Legal PA

Shoosmiths - UK Law Firm of the Year Winner at the Legal Week British Legal Awards 2015.

A leading UK law firm with a network of offices from the South Coast to Scotland, working together as one national team. An innovative practice and the first top 100 law firm to achieve “Gold Standard” Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm. The lack of barriers between departments, a real lack of hierarchy, zero tolerance for arrogance and pomposity makes Shoosmiths a fantastic place to work.

Our construction and engineering team advises on all aspects of legal construction matters, from strategic advice on procurement and institutional and market expectations at project inception, to contentious aspects of projects during and after the completion of a project. The team of three partners, three senior associates, two associates and four other legal advisers helps clients across the industry, including developers, contractors, sub-contractors, consultants, and funding and letting entities. We advise on development work, major infrastructure projects, real estate and corporate acquisition work. Remediation and environmental advice, and process plant and power generation projects are also specialisms in which the team has particular expertise.

Providing a full PA secretarial service supporting Partners and Legal Advisors and where required cover any secretarial absences within the rest of the office where necessary.  This role requires proactive thinking to support the needs of the Legal Advisor.

• PA support to Partners and LA’s which includes confidential matters, diary management, organising meetings, events, expenses, travel arrangements etc
• Typing of documents, letters, emails, updating, tracking and amending
• Printing and binding final documents
• Preparing enclosures ready for signing and sending out with the post. 
• Opening and closing client files.
• Archiving files
• Filing of incoming and outgoing post and correspondence.
• Compiling and sending bills, chasing bills as per Legal Advisor instruction
• Cheque requisitions
• Keeping records of closed files
• Interaction with clients mainly over the telephone
• Delta view
• Answering the telephone and dealing with routine enquiries

• Excellent and accurate keyboard skills required, as you will be required to obtain typing speeds to a minimum of 60 wpm. 
• Ideally PA experience within Construction, Real Estate or Litigation practice areas
• Good working knowledge of various applications – word, outlook, digital dictation (powerpoint and excel helpful but not a necessity).
• Taking care and attention into all correspondence and documentation
• Flexible with the ability to adapt to change, new practices and cope under pressure
• Excellent presentation skills reflected in their work
• A methodical and organised approach with keen attention paid to every detail
• Good organisational skills to ensure that the tasks are effectively scheduled within working time available, and that urgent work is completed and returned within the specified timescales.
• Friendly and helpful approach to dealing with queries
• Excellent communication skills and telephone manner
• Ability to prioritise, be organised and efficient
• Ability to work under pressure
• Good listening skills
• Able to integrate within a team as well as working on ones own initiative
• Work as part of a team ensuring telephones/lunch cover
• Ability to be pro-active and deliver a quality service to both internal and external clients

Shoosmiths is a committed Equal Opportunities employer promoting equality of opportunity. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.