition to on-site testing. For senior candidates, this process is regarded as more acceptable. However, the survey reveals that such multi-step processes can sometimes put off junior-level staff.

One of the biggest triggers for people changing jobs uncovered by the survey is lack of prospects. Nearly half of those surveyed said that the lack of clear career development would spur them to look for an alternative job. However, less than a third had been offered personal development training in the past 12 months. The second highest reason for changing jobs was boredom, while office politics prompted 13 per cent of people to consider moving organisations.

Many legal companies are also changing the way they recruit. According to the survey, there has been an increase in the demand for ‘temp to perm’ cover. Many clients are opting to take this route rather than make direct permanent placements.

A demand for staff rose sharply in 2005 and is expected to continue in 2006 with 60 per cent of companies seeing their employee base increase again. In line with the growing importance of retaining staff, almost 80 per cent of companies awarded a pay rise in line with or above inflation and over 70 per cent of companies expect to do the same in 2006. The survey indicates that high calibre legal candidates have become more selective over roles and increasingly self-assured of their career needs and are changing jobs on average every three years to update their skills and expand their experience and prospects.

However, with the introduction of digital dictation, the survey also underlines the fact that legal support staff are having to assess and develop their range of skills to remain competitive within the legal sector.