Legal Support Assistant (FTC) in Exeter

We are seeking a motivated PA/Secretary eager to advance their career by joining a highly successful real estate team. This is a 12-month fixed-term contract opportunity.

Our Real Estate team advises commercial and public bodies on the full range of real estate related specialisms, helping our clients achieve their commercial objectives. The team provides legal advice and support on large scale property developments, urban regeneration, self-invested pension schemes and real estate investments. We work with a range of clients including private individuals, house builders, commercial developers, offshore investors, planners, housing associations and local authorities.

The culture of the team is supportive and inclusive, with lots of opportunities to learn and get involved in the wider Real Estate division. You will join as a Legal Support Assistant (Legal PA/Secretary) and receive training and support from the existing and highly experienced support team. You will provide proactive PA support to a team of lawyers supporting activities such as compliance, billing, email and matter management, business development activities and credit control. You will also manage diaries including travel arrangements, expenses, meetings and accommodation. You will build excellent working relationships with clients and colleagues, often being the first point of contact.

You are passionate about providing an excellent level of support and have a can-do and helpful attitude. You have a keen eye for detail, are keen to prove yourself in the role and to develop the role. You are eager to learn and understand the Firm’s services and how we work with clients and support colleagues. You are good at providing proactive support and anticipating the needs of those you are supporting and your colleagues.

Ideally you will have some legal support experience from a previous role. Although not essential, some customer service experience would also be beneficial, since you can expect to have contact with clients. You will be working from our Exeter office so the ability to commute to the office is important.

At Ashfords, we believe in more than just doing great work - we believe in building a great place to work. When you join us, you become part of a team where everything we do is underpinned by our four core values: Be Open, Think Team, Make a Difference and Always Grow. These values shape who we are and how we work - they guide our decisions, influence our culture, and drive the way we support our people, clients and communities.

With a clear focus on innovation, community involvement, and supporting a healthy work-life balance, we are committed to building an environment where our people can have a rewarding and meaningful career. Whilst we recognise that every career journey is unique, we will be ambitious for you, giving you the tools, trust, and opportunities to develop your career, your way. Our goal? To help you realise your full potential as part of a forward-thinking team.

We know that our people are at the heart of everything we do and that’s why we’re committed to supporting your wellbeing, growth and work-life balance. Beyond our benefits package, you’ll be encouraged, no matter what your role or career level, to get involved in our Responsible Business programme, where you’ll support initiatives such as charity fundraising, environmental causes and our employee led diversity and inclusion groups.

You can find out more about our benefits by visiting the Reward & Wellbeing page on our website.

Our recruitment process typically involves two stages, designed not only to explore your skills and experience but also to give you a real insight into what it’s like to work at Ashfords. Our dedicated Talent Attraction team will support you every step of the way.

We believe that building a firm with a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences drives innovation and strengthens our teams, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. To support your growth, we offer ongoing training and development opportunities to help you reach your full potential so even if you don’t feel you match all the requirements of the job role, we’d still love to hear from you.

At Ashfords, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to succeed. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or would like to discuss anything regarding your application, please contact us. For an informal and confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Kitty Hughes, Talent Attraction Assistant via email. Or apply now, and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible.