PA Team Leader

Career Legal; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Career Legal is seeking an experienced Legal PA Team Leader to head a team within the Private Client practice. The role combines hands-on PA support with leadership and development of the team to deliver a consistently high standard of administrative service to Partners and fee earners.

The successful candidate will oversee workload, performance and development while continuing to provide direct PA support as required, contributing to the smooth running of the department and outstanding client

Qualifications

• Experience leading a team of Legal PAs in a law firm.
• Experience supervising or mentoring legal support staff.
• Strong knowledge of legal secretarial procedures.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and motivate a team of Legal PAs, ensuring workloads are allocated effectively and service standards are consistently maintained.
• Oversee day-to-day operations within the PA team, monitoring capacity, workflow and priorities to ensure appropriate coverage across the department.
• Provide high-level PA support to Partners and fee earners within the Private Client practice, including complex diary management, inbox management and correspondence.
• Act as a key liaison between the PA team, Partners, fee earners and other business services functions.
• Support the recruitment, onboarding, training and ongoing development of Legal PAs, encouraging knowledge-sharing and best practice.
• Conduct regular check-ins and provide constructive feedback, guidance and support to team members.
• Identify opportunities to improve administrative processes, increase efficiency and enhance the service provided to fee earners and clients.
• Manage escalations and resolve workload or resourcing challenges proactively and professionally.
• Ensure the team adheres to firm policies, procedures and confidentiality requirements, particularly when handling sensitive client and financial information.
• Support the implementation of new systems, processes and working practices where required.
• Provide flexible team cover during periods of absence or increased workload, ensuring continuity of service across the department.

Skills

Team leadership

Diary management

Microsoft Office

Legal secretarial procedures

Time management

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

Legal document management systems

Job description

A leading city law firm is looking for an experienced Legal PA Team Leader to join its highly regarded Private Client practice. The firm is recognised for its high quality legal services, collaborative culture and commitment to delivering an exceptional client experience. This is an excellent opportunity to join a prestigious environment where you can combine hands on PA support with team leadership and development.

About the Role

The successful candidate will lead and support a team of Legal PAs within the Private Client department, ensuring the delivery of a consistently high standard of administrative and secretarial support to Partners and fee earners. This is a varied, hands-on role requiring strong leadership, excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced legal environment.

You will act as a key point of contact for the team, overseeing workloads, supporting performance and development, and ensuring that processes are followed efficiently. Alongside your leadership responsibilities, you will provide direct PA support where required, helping to ensure the smooth running of the department and the delivery of an outstanding service to clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and motivate a team of Legal PAs, ensuring workloads are allocated effectively and service standards are consistently maintained.
• Oversee day-to-day operations within the PA team, monitoring capacity, workflow and priorities to ensure appropriate coverage across the department.
• Provide high-level PA support to Partners and fee earners within the Private Client practice, including complex diary management, inbox management and correspondence.
• Act as a key liaison between the PA team, Partners, fee earners and other business services functions.
• Support the recruitment, onboarding, training and ongoing development of Legal PAs, encouraging knowledge-sharing and best practice.
• Conduct regular check-ins and provide constructive feedback, guidance and support to team members.
• Identify opportunities to improve administrative processes, increase efficiency and enhance the service provided to fee earners and clients.
• Manage escalations and resolve workload or resourcing challenges proactively and professionally.
• Ensure the team adheres to firm policies, procedures and confidentiality requirements, particularly when handling sensitive client and financial information.
• Support the implementation of new systems, processes and working practices where required.
• Provide flexible team cover during periods of absence or increased workload, ensuring continuity of service across the department.

Experience and Skills

• Previous experience working as a Legal PA Team Leader within a reputable law firm, with some experience of Private Client work.
• Previous experience supervising, mentoring or leading a team of Legal PAs or legal support professionals.
• Strong knowledge of legal secretarial procedures and the demands of supporting Partners and senior fee earners.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate a team, build relationships and manage challenging situations effectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence engaging with stakeholders at all levels.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving, workload management and continuous improvement.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and familiarity with legal document management systems.
• The ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.

The successful candidate will be an experienced Team Leader looking for a new challenge within a leading city law firm. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys developing people, improving processes and delivering an exceptional level of support within a busy Private Client practice.