Legal Assistant - Commercial Property

Harwood Recruitment Solutions Limited; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Harwood Recruitment Solutions Limited is recruiting for a Legal Assistant to join the Commercial Property team at a well established law firm in Portsmouth. You will work closely with Fee Earners, open files, conduct basic compliance checks and assist with preparing correspondence and legal documents.

Ideal candidates have previous office or administration experience, enjoy working with others and delivering high levels of client care.

Qualifications

• Previous office or administration experience.
• Experience in a law firm, conveyancing or commercial property is a plus but not essential.
• Well organised with high attention to detail and client care.

Responsibilities

• Open new files and manage compliance checks and client care due diligence.
• Draft letters and prepare initial drafts of legal documents.
• Utilise the Case Management system and keep paper files updated.
• Answer calls professionally and assist Fee Earner with routine matters.
• Assist with bills and completion statements and distribute to relevant parties.
• Handle post-completion tasks including Land Registry applications and Stamp Duty forms.

Skills

Office administration

Client care

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Job description

I'm currently recruiting for a Legal Assistant to join the Commercial Property team within a well established Law firm in Portsmouth. This is a great opportunity to become part of an experienced team, working closely with the Fee Earners and getting involved in a varied range of commercial property matters. Your day-to-day responsibilities will include opening new files, carrying out compliance checks, preparing correspondence and legal documents, speaking with clients and assisting with post-completion work.

I'm looking for someone with previous office or administration experience who enjoys working with others and providing a high level of client care. Experience in a law firm, conveyancing or commercial property would be ideal, but not essential. If you're organised, have a keen eye for detail and are looking for a role where you can learn, develop and become a valued part of the team, I'd love to hear from you.

Day to day duties will include -

• Open new files, deal with all compliance requirements and client care due diligence in the process, and subsequently undertake such work on the file as may be directed by the Fee Earner such as carrying out searches and legal research.
• Accurately draft letters and correspondence, type up amendments, prepare initial draft of legal documents and prepare engrossments. All typing to be spell checked and proof read prior to passing to the Fee Earner.
• Ensure any post is ready in time for Reception to arrange for this to be franked and placed in the post bag.
• Fully utilise the Case Management system, file documents and all correspondence and generally keep the system up to date and in an organised manner. The paper file is to be kept to a similar standard.
• Filing should be undertaken at the request of your Fee Earner.
• Answer the telephone promptly in a professional manner, being polite and helpful at all times. The aim to assist with calls of a general nature on your Fee Earner's files, giving updates on matters where necessary, or taking messages where this is not possible.
• Attend clients on behalf of your Fee Earner in reception and on the telephone for routine matters such as making appointments/collecting documents/paying bills etc or as directed by the Fee Earner.
• Assist your Fee Earner with the preparation of bills and completion statements and ensure that they have been sent to the appropriate external and internal parties.
• Deal with post-completion elements on the files including preparing and submitting Land Registry applications as well as Stamp Duty Land Tax forms and deal with any subsequent requisitions/enquiries.

This is a full time, office based role - working 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday, offering competitive salary, excellent benefits and full training and support.