Legal PA - L&DM - 12 Month FTC - London

We are Eversheds Sutherland, a global law firm, with more than 5,000 people across over 30 countries. We’re full‑service with deep niche and sector experience. Whatever the challenge, wherever in the world, we’re equipped and ready to meet it. We live our values, we’re purposeful and purpose‑led. So although the world is fast‑moving and rapidly changing, we see it as a place where everyone can thrive. We’re ambitious for our clients, our communities – and for you.

Our global Litigation team has led clients through some of the most complex disputes around the world. These frequently involve:

• global trade
• crisis management
• sophisticated corporate transactions
• limiting exposure to losses
• complicated contractual relationships

As a Legal PA within our Practice Group Support team, your role is pivotal. You’ll provide confidential, professional and proactive support to a designated group of stakeholders. Confidence, effective communication and influential skills are essential. We value an assertive and forward‑thinking approach.

Diverse responsibilities: Our Legal PAs handle a wide range of tasks, supporting various aspects of our business.

Empowerment and mentorship: You’ll lead by example, fostering ongoing personal and professional development among junior colleagues and peers.

Continuous learning: We invest in your professional development through our development plans. We offer personalised mentoring and coaching, technical training and soft skills courses to boost motivation and success in your career path.

Culture of feedback: Our culture thrives on continuous feedback that builds confidence, development and recognition of achievements.

Pro Bono, Community and Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) opportunities: Beyond your daily tasks, we encourage you to contribute to Pro Bono, Community and D&I initiatives. Make a difference by using your skills to benefit our communities.

Ambition for people, clients and communities: Our ambition extends beyond business success. We are equally committed to the growth and well‑being of our people, clients and the broader community.

Staying ahead: Collaborate closely with lawyers, take ownership of tasks and exceed business expectations, anticipate challenges, adapt to changing technologies.

Role And Key Responsibilities

Stakeholder engagement: Conduct regular one to one meetings with stakeholders to discuss actions, priorities, expectations and future planning. Attend team meetings to stay informed and contribute effectively. Act as a liaison point for both internal and external clients, draft clear and concise replies to incoming correspondence. Assist with client queries during stakeholder absences. Maintain a flexible approach and adopt hybrid working to accommodate stakeholder and client needs.

Adaptability and collaboration: Demonstrate client service excellence by being responsive to stakeholder requests. Support the wider PA team, covering for team members during absences or when required to ensure continued resource.

Efficient mailbox, diary and travel management: Proactively manage mailboxes and diaries including travel coordination. Anticipate future needs and take initiative to resolve conflicts.

Meeting organisation and coordination: Draft agendas and prepare for internal and external meetings. Ensure necessary equipment and refreshments for both physical and virtual meetings using available technology and resources.

Workflow management and delegation: Own the end‑to‑end process, be accountable for successful conclusion of all stakeholder requests. Delegate tasks effectively across dedicated support teams such as billing, finance, team assistants, document production to meet expectations and deadlines in line with the Scope of Service.

Document management: Undertake urgent and short document work. Collaborate with the document production team for larger documents utilising our dedicated software.

Matter management: Manage the entire client and matter opening process including electronic filing, collaborating with stakeholders and other business support teams.

Financial administration and compliance: Provide financial administrative support to stakeholders, coordinating with billing and finance teams, ensuring compliance with legal, firm‑wide and practice‑specific policies and procedures.

Pitch and presentation creation: Collaborate with the Document Production Team to create impactful pitches and PowerPoint presentations for stakeholders.

Marketing and business development: Coordinate and organise events, create event material, digital working lists and communicate with attendees to ensure a seamless end‑to‑end process.

Championing process improvements: Be an advocate for process changes within the organisation, influence decisions and be a part of the solution.

Efficient administration: Manage electronic filing, records maintenance and expenses effectively using the firm’s designated software.

Technology utilisation: Leverage the firm’s technology as a key business tool for managing, updating, reporting and research. Create and maintain data sites for efficient collaboration. Seek opportunities to embrace technologies that improve our ways of working and drive productivity in day‑to‑day activities.

Skills And Experience

Experience in a similar environment: Experience working within a comparable professional setting, providing seamless adaptation to our busy environment.

Client service excellence: Strive to exceed client expectations by delivering outstanding service. Anticipate client needs and proactively address any issues.

Problem‑solving and initiative: Be a proactive problem solver. Anticipate challenges, take initiative and implement solutions efficiently. Aspire for excellence in all tasks. Show dedication and commitment to achieving strategic goals.

Effective communication: Demonstrate excellent communication skills when liaising with stakeholders and clients. Your ability to convey information clearly and professionally is essential.

Delegation and ownership: Delegate tasks across dedicated support teams while maintaining overall ownership of transactional activities.

High‑level support: Provide exceptional PA support to senior stakeholders, including managing calendars, organising meetings and handling confidential information.

Relationship building: Cultivate strong relationships both internally and externally. Collaborate effectively with colleagues and clients.

Task management and risk awareness: Skillfully manage tasks with expertise, seeking ways to enhance efficiency and quality. Balance priorities and stay alert to risks, ensuring tasks are completed on time and stakeholder expectations are met.

Flexibility: Demonstrate flexibility and embrace change. Adapt seamlessly to evolving work environments.

Microsoft applications proficiency: Demonstrate intermediate to advanced skills in Microsoft applications including Outlook, Teams and Copilot.

Team collaboration: Contribute to a positive team environment. Offer support to colleagues when needed.

What’s in it for you?

We’re fair, transparent and equitable. We share in the success of the firm, reward alignment to our values, going above and beyond and your individual performance. We support flexible ways of working through our hybrid working policy and commitment to flexible, agile and hybrid ways of working. We support your health and performance through our dental, healthcare and wellness support. We support everything you are and all you bring through our powerful commitment to diversity and inclusion. We provide a platform for your career, whatever your ambitions through our structured professional and personal training, mentoring and development programs. We provide experience and opportunity through international and cross‑function exposure. We provide an opportunity to give back through our pro bono work and community engagement. We help you plan ahead through retirement planning, insurance and assurance.

Diversity & Inclusion

At Eversheds Sutherland, “Inclusive” is a core business value. We bring together different skillsets, global mindsets and approaches. We foster diversity of thought and the freedom to put ideas into action. We have an inherent respect for the individual. We have a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Sharing ideas, asking questions, solving challenges and meeting our clients’ goals: together. We want all our people to thrive at work and reach their full potential and we work hard to continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture, monitor and report on our progress and impact, and develop our approach. This is reflected in our policies, systems and processes, and in our work with diversity membership organisations. Many of our people work flexibly in some way and we are open to considering how we can accommodate flexible working arrangements alongside role requirements. If this is important to you, please talk to us about it during the recruitment process. We want you to perform at your best during our recruitment process. If there is any adjustment or support you need, please contact us so we can discuss how we can best assist you.