Legal Secretary – UK Top 50 Law Firm

Recruitment Avenue; Norwich; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job description

Salary: £28k – £35k

Department: Residential Real Estate

Our client is a UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, they have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals based in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks.

They advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: property, corporate services, litigation and private client advisory.

Their collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked them as the 5th best law firm to work at in 2024. Diversity plays an integral part in all that they do, with female partners comprising 40% of our partnership.

Purpose of job:

To work as part of a busy and rapidly growing enfranchisement sector to provide professional and dedicated support to a team leader.

Main responsibilities:

• Prepare files for completion and attend to post-completion matters through to file closure.
• Write standard letters and emails.
• Show initiative when responding to queries and actively seek solutions to problems.
• Update clients regularly and provide email and phone cover when a team member is not available.
• Support and build working relationships with the team leader and wider team members.
• Effectively liaise with staff from other departments and external contacts as required.
• Accurately maintain and update client and other relevant contact details on the firm’s database.
• Process all forms including client questionnaires, money laundering form and onboarding documents.
• Assist in maintaining compliant and accurate file management and office systems.
• Develop and maintain a good level of understanding of firm policy and process.
• Carry out photocopying and scanning in accordance with the firm’s paper-lite and clear desk policies.
• Proofread all work, checking for spelling and grammar.
• File opening including checking and adhering to compliance requirements.
• Methodically prepare notices for service.
• Prepare completion statements and accounts forms.
• Schedule and manage deeds to ensure records are kept up to date.
• Immediately clarify instructions from fee earners should they be unclear or if deadlines are not made explicit.
• Provide support to other secretaries within the wide Residential Property team and provide cover as and when necessary.
• Ensure that work is completed to a high standard and meets the required deadlines.
• Expert in a variety of software packages such as Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel, to produce correspondence, documents and ensure relevant documentation is produced to a high standard to meet clients’ and fee earners’ expectations and deadlines.
• Format, paginate, number and present documents.
• Use the HMRC and HMLR portals for submitting Stamp Duty Land Tax returns and HM Land Registry applications.

Key Skills/Experience Needed:

• Recent experience as a residential property secretary used to dealing with volume.
• Proven IT/typing skills.
• Experience of working leasehold enfranchisement matters is preferable.
• Positive and professional approach.
• Able to communicate with a wide variety of different people including individuals, local authorities, corporate entities, landlords and tenants.
• Strong organisational skills.
• The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic team worker with previous residential property experience (ideally within leasehold enfranchisement), looking for an opportunity to join a dynamic market leading firm.
• You will be able to work efficiently and effectively under pressure and to deadlines.

Benefits:

• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays rising with service.
• Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service.
• Private Healthcare – BUPA (offered after probation is passed).
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee).
• Staff Profit Share / Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share).
• Life Assurance – 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance.
• Paid ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) day.
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave.
• Season Ticket Loan.
• Gym Flex membership.
• Electric car scheme.
• Dress for your Day Policy.
• Agile Working Policy.