Personal Assistant - London Area, United Kingdom - Sheridans

Description

JOB TITLE: Legal PA

GROUP: Family

REPORTING TO: Andrea Plum, Priya Palanivel and Marianna Lambrou

TERM: 12 month fixed-term contract (maternity cover)

HOURS: Full-time, 9:30am – 5:30pm, Monday to Friday with one hour for lunch. A flexible approach to working hours is a must, overtime may be required at busy times.

We currently operate a hybrid working policy with at least 3 days office working per week. Our hybrid working policy is discretionary and may be subject to change.

ABOUT SHERIDANS

Sheridans is a leading London law Firm whose lawyers combine the in-depth legal knowledge and breadth of expertise and experience required to give unparalleled advice to their clients.

Since 1956, Sheridans has represented individuals and organisations across a wide variety of sectors, providing quality advice which is commercially focussed and personally delivered. Specialist lawyers in leisure, media and entertainment work closely alongside the Firm's corporate finance, employment, real estate and dispute resolution groups to provide a truly bespoke service to its clients.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Led by renowned and knowledgeable practitioners, Andrea Plum and Priya Palanivel, and supported by Marianna Lambrou, the family team at Sheridans offers a compassionate and focused service to clients in all aspects of family law.

The team's practice encompasses all areas of private family law including pre-nuptial and living together agreements, divorce, dissolution and separation, the full range of financial provision following the breakdown of any family relationship and arrangements for children. Finance cases are often of a high net worth and involve shareholdings in private businesses, complex remuneration packages and corporate, tax and trust structures, frequently with international elements, including a focus on Anglo-US divorces. Our team also excels in family mediation, fostering amicable resolutions wherever possible.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Legal PA with previous experience in a busy Family law department to join our team. Covering a period of maternity leave on a 12-month fixed term contract, the successful individual will have the chance to develop their career further by supporting the whole department. We offer a close-knit and inclusive environment where you will be encouraged to fully participate, share ideas and become a key part of the team.

For further details, please see the microsite:

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Diary management to include arranging internal and external/client/business development meetings and lunches, reserving appropriate meeting rooms, restaurants and venues where required. Scheduling Teams calls, whilst at all times communicating arrangements to relevant parties and ensuring diaries are up to date
• Typing and amending correspondence and documents as required, using the Firm's House Styles, as well as using track changes and versions
• Thoroughly checking and acting upon emails, particularly during absences within the team
• Preparation and collation of bundles using pdfDocs/Adobe and creating indexes for court hearings, conferences with Counsel and court documents
• Using ChromeRiver to claim fee earners monthly expenses
• Taking telephone calls on behalf of the fee earners, ensuring a detailed message is taken and relayed to the relevant person
• Processing dictation (BigHand)
• Booking courses and seminars; keeping a record of CPD hours
• Organising, e-filing and scanning documents into document management system (iManage) and assisting with printing tasks where required
• Initiating and completing the setting up of new clients and matters, to include all onboarding and due diligence processes, using software Legl to assist
• Preparation and coordination of billing and accounting tasks, such as writing off WIP, preparing requisition/bank payment requests etc; following up with the Accounts Teams when needed
• Lodging court applications and assisting with the drafting of court documents and forms, such as, Divorce Applications and Forms E (via Quantum and MyHMCTS). Drafting emails to court to lodge applications/documents and following up by telephone
• Keeping up to date with any updates on the MyHMCTS portal
• Liaising with third parties such as barristers' chambers to ascertain availability and fee estimates, including calling and preparing draft emails
• Undertaking the role of 'Mediation Co-ordinator' and assisting the team's mediator with arranging mediation sessions and liaising with clients directly to do this
• Occasionally attending court, conferences with Counsel, meetings with clients and mediation sessions to take a comprehensive note
• Assisting with any marketing and events which the fee earners are involved with
• Posting updates on to the Family team's microsite and LinkedIn page
• Working with business support departments, such as Accounts, IT, HR and Facilities

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

Skills & experience

• Previous experience in family law
• Demonstrated high level effective experience as a Legal PA
• Intermediate to advanced skill level with the Microsoft suite (Outlook, Word, Excel), pdfDocs, Adobe and DocuSign
• Familiarity with GDPR and ability to adhere to confidentiality / compliance procedures and the ability to act with discretion whilst maintaining privacy
• Calm under pressure, adaptable, flexible and patient given the nature of the work and clientele
• Willing to build relationships and liaise comfortably with people both internally and externally at all levels
• High level of organisation and time management skills. Strong attention to detail with good judgement, initiative and problem-solving skills
• Confidently able to multi-task, particularly when managing your workload under pressure, and working to any given deadlines
• A team player with a positive and 'can-do' attitude, who is friendly, professional, reliable, enthusiastic and confident to learn and ask for help

Qualifications

• Accomplished academic background – i.e. strong GCSE and or A Level results
• Qualifications such as CILEx Level 3 Diploma for Legal Secretaries are desired, but not essential

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Our aim is for all staff to feel welcomed at Sheridans and ultimately be their true self at work. We are proud to promote inclusion & diversity among clients, candidates, and staff as an equal opportunities employer. It is our policy to support people who hold Protected Characteristics (under the Equality Act 2010) both internally and externally through supporting practices based solely upon merit.

HOW TO APPLY

If you would like to apply, please email us using and include the following to allow us to consider your application:

• An up-to-date copy of your CV
• A covering letter
• Any details in relation to nationality and visa requirements, if relevant
• Your salary expectations
• Your notice period and availability to commence a role with Sheridans

AGENCY NOTICE

From time to time, we partner with recruitment agencies to assist us with our resourcing needs. Please note that we are not currently seeking agency support for this vacancy and any unsolicited submissions will not be considered.