Legal Secretary/PA to the Family team

My client, a mid sized law firm based in Holborn is currently seeking a Legal Secretary to support a Partner and team within Family. The team advises private individuals and families on a whole spectrum of family and private matters.

The successful candidate will have extensive legal secretarial/ PA experience within family law and be looking for a challenging role in a friendly, yet hard working team.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Fast and accurate audio and copy typing using Word and document management system (cross-training provided). Amendment of documents as required.
• Completion of Oyez and Client Account forms as required.
• Assisting with the payment of 3rd party bills.
• Opening and distribution of post. Photocopying, faxing and distributing information.
• Liaison with other members of the firm, clients and third parties in an efficient and courteous manner.
• Passing on all relevant messages to fee-earners in a timely manner.
• Building and maintaining knowledge of clients and their matters and the work in general.
• Maintaining an effective filing system and ensuring filing is kept up to date on a daily basis. Ensuring files are tidy to enable retrieval of requested files and documents with minimum delay.
• Keeping copies of everything and filing all emails and other correspondence in date and time order.
• Completion of file closure forms and retention of a copy of the form, filed appropriately on the closure list.
• Regular weeding and archiving of files and lodging of documents and certificates in Records and recalling them as required.
• Organising billing using the Axxia accounting package (being replaced by Aderant PMS) including the creation of statements of accounts, preparation of final bills as invoices to send to clients.
• Maintaining a central file of bills and supporting credit control with payment of bills.
• Maintaining appointments and Outlook scheduler, arranging meetings and in-house lunches as appropriate and other administrative duties as necessary.
• Supporting larger team by assisting in any overflow of outstanding secretarial work. 

Skills and Experience:

• Experience in the family arena is considered an advantage.
• Fast, accurate typing (audio and copy) with excellent grammar and spelling.
• Excellent telephone manner and communication skills.
• Excellent knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Internet.
• Excellent diary management, planning and organisational skills.
• Ability to handle multiple requests and prioritise as well as lend support to the larger PC team.

Person Specification:

• Good command of the English language and a pleasant manner generally.
• Confident with good communication skills.
• Excellent organisational methods with the ability to prioritise work.
• Ability to work without supervision and to use initiative to ensure tasks are completed.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and deal with demanding and sometimes difficult clients.
• Team player with an enthusiastic manner.
• Good attendance record.