There are many ways to start a career in law. One of the best entry points is as a conveyancing secretary or paralegal. You may have already decided that this kind of position would suit you well. But the job search can still be daunting, especially if you are completely new to the legal field.
This blog will explore tangible steps you can take to start your career as a conveyancing secretary.
What do conveyancing secretaries do?
A conveyancing secretary supports a conveyancer in their duties. This can range from administrative support, office work and organisation, to acting as the conveyancer's right hand in a more in-depth coordinating role. The scope of these responsibilities varies depending on the structure of the firm, the complexity of the purchase, the required checks, and the experience and/or skills of the conveyancing secretary.
While responsibilities may vary, there are some aspects of the conveyancing process that a conveyancing secretary is likely to handle.
1. Administrative work
The conveyancing process involves paperwork, documentation, and administration that must be carried out to ensure the legality and viability of the purchase process. It falls to the conveyancer to draw up and check contracts, settlement statements, mortgage offers and other legal documents so that they can analyse and verify the required checks on a property before a transfer of ownership.
It is the responsibility of the conveyancing secretary to support the conveyancer with this admin, which includes compiling, verifying, and summarising the gathered information, and keeping clients up to date before the final confirmation of the purchase. It involves many phone calls and emails, as well as scanning and photocopying, to gather all the information the conveyancer ultimately needs.
2. Acting as a client liaison
Buying a property involves many moving parts, including the buyer, the seller, both parties' legal teams and estate agents, contractors and tradespeople, local councils and government bodies, and so forth. A conveyancing secretary communicates with all parties involved, keeping them up to date and managing their expectations for timescale, outcomes, and progress.
Sometimes, a conveyancing secretary is the first point of contact for clients; therefore, they spend a lot of their time answering enquiries, taking phone calls, and sharing information with all stakeholders. This helps support the conveyancer because it frees up time to focus on the task at hand. With all parties kept up to date, the conveyancer can identify potential problems early on and resolve them quickly.
How to find a job as a conveyancing secretary
1. Earn a paralegal qualification from an industry-recognised institution
You need to set yourself up for success, and that starts with your education. An industry-recognised qualification is generally preferred by employers. The Gawie le Roux Institute of Law offers an industry-recognised conveyancing course for legal secretaries, a certification that reflects a commitment to ethics and professionalism. It also demonstrates proficiency in procedural and substantive law.
2. Compiling a CV for a conveyancing paralegal job
When there are hundreds of job applications for the same position, a CV is the primary way the hiring manager can get a clear sense of whether a candidate has suitable qualifications for the job.
Melissa Smit, Gawie le Roux's Conveyancing for secretaries (paralegals) lecturer, compiled a few tips for structuring your résumé when applying for a job as a conveyancing secretary or paralegal.
Let's have an in-depth look at how to write a winning CV and what content you need to include:
3. The interview
Many law firms are increasingly using industry-specific recruitment agencies to find employees, so ensure you consider signing up with legal recruiters. Education is only one aspect, and most employers are looking for experience as well. Many paralegals, especially those new to the market, are concerned about how to gain experience as a paralegal. There are many ways to gain experience as a paralegal, including securing a position with a law firm as a file clerk, receptionist, typist, secretary, or any position that could lead to a position as a paralegal.
Organisational skills, attention to detail, flexibility, coping under pressure and excellent people and management skills make a successful paralegal. Once you have secured an interview, do your homework and learn as much as you can about the position and then present yourself as a self-confident professional who is the right candidate for the job.
But how do you convince the attorney or HR manager who is interviewing you that you are the best candidate for the position, even if you have no experience? They will be interested in your education, work experience, and other particulars that will make you a good fit at the firm. Here are some general interviewing tips:
- Honesty: Answer interview questions honestly. If you do not know the answer, say so or mention that you are willing to learn.
- Eye contact: Maintain eye contact with the interviewer while answering questions.
- Disconnect: Don't bring your cell phone to the interview or turn it off.
- Dress to impress: Even if the law firm has a casual dress code, dress formally for the interview.
- Demeanour: A positive attitude and a smile will be remembered.
- Respect: Never burn bridges and be respectful of current and previous work colleagues. Negativity spreads quickly, and it may end up being communicated to a potential employer.
Day-to-day tips for paralegals / legal secretaries
- Be prepared: Always have a notepad and pen with you when you walk into your attorney's office.
- Be organised: Always keep a to-do list with follow-ups.
- Prioritise: Start with priority items first and schedule a time later in the day to respond to non-urgent email messages.
- Communication is key: Communicate with the client, your attorney and other staff members constantly to keep them up to date.
- Consider different working styles: Develop a solid rapport with your attorney and get to know his or her working style and preferences. Each attorney has a different personality, communication style and preference regarding the final work outcome. It is important to adapt to the individual styles of the attorneys you work with.
- Avoid gossip: Don't get involved in office gossip and steer away from negative talk.
- Upskill whenever possible: Embrace every opportunity to learn as much as you can.
- Embrace tech: Use technology to your full advantage. Whatever technology applies to your practice area, get to know it as well as you can. Legal practice is evolving, and it is important to consider the potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance operational efficiency, decision-making, accuracy and strategic capabilities. It is strongly encouraged that all legal professionals start improving their AI literacy.
- Network with other paralegals: Networking is a great way to find entry-level paralegal jobs. Networking with peers often leads to learning about job opportunities in the legal marketplace. Social networking also provides an opportunity for legal recruiters and HR managers at law firms to search for worthy candidates by reviewing their online CVs. It's important to keep your LinkedIn profile up to date.
Conclusion
"Being a paralegal is a great career. Legal secretaries are the soul and energy of a law firm, and you should take pride in that," says Melissa Smit, Senior Conveyancing Consultant and Lecturer at the Gawie le Roux Institute of Law.
The Gawie le Roux Institute of Law offers a Conveyancing for secretaries (paralegals) course. You can opt for Zoom lectures, recordings of those lectures, or self-study. Each study option is accompanied by the same high-quality notes. Enrol today!
You may also be interested in:
What is a conveyancing secretary?
How to make a great first impression when starting a new job at a law firm
This blog was last updated on 20/08/2025