Legal Practice Assistant

King & Spalding LLP; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Critical illness insurance

Income protection insurance

Pension scheme (7%)

Gym membership/Wellness allowance

Employee Assistance Programme

Season ticket loan

Cycle to work scheme

25 days annual holiday

Job summary

King & Spalding LLP in London seeks a professional Legal Practice Assistant to provide proactive administrative and practice support to partners and fee earners in a fast-paced, international law firm environment.

The role requires excellent discretion, strong organisational and client-service skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and confidentiality. A collaborative, proactive approach and experience with legal document preparation are valued.

Qualifications

• Previous legal administrative support experience within a law firm or professional services environment is essential.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines, competing priorities and changing demands.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy, with the ability to produce consistently high-quality work to exacting standards.
• Professional, calm and client-focused communication style, both written and verbal.
• Ability to prioritise effectively, use initiative, anticipate needs and work proactively with minimal supervision.
• Confidence supporting partners, associates and senior stakeholders in a demanding environment.
• Strong teamwork, flexibility and willingness to provide cover or support to colleagues where required.
• Absolute discretion, sound judgment, reliability and integrity when handling confidential or sensitive information.
• Resilience and ability to work at pace while maintaining professionalism and accuracy.
• Strong technical skills in MS Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and document management systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive day-to-day administrative, organisational and practice support to partners, associates and other fee earners.
• Manage complex diaries, meetings, calls, deadlines and reminders, anticipating requirements and following up as needed.
• Coordinate meetings across multiple time zones, including with US and international offices, arranging attendance and related logistics.
• Arrange domestic and international travel, accommodation, itineraries, meeting rooms and catering.
• Prepare, format, proofread and amend legal documents and materials using firm templates and house style.
• Support document and matter-related tasks, including mark-ups, red-lining, PDF conversion and indexing.
• Liaise with clients, counsel, courts and external advisors in a timely, polished manner.
• Maintain confidentiality and integrity when handling client, matter and business information.
• Open/close client and matter files in line with firm procedures, including conflict checks.
• Maintain electronic and physical files, ensuring prompt filing of correspondence and materials.
• Assist with time-entry reminders and follow-up to meet deadlines and processes.
• Support business development activities, including pitches, client presentations and events.
• Coordinate with business services teams across offices to deliver high-quality support.
• Collaborate with peers to provide cover and support during busy periods.
• Ensure use of firm systems for document management, time recording, expenses and workflows.
• Follow policies on confidentiality, data protection and information security.

Skills

Legal admin

Org skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Prioritisation

Discretion

Teamwork

Time management

Client service

MS Office proficiency

Tools

Litera

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

King & Spalding is a leading global law firm with a commitment to excellence, innovation, and the seamless delivery of legal services. We harness innovative technology and exceptional talent to meet the complex needs of our clients in a fast-paced and dynamic legal landscape.

King & Spalding is seeking an exceptional Legal Practice Assistant to join the LPA team in the London office. This is a high-quality legal support role providing proactive administrative, organisational and practice support to partners, associates and wider practice groups in a fast-paced international law firm environment.

The role requires consistently excellent standards, sound judgment, strong ownership and a highly polished approach to client service. The successful candidate will be organised, discreet, responsive and able to manage competing priorities while maintaining accuracy, confidentiality and professionalism at all times.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide proactive day-to-day administrative, organisational and practice support to partners, associates and other fee earners.


• Manage complex diaries, meetings, calls, deadlines and reminders, anticipating requirements and following up as needed.


• Coordinate meetings across multiple time zones, including with US and international offices, arranging attendance, dial-in details and related logistics.


• Arrange domestic and international travel, accommodation, itineraries, meeting rooms, catering and related arrangements.


• Prepare, format, proofread and amend legal documents, correspondence, presentations, reports and other materials using firm templates, Litera and house style to ensure work is accurate, consistent and professionally presented.


• Support legal document and matter-related tasks, including mark‑ups, red‑lining, comparisons, PDF conversion, bundling, indexing, and electronic filing, coordinating with the Atlanta Resource Centre where appropriate.


• Liaise professionally with clients, counsel, courts, external advisors, vendors and internal stakeholders, handling calls, emails and queries in a timely, polished and client‑focused manner.


• Maintain the highest standards of discretion, integrity and honesty when handling confidential client, matter, personnel or business information.


• Assist with opening, maintaining and closing client and matter files in accordance with firm procedures, including conflict checks, engagement letters, client onboarding and matter maintenance where relevant.


• Maintain electronic and physical files, ensuring correspondence, documents and matter materials are filed accurately and promptly.


• Assist with time‑entry reminders, corrections and follow‑up where required, ensuring relevant deadlines and processes are met.


• Support business development activity, including pitches, client presentations, directory submissions, events and practice group initiatives.


• Coordinate with business services teams, including the Atlanta Resource Centre, finance, marketing, IT, HR, reception and office services, to deliver efficient and high‑quality support.


• Work collaboratively with other Legal Practice Assistants, junior LPAs and team assistants, providing cover and stepping in on an ad‑hoc basis to support peers and the wider team during busy periods.


• Manage workload effectively, prioritise competing demands, uphold high professional standards within the team and escalat capacity issues or conflicting deadlines appropriately.


• Use relevant firm systems accurately, including document management, time recording, expenses, finance and workflow systems.


• Follow firm policies and procedures relating to confidentiality, data protection, information security, file management, billing and client service.


• Perform other related administrative tasks as required and assigned.


• Demonstrate consistent professional behaviour aligned with operating in an SRA regulated environment, ensuring adherence to SRA regulations and standards, and upholding high levels of integrity, confidentiality and compliance in all activities.

Person Specification

We are seeking a professional, proactive and highly capable Legal Practice Assistant with strong organisational skills and the ability to provide exceptional support in a demanding, fast‑paced law firm environment. The successful candidate will be calm under pressure, client‑focused, discreet and reliable, with the confidence to support senior stakeholders, take ownership of work, act with complete integrity and contribute positively to a high‑performing team.

Specific Skills Required

• Previous legal administrative support experience within a law firm or professional services environment is essential.


• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines, competing priorities and changing demands.


• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy, with the ability to produce consistently high‑quality work to exacting standards.


• Professional, calm and client‑focused communication style, both written and verbal.


• Ability to prioritise effectively, use initiative, anticipate needs and work proactively with minimal supervision.


• Confidence supporting partners, associates and senior stakeholders in a demanding environment.


• Strong teamwork, flexibility and willingness to provide cover or support to colleagues where required.


• Absolute discretion, sound judgment, reliability and integrity when handling confidential or sensitive information.


• Resilience and ability to work at pace while maintaining professionalism and accuracy.


• Strong technical skills, particularly in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, document management systems and time recording systems.


• Experience using Litera and applying firm house styles is desirable.

Benefits

• annual bonus in recognition of individual merit‑based performance


• private medical insurance with Bupa


• life assurance (4x salary)


• critical illness insurance (2x salary)


• income protection insurance


• 7% firm pension contribution


• gym membership/wellness allowance contribution


• Employee Assistance Programme


• season ticket loan


• cycle to work scheme


• 25 days annual holiday

King & Spalding LLP (K&S) is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees in full compliance with all state, federal, and local laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, age, disability or any other status protected by applicable law.

We are proud of our remarkably cohesive culture, which now encompasses more than 2,500 lawyers and business professionals worldwide. We seek to attract and develop the very best talent to work with us.

King & Spalding advances leading companies’ complex legal and business interests in more than 160 countries. Collaborating across an integrated platform of transactional, litigation and regulatory talent in 24 offices globally, we work to understand and achieve our clients’ business objectives.

Personal Information will be retained by King & Spalding for as long as the information is required to fulfill our legitimate business needs or the purposes for which the Personal Information was collected, or for as long as is required by law.