Family Legal Secretary

HST Hiring Group; Birch; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious law firm in Birch seeks an experienced Legal Secretary specializing in Family Law. The ideal candidate will support attorneys and paralegals, manage documents, and maintain client relations in a dynamic team environment. Salary starts at £25,000 with standard holidays and a pension plan. The role is crucial for the expansion of their family law department.

Benefits

Standard holidays, bank holidays and your birthday off

Pension offered

Qualifications

• 1 to 5 years of experience as a Legal Secretary with a focus on Family Law.
• Strong administrative and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage complex schedules and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to family law attorneys.
• Prepare, file, and manage legal documents.
• Maintain client files with accuracy and confidentiality.
• Schedule appointments and court appearances.
• Communicate effectively with clients and court personnel.

Skills

Legal drafting and document management

Client communication

Calendar management

Legal research

Job description

Job Overview

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Legal Secretary specializing in Family Law to join our prestigious law firm. The ideal candidate will have an extensive background in legal secretarial work, with a focus on family law matters. This full-time position offers an exciting opportunity to work with a dynamic team of legal professionals in a fast-paced environment.

Required Experience

Candidates must have between 1 to 5 years of work experience in Legal Secretary roles, with a strong emphasis on Family Law.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive administrative support to family law attorneys and paralegals
• Prepare and file legal documents, including pleadings, motions, and correspondence
• Manage and maintain client files, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality
• Schedule appointments, court appearances, and depositions
• Communicate with clients, opposing counsel, and court personnel
• Transcribe dictation and prepare legal correspondence
• Conduct legal research and assist in case preparation
• Maintain and update case management systems
• Process and file court documents in a timely manner
• Assist in the preparation of billing statements and invoices
• Coordinate travel arrangements for attorneys when necessary
• Manage incoming and outgoing mail and deliveries
• Provide reception duties as needed

Detailed Role Description

As a Legal Secretary specializing in Family Law, you will be an integral part of our legal team, providing crucial support to attorneys and paralegals handling a wide range of family law cases. Your role will involve managing complex administrative tasks, ensuring the smooth operation of the family law department, and maintaining excellent client relations.

Document Preparation and Management

You will be responsible for preparing, editing, and formatting various legal documents, including divorce petitions, custody agreements, financial affidavits, and prenuptial agreements. Attention to detail is crucial, as these documents must be error-free and comply with court requirements. You will also manage and organize both physical and digital client files, ensuring that all documents are properly labeled, filed, and easily accessible to the legal team.

Court Filings and Deadlines

A critical aspect of your role will be to manage court filings and ensure all deadlines are met. This includes preparing and submitting documents to the appropriate courts, tracking filing deadlines, and coordinating with process servers when necessary. You will need to have a thorough understanding of court procedures and local rules to ensure compliance and avoid delays.

Client Communication and Support

As the first point of contact for many clients, you will play a crucial role in maintaining positive client relationships. This involves scheduling appointments, responding to client inquiries, and relaying messages between clients and attorneys. You will need to demonstrate empathy and professionalism when dealing with clients who may be going through emotionally challenging situations.

Calendar Management

You will be responsible for managing the calendars of family law attorneys, scheduling court appearances, client meetings, depositions, and mediation sessions. This requires excellent organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple schedules efficiently.

Legal Research and Case Preparation

While attorneys will conduct the majority of legal research, you may be called upon to assist in basic research tasks, such as locating relevant case law or statutes. You will also help in case preparation by organising documents.

Additional Details

• Full time, 5 days a week in the Heywood office
• Legal secretary in the family department to assist a new partner they have just taken on
• Candidate must have family department experience (1 year is preferred)
• Salary starts at £25,000 but it depends on experience, no bonuses or commission
• Standard holidays, bank holidays and your birthday off. Pension offered
• Teams interview to start with as the partner is not full time in the office right now due to knee surgery
• Role is open due to expansion as they recently just took on a new partner