Legal Secretary

TN United Kingdom; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a proactive and detail-oriented individual to join their Private Client team. In this role, you will provide high-level secretarial support, working closely with fee earners on various matters related to estates, trusts, and property. Your responsibilities will include document preparation, diary management, and ensuring smooth communication within the team. This opportunity is perfect for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and is eager to contribute to a supportive and inclusive workplace. Join a team that values initiative and fosters professional growth in a flexible working arrangement.

Qualifications

• Strong administration experience with a positive and professional attitude.
• High attention to detail and organizational skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level secretarial support for the Private Client team.
• Manage diaries, appointments, and meetings for fee earners.

Skills

Administration Experience

Typing Speed (50 wpm)

Written Communication Skills

Verbal Communication Skills

Attention to Detail

IT Skills (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel)

Discretion in Handling Sensitive Information

Positive Team-oriented Attitude

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Job description

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You will work in the Private Client team to provide professional, pro-active, high-level secretarial support on a broad range of issues relating to estates and private property, tax, and planning. You will work with an allocated fee earner or group of fee earners as well as supporting the wider fee earning team.

The team covers:

• Succession planning
• Creation, administration, and termination of trusts
• Advice to Trustees and Beneficiaries
• Trust Taxation
• Offshore trusts
• Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Administration of Estates

Purpose of job

You will work in the Private Client team to provide professional, pro-active, high-level secretarial support on a broad range of issues relating to estates and private property, tax, and planning. You will work with an allocated fee earner or group of fee earners as well as supporting the wider fee earning team.

The team covers:

• Will drafting
• Succession planning
• Tax-efficient lifetime giving
• Disputed Wills
• Creation, administration, and termination of trusts
• Advice to Trustees and Beneficiaries
• Trust Taxation
• Offshore trusts
• Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Administration of Estates

Technical ability:

• Produce and amend documents with speed and accuracy
• Format, paginate, number, and present documents in Birketts LLP house style
• Proofread all work, checking for spelling and grammar
• Be a user of key software packages and take responsibility for training to improve relevant skills
• Proactively work with fee earners to ensure relevant documentation is produced to meet clients’ expectations and deadlines

Administrative skills:

• Manage diaries of allocated fee earners in Microsoft Outlook, including creating and managing datarooms and file management processes
• Make appointments
• Arrange meetings/conferences
• Send and respond to invites
• Process expense claims and payment requisition forms
• Process all forms including new client, new matter, money laundering, and training course booking forms
• Ensure electronic and paper-based filing is up to date and maintained
• Carry out photocopying and scanning as required

Professional Skills:

• Immediately clarify instructions from fee earners if unclear or deadlines are not explicit
• Respond politely and professionally to internal and external telephone enquiries and take accurate messages
• Support other secretarial team members and provide cover to ensure work is completed to a high standard and deadlines are met
• Support fee earners in all activities and perform any other duties reasonably requested

General Approach:

• Show a positive approach and interest in the work undertaken by fee earners
• Show initiative and actively seek solutions to problems
• Support fee earners when clients demand work product delivery
• Build working relationships with fee earners and team members, working for the interests of the whole team
• Engage with colleagues in the secretarial team and participate in team activities

The candidate should have:

• Strong administration experience
• Positive, enthusiastic, and professional attitude
• High attention to detail and organizational skills
• Self-motivated with initiative and a desire to learn
• Willingness to share new processes to support the team

Skills:

• Typing speed of at least 50 wpm
• Excellent spelling and punctuation
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Discretion in handling sensitive information
• Excellent IT skills including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Positive team-oriented attitude
• Good telephone manner
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Self-motivation and initiative
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Reliability and organization
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Commitment to learning and development

Equal opportunities:

Birketts promotes an inclusive culture, offering flexible and hybrid working arrangements. We welcome applications from diverse candidates and are committed to equality of opportunity, valuing talent, skills, and potential.