Junior Practice Assistant

TN United Kingdom; London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Junior Practice Assistant to join their Intellectual Property & Commercial team. This role offers a unique opportunity to provide essential support to legal professionals, ensuring seamless operations within a dynamic environment. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong organisational and communication skills, with a commitment to client service and the firm's values. Flexible working arrangements are available, making this position suitable for those seeking a balanced work-life experience. Join a team dedicated to delivering top-notch legal advice and building lasting client relationships.

Qualifications

• Proficient typing and administrative support to fee earners.
• Maintains client confidentiality and builds relationships.

Responsibilities

• Provides organisational support and manages files efficiently.
• Creates documents from templates and ensures accuracy.

Skills

Organisational Skills

Communication Skills

Document Production

Client Relationship Management

IT Skills

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

CRM Software

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

Term: Permanent
Reports to: Departmental Support Manager
Team: IP and Commercial
The Firm

Farrer & Co is synonymous with the highest quality legal advice and service.

We advise individuals, families, businesses, financial services, educational and not-for-profit organisations on every aspect of the law, wherever the need arises. From our offices in London, we work with trusted professionals around the world to deliver a seamless international service.

Our clients present us with complex and varied challenges. Whether that's a complicated family trust issue, a multinational corporate transaction, or an emerging threat to their reputation, they need clear thinkers who can advise on the best solutions, fast thinkers when speed is of the essence, and agile thinkers who can produce a fresh approach to get the job done. That's why they choose us.

Our clients value our in-depth knowledge, technical excellence, and diversity of disciplines. But what really binds our long-standing relationships with them is our approach: pragmatic, plain speaking, and always steadfast in our values, which we hold dear. Values which mean we gain our clients' trust, always strive to do the right thing, and aim for the best results for them.

Superb client service sits at the heart of everything we do. We are modern lawyers with timeless values.

The Team

The Intellectual Property & Commercial team advises clients operating within any sector rich in intellectual property on almost all aspects of IP law. The team’s work includes advising on copyright, IP due diligence, trademarks, data, IP & technology disputes, and IP licensing and technology transfer. The team also advises on commercial contracts and data protection law. The team's clients include leading charities, museums, galleries, independent schools, and HEIs, as well as private businesses.

Scope

The Intellectual Property & Commercial team is recruiting for a Junior Practice Assistant on a permanent basis.

Responsibilities

1. Overview: Proficient typing, organisational, and administrative support to fee earners (partners, associates, or trainees), dealing with client, practice area, pillar, sector, and firm matters. Demonstrates interest in and commitment to practice area and firm strategy.
2. Organisational Support: Personally organised, aware of fee earners’ workload and organisation requirements. Works efficiently with other practice assistants and Business Services staff, providing support and responding positively to requests. Works additional hours when required to meet deadlines. Updates voicemail, out of office, Outlook calendar, and HR system to reflect availability. Processes relevant applications, forms, or searches, seeking advice when necessary. Develops knowledge of all systems/processes used within the team. Understands the scope of work of the firm’s Business Services teams and collaborates effectively with them.
3. BD and Client Relationship Management: Builds excellent relationships with clients and colleagues, acts as a point of contact for fee earners. Proactively seeks tasks and responsibilities. Maintains client confidentiality and raises concerns if breaches occur.
4. Document Production: Creates documents from templates and precedents, using CRM data where appropriate. Ensures documents are generated as new, not copied. Saves major changes, proofreads for spelling, grammar, and clarity.
5. IT Skills/Systems: Saves client documents properly, seeks guidance if unsure. Attends training to develop proficiency in core IT applications.
6. File Management: Follows file management guidelines, maintains files regularly, and ensures proper organization.
7. Financial Risk Management: Understands finance forms, assists in billing, understands file opening processes, and engages with firm’s compliance training.
8. Additional Contribution: Invests in firm-wide activities, supports initiatives on diversity, inclusion, wellbeing, and other ESG activities, possibly as a working party or committee member.

Person Specification

• Aligns with the firm's values, vision, and strategy.
• Arrives prepared, demonstrates excellent timekeeping.
• Maintains a positive, respectful, and friendly demeanor.
• Practices effective listening and questioning.
• Works as a team player, offers help, and supports colleagues.
• Shows commitment to the practice area and firm goals.
• Respects diversity, acts fairly and inclusively.
• Reflects on mistakes and learns from them.
• Prioritizes work effectively, is flexible and reliable.
• Communicates positively, interacts in good faith, and respects confidentiality.

Special Aspects

This role supports flexible working. It is suitable for full-time applicants; flexible patterns considered within the firm’s framework.

Working hours are 09:30 am - 5:30 pm, with flexibility and willingness to work beyond hours as needed.

Farrer & Co is an equal opportunity employer, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds and protected characteristics.

Comments

Pre-employment screening includes criminal history and credit checks for successful candidates.