Legal Secretary – Family Department

Nature & Scope

To provide support to fee earner(s) to enable them to deal with clients efficiently and effectively. Delivers a high level of customer service to clients. Projects a professional image to visitors and telephone callers at all times by greeting, welcoming and directing them appropriately. Works collaboratively with colleagues to facilitate the smooth running of the office.

Key Competencies

* Customer service focus

* Ability to produce work with accuracy

* Professional personal presentation

* Information management

* Organisational skills

* Attention to detail

* Reliable

* Ability to type 50 words per minute

* Self-motivation

* Ability to work unsupervised

* Verbal and written communication

* Excellent time keeping

Key Accountabilities

Administration / Secretarial Work

* To provide general administrative support to colleagues where directed by line manager

* To prepare correspondence and documents as directed by line manager by audio typing and copy work

* To organise post and ensure this is signed by line manager (or as otherwise directed) and ready to be dispatched at the end of each day

* To manage the electronic diaries of fee earners as directed by line manager

* To manage incoming post and filing (hard copy and electronic) as directed by line manager

* To manage files so that the documents are readily accessible

* To ensure that confidential information is not passed on to third parties without the permission of line manager

* To handle information in a manner consistent with the firm’s policies relating to data protection and information security

Handling inbound telephone calls

* To ensure that calls are answered promptly (preferably within three rings) and professionally

* To deal with enquiries effectively in the absence of the fee earner

* To take accurate messages and pass them on to the correct recipient in a timely manner

* To promptly direct callers to the appropriate member of staff if they are not the intended recipient

Greeting Visitors

* To greet visitors efficiently, and in a positive, professional and friendly manner

* To project a positive and professional image to visitors to the office, including personal presentation

* To make visitors feel welcome

* Preparing meeting rooms for your fee earner prior to them seeing visitors

* To tidy meeting rooms after your fee earner has finished using it

Collaborative working

* To maintain good working relationships with colleagues

* To backfill other administrative functions within the office as required – for example providing cover for reception

* To use departmental and office directory to ensure efficient transfer of calls, both internally and to all other office locations

Safety Awareness

* To monitor visitor access and maintain security awareness, following appropriate policies and procedures

* To ensure that their working environment is safe and clean and to eliminate potential slip and trip hazards

* To report any potential safety hazards to line manager

Package

* Competitive salary

* 20 days per annum annual leave plus statutory bank holidays. Additionally, the firm ordinarily closes between Christmas and New Year albeit the firm reserves the unfettered right to withdraw this additional leave as required by business needs. You will also get an extra day’s holiday for your birthday and length of service.

* Entitlement to join the company pension scheme

* Entitlement to participate in the firm’s cash healthcare scheme

* Enhanced maternity pay (subject to conditions)

Other candidate information

* The role will be based at our Northwich office but there will be a contractual requirement to work at any of our Cheshire offices.

* Although this role is advertised as a full time position the firm will, upon request, consider whether the role can be conducted on a part time or shared basis.

* Any offer is conditional upon receipt of a satisfactory reference, a basic DBS check, Social Media Check, Employee Credit Check, Sanctions Check and a check with our Regulatory Body

* Poole Alcock is an equal opportunities employer and intends to treat everyone equally regardless of disability, race, sexual orientation, age or marital status.