Legal Secretary

Owen Reed; England; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in Milton Keynes is seeking a Practice Support Executive for a 12-month FTC role. This position offers hybrid working, training, and development within a respected Projects team. The successful candidate will provide high-quality support to partners, manage complex diaries, and contribute to business development. Candidates should have over 18 months in a secretarial role, strong MS Office skills, and excellent communication abilities, ensuring a proactive and professional service.

Benefits

Hybrid working

Excellent training

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum 18 months of secretarial or administrative experience.
• Strong background supporting a busy team or practice group.
• Highly organised and able to prioritise tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex diaries, meetings, and travel arrangements.
• Conduct client research and support business development events.
• Oversee billing, expenses, and post-matter administrative tasks.

Skills

Organisational skills

Professional communication

Client service

Proficiency in MS Office

Adaptability

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Owen Reed is looking for a Practice Support Executive for a top law firm in Milton Keynes. This is an exciting 12-month FTC opportunity offering hybrid working, excellent training, and real career development within a highly respected Projects team.

The Practice Support Executive will provide proactive, high-quality support to partners and fee-earners, ensuring exceptional client service and seamless day-to-day operations. This role is ideal for someone organised, detail‑driven, and passionate about delivering a first‑class professional service.

Key Responsibilities Organisation & Planning

• Manage complex diaries, meetings, and travel arrangements.
• Monitor deadlines and organise client entertainment, seminars, and internal events.
• Prepare agendas, meeting papers, first‑draft correspondence, and manage inbox filing.
• Liaise with internal teams to resolve operational queries and update fee‑earner capacity trackers.

Business Development & Client Support

• Conduct client research and act as a key contact for non‑legal queries.
• Support client reporting, bids, tenders, and presentation materials.
• Assist with BD events in partnership with the Business Development team.

Financial Management & Matter Administration

• Coordinate complex billing arrangements and supervise routine billing and expenses.
• Oversee post‑matter completion, WIP monitoring, NBI forms, engagement letters, conflicts, AML checks, and party lists.

Document Management

• Prepare pitch documents, draft and amend Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.
• Carry out document comparisons, conversions, proofreading, archiving, and dictation transcription.

About You

• 18 months+ experience in a secretarial or administrative role.
• Strong background supporting a practice group or busy team.
• Confident using MS Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Highly organised, proactive, and able to prioritise in a fast‑paced environment.
• Professional communicator with excellent relationship‑building skills.
• Calm under pressure, adaptable, and comfortable delegating tasks.
• A supportive team player with mentoring abilities.