File Opening Assistant - Residential Conveyancing (Durham or Darlington) in North East

We are currently looking to recruit a File Opening Assistant to support the Residential Conveyancing team in Durham or Darlington. This role will be based in our Durham or Darlington office, but we may expect you to travel to Durham for training.

This is a full-time role which is 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday with an hour’s break for lunch. However, at EMG Solicitors we work flexibly; it’s not a 9 to 5 role, but we do expect the work to be done, when you do it can be largely up to yourself, your Team Leader and the requirements of your clients.

A brief overview of the role: This role works within the Residential Conveyancing department with the conveyancers and conveyancing assistants on all administrative duties. The main responsibilities of the role include:

• File opening
• Providing quotations
• Assisting in directing file related queries to the appropriate person
• Assisting in the processing of matters in a timely and cost-effective basis

What will we expect from you:

• Support to your colleagues
• To undertake your duties professionally and with the utmost skill and care
• Work both on your own and as part of a team
• Always put clients first and respect their confidentiality
• Oversee general office administration such as logging incoming cheques, maintaining internal registers, storage of deeds and documents
• Open new files as appropriate, including taking initial enquiries, sending out initial letters and making appointments for client visits, transferring time/relevant documents and closing files
• Answer incoming calls, take messages and follow through any necessary actions where required
• Provide quotations to prospective clients and introducers and build relationships with them
• Arrange the file opening process for the conveyancing team across multiple offices
• Ensure all clients' personal details are kept up to date on our electronic system
• Send electronic ID checks to all clients for the conveyancing team across multiple offices

To be able to perform this job you will need:

• Strong typing skills and be able to use Microsoft systems competently including Excel and Word
• An understanding of email systems, portals and other IT as appropriate
• A good standard of education, including good spoken and written English skills
• Experience of telephone work and working in a client care environment
• Previous experience working within a busy administrative function, particularly within a legal conveyancing department or in a similar property-related role would be desirable
• Ability to work well individually as well as part of a team
• Ensuring that the firms’ procedures are always adhered to and followed, respecting client confidentiality at all times
• Well motivated, demonstrate initiative and have a positive attitude
• Confidence to inform the team leader of any serious problems you could encounter
• Willingness to attend and complete any relevant training as required

A little bit about us: We are an award-winning Legal 500 Boutique law firm with offices across the North. We provide a range of legal advice to both private individuals and businesses across the region and nationally. Our mission is to provide the legal support our clients require to achieve anything from their basic needs to their wildest dreams and everything in between.

A little bit about the colleague we’re looking for: We’re looking for a colleague who aligns with our core values of:

• Cooperation - we proactively support our clients and each other
• Courage - we are ambitious and think big
• Integrity - we are open and transparent
• Kindness - we value people, communities, having fun and being happy

We want someone who will work proactively to deliver exceptional client service through the knowledge and skills they bring to the role. We want someone who will go the extra mile for both their clients and their colleagues.

What We Offer: We take pride in our employment offer and believe it has something to appeal to everyone. We provide a full complement of training to support you and develop you in being the best you can be in your role; this starts with a comprehensive induction to really help you settle into your new role. Our pension scheme is currently run through Standard Life and our employer contributions are 4%, we also provide death in service cover of three times salary. Holidays are 25 days per year plus Bank Holidays and we also have 3-days non-contractual leave at Christmas, these holidays are all pro rata for colleagues who work part-time. On each 5th year of employment, you receive an additional 5 days holiday for that year. We like to celebrate things, so for your birthday you will receive a £50 voucher to spend on anything you like and to give you time to spend it you can have a late start or early finish on or around your birthday. We also want you to enjoy Christmas, so we give all our colleagues a £50 voucher at Christmas as well. To help you stay fit and well we provide free flu jabs to those colleagues who want one and for colleagues who are having babies we support them through Dear Bump, providing welfare packs and support through your pregnancy. Finally, if you want to take the family or friends out, we have two passes for the Beamish open air museum which you can book out and take up to 10 people to the museum free of charge.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: EMG Solicitors is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Join us and help ensure EMG continues to deliver excellence, integrity and compliance while supporting clients to achieve anything from their basic needs to their wildest dreams and everything in between.