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 national Property Litigation team has extensive experience and unrivalled expertise in dealing with this complex area of the law. With one of the largest property litigation practices in the UK, we are able to assist clients in all areas of landlord and tenant litigation, and in any real estate dispute.

Providing a full PA and 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. 

• Typing reports, file notes and attendance notes.
• Preparing enclosures ready for signing and sending out with the post. 
• Opening and closing client files in line with best practice.
• Undertaking all money laundering compliance on new client inception.
• Undertaking all conflict check compliance on new matter inception.
• Filing of incoming and outgoing post and correspondence.
• Preparation of Expense claims.
• Cheque requisitions.
• Undertaking all client filing management and archiving tasks.
• Updating Interaction with client contact details.
• Liaising with clients over the telephone and at times in person.
• Organising meetings, travel arrangements, hotels etc.
• Hotel and travel booking for legal advisors
• Answering the telephone and dealing with routine enquiries
• Diary management acting proactively where possible and highlight diary clashes
• Organising meetings and events internally and externally ensuring best use of the Partners time
• Collation and sending out of client monthly reports.
• Monitoring of financial hygiene for the team.

• Previous Legal PA experience in a similar role within ideally Property Litigation or within Real Estate or Litigation
• 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 65 wpm. 
• 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 to detail
• Good organisational and prioritising 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.
• Excellent communication skills and telephone manner with a friendly and helpful approach to dealing with queries
• Ability to work under pressure
• Able to integrate within a team as well as working on ones own initiative and 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.