Legal PA

Term: Permanent
Working hours: Full-time
Team: Corporate and Banking
Location: Glasgow
The firm

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 50 law firm to achieve “Platinum 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 makes Shoosmiths a fantastic place to work.

The team

Our award winning national corporate team, which is consistently ranked as one of the UK’s top law firms for deal volume by Experian MarketlQ’s M&A Review, is led by a team of partners widely regarded as leaders in their field who are regularly recommended by clients for their reputation, personalities and outstanding expertise.

We advise companies, management teams, investors and debt providers through the business life cycle, from start-up and first round finance through to M&A, management transactions, venture and development funding, restructuring, capital reductions, private equity funding and exits. We also have a growing corporate finance practice, primarily advising listed clients on equity capital raisings on the public market.

The role

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

This is an exciting time for our fast-growing Glasgow team, as we prepare to move into newly refurnished office space in the Garment Factory on Montrose Street and continue to grow our brand and presence in Glasgow. You will be part of a team of around 5 support staff working from the new office (both PAs and Estates Assistants/Receptionist) supporting around a dozen fee earners. You will be required to work together and provide support for each other as the Glasgow team develops.

Main responsibilities

This role includes, but is not limited to, the following:-

  • Full diary management.
  • Email management.
  • Collation and sending out of client monthly reports.
  • Preparation of draft emails and correspondence for approval.
  • Typing reports, file notes and attendance notes.
  • Complex document production and amendments.
  • Preparing enclosures ready for signing and sending out with the post.
  • Opening and closing client files in line with corporate best practice.
  • Undertaking all money laundering compliance on new client inception.
  • Undertaking all conflict check compliance on new matter inception.
  • Filing and eFiling of incoming and outgoing post and correspondence.
  • Preparation of expense claims.
  • Undertaking all client filing management and archiving tasks.
  • Updating Interaction with client contact details.
  • Liaising with clients mainly over the telephone.
  • Organising meetings, travel arrangements etc.
  • Travel booking for legal advisors.
  • Answering the telephone and dealing with routine enquiries.
Skills and qualifications
  • Previous legal secretarial experience within Corporate or similar practice area.
  • Excellent document production skills, in particular within Word, updating complex documents.
  • Self-motivated and able to work without supervision and to a high standard.
  • 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, digital dictation (Powerpoint and Excel helpful but not a necessity).
  • Taking care and attention in relations to all correspondence and documentation.
  • Flexible with the ability to adapt to change, new practices and cope under pressure.
  • Excellent presentation skills reflected in work produced.
  • A methodical and organised approach with keen attention paid to every detail.
  • Good organisational skills to ensure that tasks are effectively scheduled within working time available and that urgent work is completed and returned within the specified timescales.
  • Occasional ability to be flexible as regards working hours [CF1] to meet the demands of the work.
  • 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 one’s 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.

 

Equal opportunities

Our approach to our people is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion and well being. Our ambition is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents, and a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and has a strong sense of community between colleagues.

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.