Legal Secretary - Art & Luxury (6 Month FTC)

Wedlake Bell LLP; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in the City of London is looking for an experienced Legal Secretary for its Art & Luxury team. This role, based on a 6-month contract, requires at least four years of experience in a dynamic law firm. Responsibilities include managing legal documents, diary management, client communication, and supporting business development initiatives. The firm offers competitive salary, benefits, and a strong focus on work-life balance.

Benefits

Competitive starting salary

Comprehensive pension plan

25 days paid holiday

Life Assurance

Private Medical and Dental Insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Wellbeing initiatives

Qualifications

• Minimum of four years experience as a Legal Secretary.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support preparation of legal documents and correspondence.
• Manage the diary of fee earners including appointments.
• Organize travel arrangements for business trips.

Skills

Organizational skills

Fast typing skills

Strong communication skills

Attention to detail

Client service emphasis

Education

Proven experience as a Legal Secretary

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

iManage

3E Elite

InterAction

BigHand

Job description

Legal Secretary- Art & Luxury (6 Month FTC)

Wedlake Bell's highly-regarded Art & Luxury practice (Band 1 Chambers UK & HNW) is seeking to recruit a Legal Secretary to join their market leading, internationally recognised team. This is a full-time, 6 month fixed-term contract (FTC) position, with the expectation of 4 days in-office per week.

Our specialist Art & Luxury practice advise a range of clients from artists, private collectors and international galleries through to governments, state institutions, museums, lenders, philanthropists and art fairs. They also have rich experience in other luxury assets such as collector cars, musical instruments, jewellery, wine, and watches, amongst other things.

As a Legal Secretary in our Art & Luxury team, your role will be instrumental in ensuring the team have the support they need to run smoothly. You will support our fee earners with a range of tasks from preparing legal documents, file management and maintenance, diary management, client liaisons, and other ad-hoc responsibilities which contribute to the success of the team.

This role is perfect for a Legal Secretary who thrives in fast-paced and dynamic team, and prides themselves on the service they provide. We are seeking someone with established Legal Secretary (ideally at least four years) experience in a fast-paced law firm environment.

Find out more about the Art & Luxury team here.

About Us:

Located in the heart of the City of London, Wedlake Bell is a Top 100 law firm offering full services across Private Client, Real Estate, Business Services, and Disputes. The firm has 81 Partners and a total headcount of around 400. We have grown year-on-year, attributed to the continual success of our legal teams, and the dedication of our staff members.

Our culture is widely recognised as one of the best in City law, built on trust, collaboration, and mutual respect. Joining us, you will be part of a firm which supports work/life balance, personal development, and building strong connections. With regular cross-firm socials and events (including our renowned yearly ski trip and walking trips!), you will quickly feel like part of the WB team!

Key Responsibilities:

• Supporting the preparation and management of legal documents, BD and promotional materials, presentations, and correspondence related to Art & Luxury matters, from dictation, drafts, or typed documents;
• Responding quickly to complete new tasks set by the team (via BigHand);
• Efficient diary management for fee earners, including arranging meetings and appointments, in-person or video calls (via MS Teams);
• Organising travel arrangements for business trips, in the UK and abroad;
• Communicating with clients and other stakeholders, offering administrative and case-related support;
• Opening, maintaining and organising team files (via iManage) to ensure information is easily accessible;
• Liaise with the firm's AML team to open new matters following established procedures, liaising with the client to obtain and collate required documents;
• Supporting the Art & Luxury Team's BD initiatives where possible, including updating the CRM with client information and activity (via InterAction);
• Coordinate the billing process for fee-earners by opening matters (via 3E Elite), liaising with the Accounts & Finance team throughout the process for instructions, changes, and to finalise invoices;
• Handling confidential information with discretion; and
• Other ad-hoc duties as required.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

• Proven experience as a Legal Secretary (at least four years) in a fast-paced law firm, ideally (though not essential) within a transactional (corporate, commercial, IP, etc) or commercial litigation environment;
• Exceptional organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks effectively under tight deadlines;
• Fast and accurate typing skills, with high standards of written English and grammar;
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with an emphasis on client service;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with legal document management systems or other key software's (iManage, 3E Elite, InterAction, BigHand, etc);
• A keen attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in all aspects of work;
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment; and
• Discretion in handling confidential information.

Why join us?

• A competitive starting salary and bonus;
• A comprehensive pension plan;
• 25 days paid holiday per annum, plus additional leave for significant life events;
• Option to purchase up to five additional days of holiday each year;
• Life Assurance and competitive income protection scheme;
• Access to Private Medical and Dental Insurance from day one;
• Enhanced parental leave policies;
• Employee Assistance Programme with face-to-face counselling services;
• Variety of staff wellbeing initiatives including Pilates classes and subsidised gym memberships; and
• A range of bonus schemes recognising referrals and client introductions.

We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, where every individual is respected and valued. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, irrespective of their background or personal circumstances.

If you are passionate about joining a busy team and are eager for a challenging yet fulfilling career, we encourage you to apply.