Legal Secretary - EPI

Overview

Department:
Employment, Pensions and Immigration - North

Location:

Newcastle

• Client Relationship Management
  • Keep client protocols current, provide guidance and training to others, and monitor ongoing service.
• Administrative
  • Handle outgoing correspondence and encrypt documents securely.
  • Manage client case system, add outgoing correspondence and documentation on behalf of fee earners.
  • Collate enclosures, instructions to counsel and experts using electronic bundling and encryption software.
  • Keep case files organised and logical, update document bundles for fee earners, and assist with incoming billing and accounts queries.
  • Handle email management, file, save, locate, delete, and respond to incoming mail.
  • Print, file, photocopy, scan, fax and archive documents as required and keep client contact information up to date.
  • Assist with planning and booking of travel arrangements and ad‑hoc business development and communications activities such as client contact reports and delegate packs.
• Communication
  • Key point of contact for lawyers, maintain relationships and ensure a high level of support.
  • Monitor post and emails, respond and draft responses, prioritise and collate necessary paperwork and e‑filing.
  • Liaise with colleagues in the department and other legal and support departments as requested, assisting where spare capacity exists.
  • Answer phone calls for other team members when they are away from their desk.
  • Liaise with the STL and arrange cover for absences.
• Financial
  • Assist lawyers with billing related tasks and review and update time allocation and disbursements.
  • Request cheques, bank transfers and pay money received, and support coordination of the WIP process.
  • Process expenses and manage matter related finance administration including BACs and TTs.
• Customer Service
  • Arrange and attend team meetings, liaison with lawyers, STLs and Secretarial Managers to take instruction.
  • Consistently update service users on progress and regularly offer assistance wherever possible.
• Firm Wide
  • Understand DAC Beachcroft is an international firm and work with awareness of this structure.
  • Actively operate in the best interests of the firm at all times internally and externally.
  • Operate in a regulated environment, effectively managing risk and compliance issues including data security.

• Experience working in a legal or professional services environment.
• Aptitude for managing multiple priorities and producing documents and client communications of the highest standard.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office and document management/case management systems.
• Excellent communicator with an excellent customer and client service approach, striving to provide exceptional service at all times.
• Customer/client service focused and proven experience of managing client facing tasks and priorities with a hands‑on, practical approach.
• Conscientious, taking personal responsibility for own work and accountable for its delivery and quality.
• Excellent team player, sharing in team goals to provide excellent quality and efficiency of service.
• Positive can‑do attitude with the ability to adapt to change.
• Confidential and discreet but able to redirect information appropriately to ensure areas of concern are resolved effectively.
• Well organised and methodical with excellent attention to detail ensuring accuracy in all client communications and deliverables.

We are happy to talk flexible working with our Flex Forward scheme. We would encourage you to talk to us about our approach to flexible working during the hiring process if you would like to explore this further.