Senior Legal Administrative Assistant / Paralegal

Cecile Personnel (Pty) Ltd; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Cecile Personnel (Pty) Ltd is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Secretary/Paralegal to work closely with the Director, providing essential administrative and legal support. The role includes dictation, transcription, drafting and formatting legal documents, and managing deadlines within a busy law practice.

The ideal candidate will have 3–5 years of relevant experience, strong MS Office skills, and excellent English communication.

Qualifications

• Qualifications in Paralegal, Law, or Legal Secretarial field.
• Minimum 3–5 years as Paralegal or Litigation Secretary in a law firm.
• Strong knowledge of legal terminology and document preparation.
• Solid understanding of court procedures and filing practices.

Responsibilities

• Support the Director with administrative tasks.
• Dictation and transcription of legal documents with high accuracy (≥75 wpm).
• Prepare, draft and format legal correspondence and documents.
• Assist with preparation/ administration of court-related docs.
• Monitor deadlines and ensure timely completion of documentation.
• Handle confidential client information discreetly.
• Work independently and manage multiple priorities.

Skills

Dictation & transcription

English communication

Organizational skills

Time management

Attention to detail

Confidentiality

Education

Paralegal Certificate / Diploma in Law / Legal Secretarial qualification

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Working closely with the Director, providing direct administrative support.
• Taking dictation and accurately transcribing correspondence, legal documents, pleadings and other documentation. Typing 75 words per minute minimum.
• Preparing, drafting and formatting legal correspondence and documentation.
• Assisting with the preparation and administration of legal and court-related documentation.
• Conducting general legal administration and following up on outstanding matters.
• Monitoring deadlines and ensuring documentation is completed accurately and timeously.
• Handling confidential client information with discretion and professionalism.

Qualifications

• Paralegal Certificate, Diploma in Law, or relevant Legal Secretarial qualification.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of proven experience as a Paralegal, Litigation Secretary, or Executive Assistant within a law firm.
• Solid understanding of South African court procedures (Magistrate's and High Court rules and filing practices).

Minimum Requirements

• Previous experience as a Senior Legal Secretary, Legal Personal Assistant, Paralegal or Legal Administrative Assistant within a law firm.
• Strong dictation and transcription experience is essential.
• Excellent English written and verbal communication skills.
• Good knowledge of legal terminology and document preparation.
• Strong MS Office skills, particularly Microsoft Word and Outlook.
• Excellent organisational, administrative and time-management abilities.
• Ability to work independently, anticipate requirements and manage multiple priorities.
• High attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be professional, proactive, highly organised and able to work closely with the Director, providing reliable and efficient support. They must be confident handling dictation, preparing legal documentation and managing the day-to-day administrative requirements of a busy legal practice. Willing to work over weekends if need be.