Hours – Full-time (35 hours per week; Monday-Friday; 09:00 – 17:00) Salary – £23,000-£30,000 FTE
Location: Eridge House, 1 Linden Close, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 8HH
Closing date: Friday 30th August at 5pm.
The role:
The Paralegal works in the Private Client team, assisting the partners and other fee-earners in the handling of Probate and administration of estates, Wills and Lasting Power of Attorney matters, including handling statutory Will matters. This may involve drafting legal documents, forms and the provision of legal advice to clients. The Paralegal works under the supervision of solicitors within the team and works closely with other fee earners, providing hands on assistance with all matters relating to client files. The Paralegal can also be expected to step in and assist junior paralegals in the wider team, particularly new joiners when the Team Leaders are unavailable, and to assist the Senior Team Leaders with a variety of tasks when requested.
The key focuses of this role are:
Personal Management:
~ Managing your own caseload, including assisting the solicitors in the provision of legal advice.
This role includes:
Legal research
Drafting legal and other documents; forms and letter-writing
Handling confidential/sensitive client or case information
Creating reports for Solicitors based on case specifications
Conducting meetings and providing advice to clients
Monitoring changes to the law; government guidelines or regulations and maintaining Continuing Professional Development Plans and Records; contributing to team monthly Continuing Professional Development meetings
Organising legal files
Undertaking or supervising the undertaking of file administration
Dealing with new enquiries by telephone or email
Drafting Lasting Powers of Attorney
Drafting Wills
Liaising with clients and third parties
Preparing attendance notes
Preparing estate accounts
Supporting administration at a high level
Key Relationships
Partners, Department Heads, Fee Earners, PA’s and support staff
Suppliers and Clients
Essential
Academic/ Vocational Qualifications
~2:1 degree in a law-related degree or equivalent experience
Experience
Extensive demonstrable experience dealing with complex paralegal and administrative private client work in a law firm with a minimum of 2 to 3 years’ experience
Strong written and spoken communication skills
Excellent analytical skills
Independent and proactive approach to work, but willing to ask for help when needed
Hard-working, resilient, highly organised, and flexible
Acute attention to detail
Respectful of client confidentiality
Knowledge/ Skills
Demonstrates sound judgement and good decision making when dealing with problems
Able to identify a problem arising and can develop a solution or take the correct course of action
Knows when to seek guidance or further input from others before taking action
Checks that information is accurate and complete
Looks for new solutions to problems as well as tried and tested methods
Communication Skills
Able to express oneself both orally and in writing in a clear and constructive way
Willing to ask questions, listen to others’ views and accept advice
Willing to contribute ideas and seek improvements
Good client / introducer handling skills both by telephone and face to face
Working with People
Ability to build and maintain working relationships with others and act as a role model for the values of the Firm
Operates effectively as part of a team encouraging others to contribute ideas and seek improvements
Willing to offer help to all colleagues to ensure company success
Qualities/ Attributes
Self-motivated and willing to take responsibility for organising your own activities to ensure that all targets and quality standards are met
Copes effectively in demanding circumstances
Good time management, adopting a flexible approach to work
Demonstrates persistence and commitment to completing tasks and objectives
Delivers work output to the required standard
Pays attention to detail and quality of work
Demonstrates a commitment to improving and where appropriate helps to devise new working practices, and supports company plans and policies