Secretary - Family / Commercial Dispute Resolution in Liverpool

Job role: Secretary

Hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00 - 17:00 (35 hours per week)

At Hill Dickinson, flexibility is an established part of our culture. Our commitment to supporting colleagues to balance their work and home lives has previously been awarded. We are happy to consider flexible working opportunities and welcome conversations about individual requirements throughout the recruitment process.

Team: Commercial Dispute Resolution / Family

Location: Liverpool

Role overview

Introduction to the role:

You will provide an effective and flexible secretarial service to the Family & Commercial Dispute Resolutions teams, alongside two other secretaries who are based in Liverpool and Manchester.

You will become familiar with the team’s various client matters and provide support and assistance to other members of the secretarial team when required.

Introduction to the team:

The Commercial Dispute Resolution Team, headed up nationally by Nina Ferris, act for corporate clients, financial institutions, public bodies and high net worth individuals in relation to complex commercial and finance litigation both in the UK and internationally, helping them tackle disputes effectively.

The Family Team has a reputation for excellence and act for some of the region’s most HNW and high profile individuals from the world of business, media and sport. They offer both a national and international service from the Firm’s worldwide offices. They primarily undertake complex and HNW Divorce and Financial Remedy work, along with Nuptial Agreements and Private Children Law matters. The Team are members of Resolution and are ranked Band 1 in Chambers and Partners in the Liverpool area and ranked by Legal 500 in Band 2 across the Northwest.

Key responsibilities:

• Coordinating administration for the team including:
  • Diary management / arranging meetings
  • Coordinating team diaries and arranging travel
  • Full understanding of the team’s clients and files
  • Opening of client files
  • Ensuring regular and efficient billing and monitoring retainer arrangements
• Draft correspondence and prepare standard documentationfrom audio/copy
• Carry out copying, faxing, archiving, organisation of client files and filing systems, including electronic filing
• Make and receive telephone calls, ensuring all calls are managed
• Arrange couriers/deliveries
• Dealing with invoices
• Prepare monthly client billing, expense claims and general finance tasks
• Maintain database
• Stationery ordering, where appropriate
• Organisation of meetings, domestic and international travel, accommodation and attendance at external events and conference
• If required and by prior agreement travel within the UK from time to time in support of conferences, exhibitions and other events
• Developing good working relationships with both internal colleagues and external clients and contacts as required, promoting a positive working culture and environment
• Working across teams, including in particular business development, in promoting the interests of business
• Developing industry knowledge and attending training as may be necessary or desirable to assist in performance of the role

What are we looking for:

Important criteria:

• Previous experience working in a legal environment
• Willingness to travel and support at external events when required
• Fast and accurate typing speeds
• Previous experience using a case management system
• Conversant in document formatting including track changes, auto-numbering and creating table of contents
• Conversant in document version control
• Proficient in Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Digital dictation and any other in-house systems in use throughout the firm
• Proficient in diary management; meeting arrangements, telephone and email communication
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to prioritise tasks and to work under pressure
• Able to demonstrate adaptability and flexibility
• Able to produce accurate work with strong attention to detail
• Team player who is able to work as part of a team and use initiative but also able to work independently

If you don't meet all of the criteria above but feel that you could add real value to Hill Dickinson, we encourage you to apply and if successful, we can help you develop along the way.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Hill Dickinson is committed to providing fairness and equal opportunity for all regardless of age, gender, gender identity, ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital or transgender status, nationality, religion or belief.

We understand that our power as a firm comes from empowering our people and that it is only by encouraging and enabling individuals to be themselves at work that we can truly benefit from their rich and varied strengths.

Hill Dickinson is an equal opportunities employer. All applications received by the firm will be considered based on their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background and from all routes to qualification, with both the SRA and CILEx.

Disability Support

We are a Disability Confident employer, which means if there is anything that we can do to make your visit easier, so you are able to perform at your best, please let us know. You can contact the HR team at hrteam@hilldickinson.com should you require any adjustments to the application or interview process.

At Hill Dickinson, we welcome applications from individuals that are looking to return to the law as well as all routes to qualification, with both the SRA and CILEx.

All successful candidates will be subject to our standard pre-employment screening, including a basic criminal record check via Disclosure and Barring Service. Any offer of employment made is conditional upon completion of all checks.

Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.