Conveyancing Legal Assistant/Paralegal
Gard and Co are seeking a legal assistant/paralegal to provide administrative support to lawyers in our wills and probate department.
Gard & Co have an opening for a legal production assistant arising out of recent expansion in the private client department. The position will suit a candidate with experience in a legal professional environment wishing to develop new skills in an exciting and expanding area of legal practice.
The successful candidate will be joining a highly respected team of private client lawyers working for a broad range of clients, mainly from the Plymouth area. The work will include wills, lasting powers of attorney, and probate. Ideally, the successful candidate will have experience in all these areas of private client work.
Details
Department: Private Client
Working days: Monday to Friday
Hours: 8.30am - 5.00pm or 9:00am to 5:30pm
Status: Employed – full time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: Variable depending on age
Holiday entitlement: 20 days per annum plus statutory bank holidays
Gard & Co are committed to providing the relevant training to ensure that all members of staff acquire any specialist skills and knowledge, to meet the required levels of competence.
SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE
1. Good typing and secretarial/production skills
2. Good communication and interpersonal skills
3. A drive to learn and develop an ‘all-around’ awareness
4. A good general working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and Windows software generally
COMPETENCIES / DUTIES
1. To be organised in order to make a prompt start and effectively prioritise the day’s work
2. To work with the line manager and assist the line manager in achieving their required level of organisation and prioritisation of the day’s work
3. To type all letters, documents, correspondence, standard forms, and miscellaneous text (“documents”) either from audio or copy typing as required
4. To proofread documents to minimise errors and prepare the best draft achievable to increase efficiency by best use of legal assistant and fee earner time
5. To maintain organised and tidy files and filing cabinets
6. To maintain organised computer files of documents
7. To liaise with clients and third parties such as other firms of solicitors electronically, in person, and on the telephone
8. To give and take full and accurate messages relating to any matter being handled by any member of the department
9. To maintain an organised diary system for the line manager
10. To maintain a full awareness of the line manager's appointments and movements and communicate such facts to all members of staff, particularly when the line manager is absent or away from their desk (where confidentiality permits).
11. To liaise with other members of staff regarding the receipt of monies and the payment of disbursements as and when appropriate
12. To view, obtain, and interpret prints from the firm's computerised accounts system to assist with file costing and the payment of disbursements, as required and drafting bills.
13. To act as a witness on the signature of documents, as required
14. To use initiative to conduct routine procedures for the line manager on a supervised basis when required
15. To provide holiday cover for other departmental assistants, as required
16. Aware of health & safety procedures (including fire drills)
17. To assist fee earners in the creation of new precedent letters and documents and updating of existing precedents documents to ensure maximum efficiency
18. To assist fee earners in housekeeping and generally assist in ensuring maximum efficiency within the department
19. To provide refreshments for meetings with clients and clear away afterwards
20. To play a full part in the development of new procedures for improvement in efficiency in the department and office generally
21. To share new ideas and important information with colleagues and particularly with room sharers, where confidentiality permits.
22. To accurately follow instructions/advice from the line manager
23. To read, understand and follow the procedures as set down in the latest revisions of the Firm’s handbook as varied from time to time
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Schedule:
* Monday to Friday
Ability to commute/relocate:
* Plymouth, PL4 0BY: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: In person
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