At a Glance
- Tasks: Support legal professionals by managing diaries, organising meetings, and handling client communications.
- Company: Join Williams Lea, a global leader in business-critical support services for top-tier clients.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, gym discounts, and tech perks.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team with opportunities for growth in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Previous PA experience is essential; legal background preferred. Strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Flexible working hours available; part-time role with a focus on work-life balance.
The predicted salary is between 22400 - 28000 ÂŁ per year.
Salary: ÂŁ22,400 per annum (FTE ÂŁ28,000), plus company benefits
Contract: Part Time, Permanent
Shifts: 30 hours per week, Monday – Friday, either 9am - 3.30pm or 10am - 4.30pm with 30 minute unpaid break
Williams Lea seeks a Personal Assistant to join our team! Williams Lea is the leading global provider of skilled, technology-enabled, business-critical support services, with long-term trusted relationships with blue-chip clients across investment banks, law firms and professional services firms.
Purpose of role
The role of the Personal Assistant is to provide enhanced, proactive support to fee earners to enable them to operate efficiently. The support provided needs to be a seamless legal service to clients. The Personal Assistant role is expected to use a high degree of self-management and initiative and to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
The Personal Assistant will act as workflow manager for other support services. This includes delegating and supervising the completion of document production, file management and copying/scanning work which are primarily undertaken by other relevant business support services.
Key responsibilities
- Proactively managing complex diaries
- Answering telephone calls in a timely fashion, taking clear and detailed messages
- Organising internal and external meetings
- Liaising with clients via email or telephone and acting as a point of contact in keeping with the firm’s standards for client care
- Assisting fee earners in the billing and credit control process. Generating accurate billing reports, draft bills, and accompanying letters in a timely manner
- Assisting fee earners with finance tasks, namely requesting cheques, CHAPS/BACS payments, bank transfers and paying in money received, as appropriate
- Ensuring accurate and timely use of client relationship management tool to facilitate matter opening, maintenance, closure and archiving
- Maintaining up to date client records on the firm’s client relationship management tool, including client contact details, client specific requests in relation to billing and bill formats, details of other parties etc in line with the firm’s policy and processes
- Co-ordinating fee earner movements and making travel arrangements
- Managing the client and matter inception process ensuring files are opened in a timely manner in accordance with the firm’s policies
- Managing the process of submitting partner/fee earners expenses in a timely manner
- Co-ordinating the completion of document production (including digital dictations/manuscript amendments), e-filing and file management, photocopying and scanning services, organising couriers, sending out of letters/faxes etc
- Managing the production of official papers including bundles and relevant documents
- Drafting documents from precedents
- Liaising with fee earners and support staff based in other offices
- Actively participating in all relevant training
- Demonstrating flexibility with working practices/processes in line with the business need, especially in times of pressure/ high workload
- Assisting other members of the department, both proactively and at the request of the team leader and work effectively with other legal and support departments as required
Personal attributes
- Previous PA experience is essential
- Previous experience within a legal or professional services setting preferable
- Exceptional standard of written and verbal communication
- Competent with the Microsoft Office suite
- Team player
Rewards and Benefits
We believe in supporting our employees in both their professional and personal lives. As part of our commitment to your well-being, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to:
- 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part time roles)
- Salary sacrifice schemes, retail vouchers – including our TechScheme which can be used on a range of gadgets such as Smart TVs, laptops and computers or household appliances.
- Life Assurance
- Private Medical Insurance
- Health Assessments
- Discounted gym memberships
- Referral Scheme
You will also have the opportunity to work for a global employer who is dedicated to offering each and every employee an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding career with future career development prospects!
Equality and Diversity
The Company values the differences that a diverse workforce brings to the organisation and will not discriminate because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation (each of these being a “protected characteristic” in discrimination law). It will not discriminate because of any other irrelevant factor and will build a culture that values openness, fairness and transparency.
If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format or would like to make a reasonable adjustment to enable you to make an interview please contact us at careersatWL@williamslea.com (we do not accept applications to this email address).
Legal Personal Assistant employer: Williams Lea
Contact Detail:
Williams Lea Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Legal Personal Assistant
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the legal terminology and processes relevant to the role. This will not only help you understand the job better but also demonstrate your commitment and knowledge during any discussions with us.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Williams Lea on platforms like LinkedIn. Engaging with them can provide you with insider insights about the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable in your conversations with us.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your previous experience as a Personal Assistant, especially in a legal setting. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've managed complex tasks and supported fee earners effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, as this is crucial for the role. Consider brushing up on advanced features that can enhance productivity, and be prepared to discuss how you've used these tools in past roles.
We think you need these skills to ace Legal Personal Assistant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience as a Personal Assistant, especially in legal or professional services. Use keywords from the job description to demonstrate your fit for the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your understanding of the role and the company. Mention specific skills like diary management and communication that align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your application, emphasise any previous PA experience, particularly in a legal context. Provide examples of how you've successfully managed complex tasks and maintained confidentiality.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your CV and cover letter for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail, which is crucial for a Personal Assistant role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Williams Lea
✨Showcase Your PA Experience
Make sure to highlight your previous experience as a Personal Assistant, especially in a legal or professional services setting. Be prepared to discuss specific tasks you managed and how they contributed to the efficiency of the team.
✨Demonstrate Communication Skills
Since exceptional written and verbal communication is crucial for this role, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. You might be asked to provide examples of how you've effectively communicated with clients or colleagues in the past.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Microsoft Office
As a Personal Assistant, you'll need to be competent with the Microsoft Office suite. Brush up on your skills, particularly in Word and Excel, and be ready to discuss how you've used these tools in your previous roles.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and flexibility under pressure. Think of examples from your past where you successfully managed complex situations or tight deadlines.