Legal Secretary – Dispute Resolution

Thompson Smith And Puxon; Colchester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading firm in Colchester is seeking a motivated Legal Secretary to join their Dispute Resolution Team. This role involves providing critical support to solicitors through administrative tasks and managing case files. Ideal for experienced legal support professionals or law graduates aiming for career growth in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

22 annual holiday days plus Bank Holidays

Death in service and group income protection

Workplace pension scheme

Health cash plan and employee assistance programme

Firm sick pay policy

Opportunity for additional holiday for long service

Regular social events

Qualifications

• Experience in legal support is preferable.
• Confident in collaborating with senior legal professionals.
• Ability to handle confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Supporting solicitors with secretarial and administrative tasks.
• Maintaining case files and conducting compliance checks.
• Preparing legal documents and assisting with court preparations.

Skills

Document and case management

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Law graduate

Tools

Legal software

Job description

Thompson Smith and Puxon (TSP) is looking for an professional, organised, and enthusiastic Legal Secretary to join our busy Dispute Resolution Team in Colchester. You will play a key role in supporting Solicitors with both secretarial and administrative tasks across a range of litigation matters.

At TSP, our mission is to Transform, Succeed, and Prosper—not only for our clients but also for our people and the wider community. We operate with integrity, innovation, and a commitment to fostering growth and opportunity for everyone within the firm. Collaboration, professionalism, and agility define our working environment, and we strive to empower our teams to deliver excellent results while supporting their personal and professional development.

The role:

This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-respected and supportive team at TSP, where you’ll play a key role in delivering exceptional legal support to our Dispute Resolution department by:

• Opening new client files, conducting ID and AML checks, preparing initial documentation, and closing files in line with firm procedures and compliance standards.
• Maintaining well-organised case files using our client management software and ensure all documentation is handled and stored in accordance with compliance and regulatory standards.
• Supporting the solicitors with general administrative tasks including filing, scanning, and billing.
• Providing comprehensive support to fee earners in the preparation of legal documents, including court forms, witness statements, and correspondence.
• Assisting in the preparation of court bundles and supporting material.
• Liaising with clients, counsel, and courts, and assisting with the scheduling of meetings, deadlines, and hearings.
• Communicate professionally with clients, colleagues, and external parties, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
• Proactively support the wider team in ensuring deadlines and priorities are met efficiently.

What we’re looking for:

The role would suit an experienced legal support professional or this could also be an advantageous opportunity for a law graduate looking to gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced legal environment.

Personal attributes:

• Confident in supporting senior legal professionals and working collaboratively as part of a busy team.
• Excellent document and case management skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and a willingness to learn legal software and case management systems.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage a busy workload.
• Proactive, self-motivated with a solutions-focused approach.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with a professional and courteous manner.
• Ability to work with discretion and handle confidential information appropriately.

The package:

We offer a competitive salary, depending on level of experience and ability.

Other benefits include:

• We offer a full time annual holiday entitlement of 22 days, plus Bank Holidays, with an additional 3 days for the Christmas to New Year closure (pro-rated for part time staff).
• Death in service and Group income protection from day 1 of employment.
• Workplace pension scheme with Scottish Widows after you have completed 3 months service. We offer a choice of auto-enrolment, enhanced and an incentivised salary sacrifice scheme.
• A health cash plan and employee assistance programme, upon successful completion of probation period.
• Firm sick pay policy.
• Opportunity for additional holiday for long service.
• A friendly and social environment enhanced with regular social events provided by the firm.

At Thompson Smith and Puxon we take your privacy seriously and will only use the personal information you give us to deal with your enquiry. Please read our Privacy Policyhere . This details how we will process and store your personal information and your rights regarding your data.

At Thompson Smith and Puxon we take your privacy seriously and will only use the personal information you give us to deal with your enquiry. Please read our Privacy Policyhere . This details how we will process and store your personal information and your rights regarding your data.

I agree to Thompson Smith and Puxon processing my data to deal with my enquiry about TSP services