Commercial Litigation Paralegal

Porter Dodson LLP; Exeter; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working

25 days holiday

Private Healthcare

Pension Scheme(s)

Life Assurance

Eye Tests

Flu Jabs

Gym Membership Discounts

Legal Support

Job summary

Porter Dodson LLP in Exeter is seeking a Commercial Litigation Paralegal to join the team on a full-time permanent basis. You will support fee earners with administrative tasks, draft straightforward documents, and engage in business development to grow the team’s work.

The role may involve advocacy training and occasional court work, with a focus on delivering efficient matter management and client service.

Qualifications

• Pro-active and enthusiastic with strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office, Outlook and basic Excel.

Responsibilities

• Handle new client enquiries by email or phone.
• Open files and prepare initial client engagement documents.
• Review client identity documents for AML compliance.
• Maintain case management entries and matter summaries.
• Draft straightforward legal documents using provided precedents.
• Maintain deadlines diary and timelines for team matters.
• Coordinate photocopying/scanning with Office Assistant.
• Interact with clients by phone and in person, forwarding messages promptly.
• Provide administrative support including billing, WIP, disbursements and file closures.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Communication

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Excel

Proactive

Legal drafting support

Education

Law degree or graduate

Tools

Case management system

Job description

Commercial Litigation Paralegal

Department: Corporate & Commercial

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Exeter

Reporting To: Oliver Stokes

Description

Due to internal progression, we have an excellent opportunity for a Paralegal to join our Commercial Litigation team in Exeter on a full-time permanent basis. This role will assist the fee earners by providing administrative support in a way that is conducive to enabling them to operate at optimum efficiency. An interest and willingness to undertake advocacy is essential as the role may involve some court work, although prior experience of advocacy is not essential as training will be provided.

The successful applicant will undertake fee-earning work with special emphasis on drafting straightforward legal documents; assisting other members of the team; and engaging in business development initiatives to grow the work of the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Receiving new enquiries from prospective clients by email or telephone.
• Open files, prepare and send initial client engagement documentation.
• Review client ID documents to ensure compliance with Money Laundering obligations and internal policies.
• Ensure all email correspondence and attachments are entered on to the case management system and matter summary sheets are updated accordingly.
• Draft straightforward legal documents using the precedents provided, filing documents online where appropriate and to develop skills to deal with more complex transactions.
• Contribute to the maintenance of a strict diary note of deadlines and timescales relevant to the team's matters.
• Ensure all photocopying and scanning is accurate; take responsibility for checking photocopying/scanning done by Office Assistant.
• Attend to clients on the phone and in person, accurately recording any messages and passing on to the appropriate person without delay.
• Provide proactive administrative support and matter management tasks to the fee earners within the team which include but are not limited to keeping up to date with progress on matters; identifying follow up actions needed; proactively contributing to team billing and file closures where appropriate, WIP, disbursement and debts, file closure and residual balances.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Working closely with the fee earners in our Commercial Litigation department, this role would best suit someone who is pro-active and enthusiastic, with great interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with people at all levels. Strong organisational and administrative skills are essential, along with the ability to multi-task and a confident telephone manner. More technical requirements include excellent IT skills including the use of Microsoft office, Outlook, and basic Excel functions. Ideally you will have experience in a law firm environment, or alternatively you are a law graduate looking to progress your career.

Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, you will also get:

• Flexible Working
• 25 days holiday, plus Bank Holidays
• Extra Day of Holiday for your Birthday
• Private Healthcare
• Pension Scheme(s)
• Life Assurance
• Eye Tests
• Flu Jabs
• Corporate Gym Membership Discounts
• Legal Support
• Opportunities to get involved with charity fundraising, sports teams and office socials