Child Care Legal Assistant

TSR-Legal; Pontypool, Leatherhead; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

TSR Legal in Pontypool is recruiting a Child Care Legal Assistant to join its busy Family and Child Care Law team. You will provide essential administrative and legal support to solicitors and manage caseloads in line with court deadlines.

The role suits a Legal Assistant or those with strong transferable legal support experience, offering training, a supportive environment and chance to develop specialist Child Care experience.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a legal support environment with Family or Child Care Law is advantageous.
• Legal Assistants or Legal Secretaries with transferable experience are welcome to apply.
• Excellent organisational skills and strong attention to detail.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet tight deadlines.
• Professional, calm and empathetic approach when dealing with clients.
• Confidence communicating with a range of professionals and stakeholders.
• Good IT skills including Microsoft Office and/or legal case management systems.
• Proactive approach and willingness to learn.
• Legal Aid experience would be advantageous but is not essential.

Responsibilities

• Providing day-to-day support to solicitors across a varied Child Care caseload.
• Preparing, formatting and assisting with legal documentation, applications and correspondence.
• Audio typing and accurately transcribing correspondence and documentation.
• Preparing court bundles and assisting with the management of court deadlines.
• Liaising professionally with clients, Local Authorities, Cafcass, Courts, experts and other professionals.
• Managing incoming correspondence and maintaining accurate electronic and paper files.
• Taking telephone enquiries and arranging client appointments and meetings.
• Opening, maintaining and closing files in accordance with internal procedures.
• Assisting with Legal Aid administration and billing where required.
• Updating case management systems and maintaining accurate case records.
• Providing general administrative and organisational support to fee earners.
• Ensuring clients receive a professional, respectful and empathetic service throughout their matter.

Skills

Legal support experience

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Empathy

Time management

Attention to detail

Tools

Microsoft Office

Legal case management systems

Job description

Child Care Legal Assistant

Pontypool | Full-Time | Permanent | Competitive Salary

TSR Legal are delighted to be supporting a well-established law firm in Pontypool with the recruitment of a Child Care Legal Assistant to join its busy and specialist Children Law team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Legal Assistant or experienced legal support professional looking to develop their career within Family and Child Care Law, working alongside experienced solicitors on a varied and rewarding caseload.

The team represents parents, family members and children across a range of public and private law matters, including care proceedings, pre-proceedings work, Special Guardianship applications and cases involving Local Authorities and Social Services.

The Role

As a Child Care Legal Assistant, you will provide essential administrative and legal support to the team, helping solicitors manage their caseloads effectively and ensuring matters progress in line with court deadlines and requirements.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing day-to-day support to solicitors across a varied Child Care caseload
• Preparing, formatting and assisting with legal documentation, applications and correspondence
• Audio typing and accurately transcribing correspondence and documentation
• Preparing court bundles and assisting with the management of court deadlines
• Liaising professionally with clients, Local Authorities, Cafcass, Courts, experts and other professionals
• Managing incoming correspondence and maintaining accurate electronic and paper files
• Taking telephone enquiries and arranging client appointments and meetings
• Opening, maintaining and closing files in accordance with internal procedures
• Assisting with Legal Aid administration and billing where required
• Updating case management systems and maintaining accurate case records
• Providing general administrative and organisational support to fee earners
• Ensuring clients receive a professional, respectful and empathetic service throughout their matter

About You

The ideal candidate will have previous experience within a legal support environment, with experience of Family or Child Care Law particularly advantageous.

We would also be interested in hearing from Legal Assistants or Legal Secretaries with strong transferable experience who are looking to move into this specialist area.

You will ideally have:

• Previous experience in a legal support or secretarial role
• Family or Child Care experience is desirable but not essential
• Excellent organisational skills and strong attention to detail
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• The ability to manage competing priorities and work to tight deadlines
• A professional, calm and empathetic approach when dealing with clients
• Confidence communicating with a range of professionals and stakeholders
• Good IT skills and experience using Microsoft Office and/or legal case management systems
• A proactive approach and willingness to learn
• Legal Aid experience would be advantageous but is not essential

Given the nature of the work, empathy, professionalism and emotional resilience are particularly important. You will be supporting solicitors working with clients who may be experiencing extremely difficult and sensitive circumstances.

Why Apply?

This is a great opportunity to join a supportive specialist team and gain valuable experience within Children Law.

The successful candidate will benefit from:

• A varied and interesting Child Care caseload
• The opportunity to work alongside experienced solicitors
• Training and ongoing development
• A supportive and friendly working environment
• The opportunity to develop specialist Family and Child Care experienceA long-term career opportunity within an established legal practice