The busy Family Law Department in High Wycombe is looking to expand. The position of Legal Assistant is a great opportunity to work with an experienced Children Panel Accredited Family Solicitor. The successful candidate will be required to attend the High Wycombe office on a hybrid basis (with more office time initially during training).
A Legal Assistant assists Solicitors with the smooth day-to-day running and management of their cases, by being the first point of contact for all enquiries whilst ensuring all dictation and administrative duties are accurately completed in a timely manner.
Legal Assistant Role and Responsibilities
* Answer phone calls and deal with queries in a professional and confidential manner, ensuring all messages are passed on accurately.
* Open and maintain new files on the internal case management system.
* Ensure conflict checks are completed on every new file.
* Completing CCMS applications and obtaining funding on new files.
* Complete legal forms as instructed by solicitors.
* Assist with taking instructions from clients, drafting statements.
* Instruct counsel as and when necessary, ensuring briefs are up to date and received by counsel in a timely manner.
* Obtain quotes for various expert reports and follow up with instructions as directed.
* Ensure invoices are paid promptly and accurately.
* Ensuring orders are diarised in Court Diary and Fee Earners diary.
* Keep case bundles up-to-date, dealing with incoming and outgoing correspondence and filing of correspondence.
* Follow up any ad hoc requests as required by solicitors.
* Completing Part 25 applications and letters of instructions under the supervision of the solicitor/Fee Earner.
* Closing files once concluded (ensuring all final orders are obtained & outstanding invoices/counsel fees are chased) and submit for billing.
* Office cover as requested.
* Any other duties as directed by the Team Leader or a member of the Management Team.
Person Specification
* Confident and clear communication skills, both verbal and written.
* Must be proactive in seeking to assist fee earners and able to work well without supervision.
* Be computer literate with experience of using Microsoft Office packages, and willing to learn.
* Good understanding of client care requirements.
* Consistent attention to detail.
* Excellent time management and organisation skills.
* Good teamwork ethics.
* Must be able to work well under pressure.
* Be proactive and able to work well without supervision.
Working hours:
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday (flexible working hours considered). Permanent contract.
Why work as a Legal Assistant for Reeds Solicitors?
At Reeds we do things The Reeds Way – a set of foundational principles that not only tell us how we run our business, but why.
Externally, it governs how we look after our clients. For example, we have developed our Service Pledge, and our whole firm works as a team to make sure we deliver on this every time.
The Reeds Way also governs and guides how we try to add value to the communities in which we operate.
Internally, the Reeds Way governs our culture, the Reeds working environment, and the working life and career that we offer to all Reeds people.
So, what does all this look like when put into practice? Here is what you can expect from us if you join our team:
* We safeguard a non-negotiable culture of respect for and between colleagues.
* We offer a transparent and fair career development structure with opportunities for all lawyers and fee-earners to progress through the stages and become an Associate, Senior Associate and hopefully Partner.
* All our people – and that means all our people – constantly undergo training and development via The ‘Reeds Academy’ which helps everyone achieve their career goals and get to where they want to be professionally, and to enhance their skills and knowledge.
* We encourage all our staff to think about business development and look for growth opportunities. We are always willing to listen to, and potentially invest in, new ideas.
* We offer competitive salary and benefit packages and have a transparent annual review process which considers your whole contribution to your team and the Firm, not just billing figures.
* We offer to all staff a discretionary bonus scheme for exceptional performance.
* We offer flexible working schemes which include compressed 4-day weeks, 9-day fortnights and TOIL (time off in lieu), as well as other hybrid working schemes.
* You will enjoy the ability to earn up to 30 days of holiday with years of service (standard holiday packages start at 21 days plus all bank holidays).
* There is an additional paid celebration day for you to use as you would like (such as a birthday, anniversary or other key event).
* You will have the ability to buy a further 5 days of holiday, and sell surplus holiday, each year.
* Discretionary additional holiday days are given at Christmas (up to a maximum of 2 days).
* We give you private medical health care with the option to upgrade and add optical and dental care.
* Discounted gym membership is available, through private medical insurance.
* We offer an employee assistance programme with access to physical, mental and emotional health advice & webinars, wellbeing videos and programmes, online counselling & mini health checks.
* The Cycle To Work scheme is available, including e-bikes.
* Fresh fruit baskets are placed in each office on a weekly basis.
How to apply?
Please email your CV and covering letter to recruitment@reeds.co.uk with the job title clearly stated in the subject line.
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