PA

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 Private Client Practice Group offers excellent service and legal advice and are commited to delivering an amazing client experience for companies in the UK. We all need a lawyer to look after our personal affairs at some point in our lives. Whether it's helping to buy a new home, settling a legal dispute or claiming compensation for a life-changing accident or medical injury, the law protects what is important to us. Today we call our Private Client offering Shoosmiths Access Legal because that's precisely what it does. It gives our private clients access to the law through friendly, approachable people who know that understanding individual need is the first step to making the law work.

Our Clinical Negligence team advises private clients on complaints and claims involving any type of medical negligence.

The main purpose of the role is to provide a comprehensive and quality service direct to our clients.  Providing a full PA secretarial service predominantly supporting the Partner as well as the legal advisors and where required cover any secretarial needs/absences within the rest of the team.  The role requires proactive thinking to support the needs of the Partner and legal advisors.

• High volume typing of correspondence and documents including instructions to experts and counsel, reports, file notes and attendance notes
• Preparing trial bundles
• Photocopying
• Preparing enclosures ready for signing and sending out with the post. 
• Opening and closing client files.
• Filing of incoming and outgoing correspondence, e mails and other documents and keeping this up to date.
• Reconciling payments, compiling and sending bills
• Chasing bills as per legal adviser instructions
• Expenses
• Paying suppliers and cheque requisitions
• Keeping records of closed files
• Interaction with clients mainly over the telephone
• In house forms, laser forms
• Diary management.
• Organising meetings, conferences, travel arrangements etc.
• Travel booking for legal advisers
• Answering the telephone and dealing with routine enquiries
• Use of case management system (training will be given but previous use is desirable)

• Previous experience as a Legal Secretary/PA required, ideally within Medical Negligence or similar area of law.
• Excellent and accurate keyboard skills required, as you will be required to obtain typing speeds to a minimum of 60 wpm. 
• Good working knowledge of various applications – word, outlook, SAP, digital dictation (K2, sharepoint, powerpoint and excel).
• Taking care and attention with 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.
• Ability to work at times under high pressure and on numerous tasks at once, the ability to prioritise, be organised and efficient.
• Good listening skills and empathy with clients.
• Able to integrate within a team as well as working on one’s own initiative.
• Work as part of a team ensuring telephones/lunch cover.
• Adapt and manage the differing demands and working patterns.
• Ability to deliver a quality service to 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.