Legal PA

London, England, United Kingdom

12/10/2024

The firm

Shoosmiths is the law firm clients choose for excellent service, incisive thinking and above all for our ability to focus on what matters. From offices across the UK and Brussels, we support some of the world’s most exciting and ambitious businesses; amazing clients making an impact. We empower our people to be their authentic selves and deliver together in supportive teams committed to excellence and innovation. The first top 50 law firm to achieve ‘Platinum Standard’ Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm.

We have an outstanding benefits package to complement our competitive remuneration system. In addition to the competitive salaries, great working environment and high-quality work, we believe that all staff should be rewarded for their commitment to the continued success of the firm through a comprehensive and flexible range of benefits.

To discover more about our benefits, please visit: Benefits Package

The team

Our construction and engineering team advises on all aspects of legal construction matters, from strategic advice on procurement and institutional and market expectations at project inception, to contentious aspects of projects during and after the completion of a project. The team of five partners and ten other qualified lawyers, from senior associates to paralegals, helps clients across the industry, including developers, contractors, sub-contractors, consultants, public authorities, higher education bodies and funding and letting entities. We advise on development work, major infrastructure projects, remediation contracts and process plant and power generation projects. We also advise clients on disputed issues, and act in adjudication, Technology and Construction Court actions, and arbitration and mediation.

The role

Providing a full PA secretarial service supporting Partners and Legal Advisors and where required cover any secretarial absences within the rest of the office where necessary. This role requires proactive thinking to support the needs of the Legal Advisor.

Main responsibilities

• PA support to Partners and LA’s which includes confidential matters, diary management, organising meetings, events, expenses, travel arrangements etc
• Typing of documents, letters, emails, updating, tracking and amending
• Printing and binding final documents
• Preparing enclosures ready for signing and sending out with the post.
• Opening and closing client files.
• Archiving files
• Filing of incoming and outgoing post and correspondence.
• Compiling and sending bills, chasing bills as per Legal Advisor instruction
• Cheque requisitions
• Keeping records of closed files
• Interaction with clients mainly over the telephone
• Delta view
• Answering the telephone and dealing with routine enquiries
  
  

Skills and qualifications

• Excellent and accurate keyboard skills required.
• Ideally PA experience within Construction, Real Estate or Litigation practice areas
• Good working knowledge of various applications – word, outlook, digital dictation (PowerPoint and excel helpful but not a necessity).
• Taking care and attention into all correspondence and documentation
• Flexible with the ability to adapt to change, new practices and cope under pressure
• Excellent presentation skills reflected in their work
• A methodical and organised approach with keen attention paid to every detail
• Good organisational skills to ensure that the tasks are effectively scheduled within working time available, and that urgent work is completed and returned within the specified timescales.
• Friendly and helpful approach to dealing with queries
• Excellent communication skills and telephone manner
• Ability to prioritise, be organised and efficient
• Ability to work under pressure
• Good listening skills
• Able to integrate within a team as well as working on ones own initiative
• Work as part of a team ensuring telephones/lunch cover
• Ability to be pro-active and deliver a quality service to both internal and external clients
  
  

Equal opportunities

Our approach to our people is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion and well-being. Our ambition is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents, and a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and has a strong sense of community between colleagues.

This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.