Legal Secretary

Owen Reed; Slough; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Owen Reed is recruiting an experienced Legal Secretary to join the Financial Services team within the Finance Practice Group of a prestigious law firm. The role requires strong organisational and administrative skills, with prior experience supporting partners in a law firm and the ability to handle a fast-paced environment.

Key duties include diary management, email management, time entry recording, drafting correspondence and arranging travel.

Qualifications

• Strong legal secretarial background, including experience supporting at partner level.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills.
• Minimum typing speed of 70 words per minute.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Proficiency in Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Experience using a document management system.
• Strong audio and copy-typing skills.
• Excellent organisational and administrative capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive diary management for fee earners and manage calendars.
• Manage email inboxes, prioritise and summarise emails daily and report on key matters.
• Ensure daily time entries and narratives are recorded.
• Draft professional correspondence.
• Coordinate travel arrangements and book hotels/transport.
• Maintain administrative systems and handle workload proactively.
• Proofread and perform quality checks on all work.
• Build positive working relationships with colleagues and clients.
• Familiarise with CMS and CMNO systems and billing processes.
• Support other practice groups when capacity allows.

Skills

Legal secretarial experience

Advanced written and verbal skills

Typing speed 70 wpm

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

Owen Reed is looking to recruit an experienced Legal Secretary to join the Financial Services team within the Finance Practice Group of a prestigious law firm.

This varied role offers a broad range of responsibilities and requires an accomplished Legal Secretary with strong organisational and administrative skills. The successful candidate will ideally have previous experience supporting partners within a law firm and will be confident managing the frequent demands of a fast-paced role.

Clear, proactive communication and the ability to build trusted working relationships with the individuals being supported will be fundamental to success.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive diary management, anticipating requirements and effectively managing all aspects of fee earners’ schedules.
• Manage email inboxes, including checking, prioritising and summarising emails daily, reporting on key matters and creating appropriate action points.
• Support effective time management by ensuring fee earners’ time entries and narratives are recorded daily.
• Draft professional correspondence as required.
• Coordinate comprehensive travel arrangements, including sourcing and booking hotels and transport through the firm’s online booking tool.
• Establish and maintain effective administrative systems.
• Manage an individual workload efficiently and proactively, using initiative to progress tasks independently.
• Proofread and complete quality checks on all work produced.
• Build positive and collaborative working relationships with colleagues.
• Establish a professional rapport with clients, developing strong relationships and anticipating their requirements.
• Become proficient in using the firm’s CMS and CMNO systems, together with relevant office equipment.
• Develop familiarity with the legal terminology used within the practice area.
• Build a thorough understanding of the firm’s culture and strategic goals.
• Manage documents effectively, including opening and archiving files and ensuring all relevant documents are filed electronically and in hard copy when required.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the end-to-end billing process and Elite financial system.
• Liaise with the Billing team and produce all relevant billing documentation.
• Provide support across other practice groups and teams when capacity allows or when required.
• Undertake audio and copy typing, including amendments provided through dictation or handwritten mark-ups.
• Delegate appropriate administrative tasks to other administrative members of the team.
• Actively embrace technology, including artificial intelligence and collaboration tools, to improve efficiency, optimise processes and support the smarter, more effective delivery of support services.

About You

The firm will invest in your ongoing training and professional development, supporting your career goals and helping you thrive in the role from your first day.

Applications are welcomed from all suitably qualified candidates. To be considered for this opportunity, you will possess:

• A strong legal secretarial background, including experience supporting at partner level.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills.
• A minimum typing speed of 70 words per minute.
• A good working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Proficiency in Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Experience using a document management system.
• Strong audio and copy-typing skills.
• Excellent organisational and administrative capabilities.
• A positive and resilient attitude, combined with a practical and common-sense approach.
• The confidence to work independently and use initiative.
• The ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively within a busy professional environment.