Crown Court Diary Assistant (Maternity Cover) in Dartford

GT Stewart is looking for a Crown Court Diary Assistant, to provide essential administrative support to the Crown Court teams, with primary responsibility for the accurate and efficient management of the Crown Court diary.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain the Crown Court diary as a priority, ensuring all listings, results, and follow-on dates are recorded and actioned promptly.
• Monitor daily diary results to identify and chase any missing outcomes.
• Ensure Representation Orders are in place and MC/YC cases are billed in lower courts before committal or transfer.
• Book Instructed Advocates for upcoming hearings, ensuring briefs are provided 24 hours before the listing.
• Schedule visits for fee earners to see clients in custody or elsewhere, ensuring all necessary documentation is on the case file.
• Arrange conferences with Instructed Advocates, notifying clients, fee earners and experts as appropriate.
• Coordinate clerks' attendance at hearings where required.
• Notify clients, family members, sureties, and defence witnesses of Crown Court listings.
• Open and update DPS Crown Court files, including NDOH, CC reference, and instructed Advocate details.
• Chase clerks for hearing results and ensure CC forms are stocked and accurate.
• Maintain and update the approved list of Instructed Advocates.
• Remind fee earners of upcoming deadlines and listings, promoting excellent administration within the Crown Court section.
• Check and bill Crown Court litigator fees at case conclusion and submit advocacy claims where appropriate.
• Answer telephone queries, recording and forwarding messages where necessary, ensuring urgent matters are prioritised.
• Work in line with office policies, assist colleagues during absences, and liaise with the Practice Manager to improve office systems.

Person Specification

• Experience in managing the Crown Court diary accurately and efficiently.
• Strong organisational skills and methodical approach.
• Ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks under pressure.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in record-keeping.
• Professional, discreet handling of sensitive client matters.
• Respond quickly to urgent enquiries without supervision.
• Effective communication with colleagues, clients, and external contacts.
• Team-oriented and supportive of colleagues.

Desirable

• IT proficiency.
• Knowledge of court procedures and police station processes.
• Clear, professional communication at all levels.
• Reliable, proactive, and able to take initiative.
• Empathy for vulnerable or disadvantaged clients.
• Willingness to learn and develop professionally.

Working With Us

The salary for this position is dependent on experience. We will offer ongoing training and support to develop your career as part of a strong and growing multi-office team. Our offices are friendly, working entirely paperless with recent significant investment in modern IT to enable you to work proficiently. We offer a great package of annual leave to ensure you get enough time away from work. Our annual leave for this role provides 23 days (plus bank holidays / Christmas and New Year). We review annual leave and increase with service.

Employee Benefits

• Competitive base salary.
• Pension Scheme with employer contribution.
• Additional Birthday Leave.
• Electric Vehicle Scheme.
• Optional Benenden Health Care.
• Administrative support.
• Firm laptop.
• Ongoing training and development.
• Supportive supervision from mentors.
• Annual appraisals and salary reviews.
• Bi-annual parties for Summer and Christmas.
• Additional perks and benefits.
• Competitive training packages.

We have a dedicated in-bound telephony team to take calls and messages for our fee earners. Lawyers also have the benefit of dictation and support staff to assist in easing the pressure and enabling efficient working. We are a multi-office, multi-service Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners firm recognised for excellence in a variety of legal fields.