Legal Assistant (Court of Protection) in Northampton

We are looking for a proactive, highly organized, service-focused individual, with a keen financial focus, to fulfil a crucial role in our support staff within our Older and Vulnerable Persons (OVP) / Court of Protection team as part of our Private Client function. Based in either our Northampton or Cheltenham Office and reporting to our Head of Team, you will provide in-depth business support to the Partners and fee earners within the OVP team.

Responsibilities

• Keeping accurate financial data for vulnerable clients;
• Accessing bank accounts, managing and making payments as directed;
• Regular reconciliation of bank statements as they come in monthly;
• Oversight of client finances, alerting Fee Earners where Local Authority thresholds are approached and forecasting to ensure funds can be drawn down or topped up as appropriate;
• Ability to make phone calls and organise diaries/inboxes as required for a wide team;
• Preparation of bills and sending to clients;
• Keeping other client spreadsheets, records and information up to date;
• Financial filing and allocation of post electronically;
• Setting up bank accounts;
• Making telephone calls to the court, OPG, clients and third parties;
• Being the first point of contact for any administrative and business support requirements for fee earners, anticipating the team’s needs where possible;
• Providing administrative and secretarial support to the Head of Team as Notary Public, including arranging appointments, sending terms, raising bills, scanning and storing Notarial documents.

Training in relation to care funding thresholds will be provided. Previous knowledge or experience of the Court of Protection would be an advantage.

About You

• Experience within a legal environment or professional services environment would be advantageous;
• Comfortable with figures and account reconciliations. Strong accounting/financial background would be an advantage;
• Adept with Excel spreadsheets and data entry;
• Experience in case management systems would be desirable;
• Experience of working in a client/customer facing environment;
• Sound knowledge of IT skills in Microsoft Office, Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams, Zoom, etc.;
• Excellent attention to detail in all aspects of your work;
• Strong communication and organisation skills.

We are open to seeing candidates who are looking for part-time or full-time hours.

Benefits

• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme;
• Support staff bonus scheme;
• Electric vehicle scheme;
• 28 days annual leave (plus public holidays);
• Happy People / Perks at Work benefits portal;
• Cycle to Work scheme;
• Life Assurance;
• 1/3 gym membership contribution;
• Flu vaccinations.

Equal Opportunities

As HCR is an equal opportunities employer, we don’t just accept differences, we celebrate them. We are privileged to be an armed forces-friendly organisation.