Costs Legal Secretary

Express Solicitors; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

23 days holiday

Private medical insurance

Annual flu jab

Employee Assistance Programme

Onsite gym access

Job summary

Express Solicitors in Northenden (M22 4HH) is seeking a Costs Legal Secretary to support the Costs Department. You will handle digital dictation, create letters, witness statements, and court bundles, with some paper documents for post. The role involves client contact by phone, and occasional meetings and conferences.

You will join an experienced team, receive training, and assist with billing and matter management as required. The firm offers hybrid working and a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Legal Secretary in a busy team.
• Excellent written English with strong spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• High IT literacy and confidence with modern office systems.
• Audio typing speed of 65+ wpm and accuracy.
• Experience using digital dictation software is advantageous.
• Experience liaising with clients, solicitors and court staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive secretarial and administrative support to Partners and Cost team members.
• Prepare and amend legal costs documents, bundles, correspondence and court forms.
• Manage diaries and coordinate meetings and appointments.
• Open and close client files in line with firm procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Liaise professionally with clients, solicitors, court staff and external parties.
• Assist with filing of court documents and electronic filing as required.
• Maintain accurate records and update case management systems regularly.
• Organise bundles and support documentation for hearings and negotiations.

Skills

Legal secretary experience

English proficiency

IT skills

Audio typing 65+ wpm

Dictation software

Proactive client communication

Document preparation

Tools

Proclaim

Diktamen

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Title: Costs Legal Secretary

Location: Northenden, M22 4HH

Salary: Up to £28,000 per annum, dependent on experience

Job type: Full time, Permanent

Established in 2000, Express Solicitors is an award-winning, no win no fee law firm specialising exclusively in personal injury claims. Headquartered in Manchester, we support clients nationwide across all areas of personal injury, including employers' liability, serious injury, clinical negligence, occupiers' and public liability, road traffic accidents and industrial disease.

About The Role:

You will play key role as an experienced Legal Secretary supporting the Costs Department in servicing the costs needs of the business. You will be required to work independently servicing volume instructions from a digital dictation platform, this will include the creation of letters, witness statements, bundling of exhibits, file notes and other court documents, including court bundles.

Many of the documents and communications required will be prepared in digital format using complimentary software. Some paper documents, for postal delivery, remain necessary.

Whilst this is a busy role, it is varied and rewarding. In addition to typing and file management, you will assist with consulting with clients, third parties and the Court regularly by telephone, assisting with printing jobs and from time to time may be required to organise meetings and conferences.

You will join a team of experienced assistants, and secretaries who will provide you with training and support as you transition into the role.

Responsibilities:

• Providing comprehensive secretarial and administrative support to Partners, Associates, Costs Lawyers, Costs Negotiators, and other members of the Costs Team.
• Preparing, formatting, proofreading, and amending legal costs documents, preparing digital and paper bundles, correspondence, and court forms.
• Managing diaries, arranging meetings and appointments.
• Opening and closing client files in accordance with firm procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Liaising with clients, solicitors, barristers, court staff, and external stakeholders in a professional manner.
• Handling emails and telephone enquiries, ensuring matters are directed appropriately and dealt with promptly.
• Assisting with the preparation and filing of court documents, including electronic filing where required.
• Maintaining accurate records and ensuring all case management systems and databases are updated.
• Organising and preparing bundles, exhibits, and supporting documentation for hearings, assessments, and negotiations.
• Monitoring key dates, court deadlines, and limitation periods.
• Audio typing of legal documents, correspondence and reports.
• Assisting with billing administration, file reviews, and matter management processes as required.
• Requesting and collating documents, records, invoices, and supporting evidence for costs claims and assessments.
• Ensuring compliance with firm policies, confidentiality requirements, data protection legislation, and court rules.
• Providing general administrative support including document scanning, photocopying, filing, archiving, and document management.
• Supporting the team with ad hoc projects and administrative tasks to ensure the efficient operation of our Legal Costs department.

Person Specification:

• Proven experience as a Legal Secretary in a busy team is essential
• Excellent written English skills, with strong spelling, punctuation, and grammar
• High level of IT literacy and confidence using modern office systems
• Outstanding client care skills, with a professional and friendly telephone manner
• Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to prioritise workload effectively and thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Previous experience using the Proclaim case management system is desirable but not essential
• Advanced word processing and audio typing skills
• Audio typing speed of 65+ words per minute
• Experience using digital dictation software, ideally Diktamen, would be advantageous

Salary & Hours

• Our standard working hours are 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday-Thursday and 8:30am to 5pm Friday.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Working - 3/2 hybrid working pattern after probation.
• 23 Days Holiday - Rising to 26 days, plus bank/public holidays.
• Extra Holidays - 3 holiday buy backs and an extra day for your birthday after service length requirement.
• Looking After Your Health - Private medical insurance available after 2 years' service, annual flu jab and Employee Assistance Programme.
• Looking After Your Well-being - 24/7 onsite Gym, Netball/Football team, 10km Manchester team and more.
• Work Life / Balance - Active social committee with generous departmental and firm-wide social budget.

Recruitment Process:

Interviews will be conducted by MS Teams and will include scenario-based questioning.

Our employees are our most important asset, we rate skill and ability above all else and our recruitment policy encourages applications from all.

Candidates with the relevant experience or job titles of; Legal Assistant, Legal Typist, Typist, Legal PA, Secretary, Legal Administrator, Legal Office Support, Legal Assistant, Legal Business Support, may also be considered for this role.