The firm
DMH Stallard is an award winning South East law, Legal 100 firm with offices in London, Brighton, Gatwick, Guilford, Horsham and Hassocks. DMH Stallard has grown rapidly since it was established in 1970, and has a headcount of approx 380. Our firm provides a comprehensive range of commercial, dispute resolution and litigation, employment, cyber security and cyber-crime, corporate, intellectual property, real estate and technology, media and telecoms advice to both businesses and individuals. Our clients, our people and our professional networks are the keys to our success.
The department
Our Real Estate Team handle all manner of residential and commercial property-related matters from Landlord and Tenant to Construction and Development, Asset Management, Utilities, Conveyancing and Property Finance.
Job Purpose:
To provide administrative and secretarial support to the Real Estate residential team based in Hassocks.
Responsibilities and Duties:
Preparation of correspondence, reports, memos, forms and bills from digital dictation, manuscript and precedents in compliance with DMH Stallard house style guide; Completion of standard forms without fee earner assistance and production of standard letters without dictation; Preparing applications for registration at Land Registry and carrying out Land Registry searches and local authority searches; Deal with general telephone enquiries, take telephone calls in absence of fee earner and report to fee earner, receive and relay messages to and from clients and other professionals on behalf of fee earner; Open files using Ignite file opening system, generate initial client letters and engagement summary (the Welcome Pack) and once approved send to client with all relevant enclosures e.g. Sale/Purchase Questionnaires, Property forms, etc. Close files using standard procedures, maintain an efficient filing system and review files to identify where follow up action required; Comply with office procedures for word processing file management; Carry out basic accounting transactions and deal with financial queries; Prepare completion statements and invoices, assist in preparation and submission of Stamp Duty Land tax returns; Attend Group meetings and such training courses as determined by the Group Leader; Scanning incoming documents to electronic files; Dealing with accounts and obtain partner’s signature on financial CHAPS/BACS dockets.
Other information
Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required:
Previous residential property experience required. Fast and accurate copy and typing skills. Legal background and knowledge or experience of conveyancing process preferred. Excellent IT skills with experience in Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Outlook and Internet.
Ability to use track changes. Ideally previous experience of digital dictation and a case manager system. Strong attention to detail, and professional telephone manner. Effective administrative, communication, decision making and team working skills. Good standard of written English and grammar.
Benefits:
25 days holiday (of which 3.5 are taken during the Christmas period), plus Birthday holiday, plus Bank Holidays. Life Assurance Private Healthcare Employee Assistance Programme Sodexo Discounts Pension Scheme Interest free season ticket loans Cycle to work scheme Discounts on Legal work