Legal Secretary

Shakespeare Martineau is a leading law firm that combines creativity, commerciality and clarity. We work with blue-chip companies, leading organisations, high street brands and individuals across the country.

Our multi-disciplinary team delivers a broad range of specialist legal services, and particularly stands out for its expertise across sectors including, but not limited to: energy, education, banking and financial services, investment funds, healthcare and advanced manufacturing. 

We’re proud of our people’s varied backgrounds and expertise. Our different qualities stand out and make us interesting to our clients.

We firmly believe in working hard and being ambitious. We look to recruit and develop talented people to achieve their potential - and who will contribute to achieving ours too.

Here you can fulfil your ambitions, whatever they are and however rapidly you want to achieve them. Together, and individually, we create exceptional results.

Our multi-disciplinary Real Estate group is highly regarded by our clients and within the sector. It comprises not only lawyers but also town and country planners. We’ve brought experts into our services in planning, development, investment, landlord and tenant matters, social housing, construction and litigation with a particular emphasis on energy, housing, education, finance and investment funds

Our Residential Property team comprises some of the industry’s most experienced lawyers. We provide effective and efficient advice on residential and commercial transactions and have extensive experience in rural estates. With business-wide expertise in energy, planning and employment, we are on hand for every aspect of our client’s property requirements. We advise clients on the sale and purchase of residential properties with particular emphasis on residential freehold and leasehold sales and purchases including new builds. Our team covers the full range of conveyancing service including stamp duty land tax, the Land Registry, NHBC cover for new build properties, Transfers of Equity, remortgages, shared equity, Help to Buy and sales and purchases.

The role:

You will provide a high quality secretarial service to the fee earners within our Nottingham-based Residential Property team.

You will be dealing with requests for deeds, obtaining correct authorities, scheduling and the organisation of either collection or distribution of the same.  You will also complete SDLT applications, Land Registry applications and assist the fee earners on client updates and reports.

This is a high volume, fast-paced environment and will suit someone with solid experience, who thrives under pressure.

Your key duties will be:

• providing timely and effective support to requests for assistance from members of the team
• the accurate production and amendments by tracked changes of correspondence and documentation, including the use of digital dictation
• attending to clients in person and on the phone, taking messages and assisting, where appropriate
• using a case management system to process and progress files
• managing file opening, closing and archiving
• dealing with setting up of funds and completion monies being sent to other organisations/clients
• dealing with Land Registry applications and post completion matters
• producing bills and other financial administration
• managing diaries for the team, planning and organising meetings and making travel arrangements
• organising and maintaining departmental filing systems and document storage
• photocopying, scanning, faxing, printing, filing and other general administrative tasks

Skills and experience you will have:

• at least 12 months’ secretarial experience ideally gained in residential / commercial conveyancing matters
• fast and accurate keyboard skills
• confidence with IT systems to include Microsoft Word, and Excel
• a minimum grade C pass at GCSE (or equivalent) in English Language and Mathematics

Key competencies you will need:

• the ability to work well in a team and develop good working relationships with colleagues and others
• confident interpersonal skills with the ability to liaise openly and clearly with colleagues and clients
• to be able to produce a high standard of work, often to tight deadlines, whilst maintaining accuracy and good attention to detail
• the ability to prioritise well and be able to cope with changing demands
• the ability to demonstrate professionalism, flexibility, initiative and self confidence

About you- you will be:

• highly enthusiastic, willing to go the extra mile and be happy to go beyond the job description
• respectful towards others and have a positive, willing and ‘can do’ attitude
• keen to learn, interested in driving your own career progression and be proactive in taking ownership of this

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted. Details of the checks can be found here.

Shakespeare Martineau is a committed equal opportunities employer. We seek to attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. We value and respect individuality and encourage a culture within our business where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths and experiences. Everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.