Fees Clerk in London

Blackstone Chambers is a leading set of barrister’s chambers, specialising in commercial, public & regulatory, competition, sport, financial services and employment law. Based in the Temple, it has 129 barrister members and 40+ staff members. Chambers has recently moved back into fully refurbished offices overlooking Middle Temple Gardens.

Applications are sought for an experienced and commercially minded Fees Clerks with a minimum of 3 years' relevant experience to join Blackstone Chambers’ Finance Team. Working closely with the Head of Finance, Senior Clerks and fellow Fees Clerks, you will take ownership of the billing and debt collection function, ensuring that client relationships are managed with professionalism and discretion. This is a hands‑on role in a busy, fast‑paced environment. The successful candidate will be confident managing a substantial aged debt, comfortable communicating with barristers and solicitors at all levels, and motivated to continuously improve processes and outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Fee Collection & Debt Management
  • Maintain a structured fee‑chasing cycle across email, written correspondence, and telephone, ensuring all follow‑up activity falls within agreed timescales and escalation protocols.
  • Manage and review an aged debt, producing accurate month‑end and ad hoc reports for the Head of Finance and Senior Clerks.
  • Analyse aged debt data to identify trends, risks and opportunities, presenting findings to senior management.
  • Liaise with barristers individually to review their aged debt position, following up with written summaries of agreed actions and status.
  • Resolve fee‑related queries efficiently and thoroughly from initial receipt through to final resolution, escalating to senior clerks where appropriate.
• Systems & Administration
  • Maintain the practice management system (LEX) with comprehensive notes on all outstanding matters, attaching supporting documentation to each case record.
  • Undertake fee note reconciliations accurately and in a timely manner.
  • Provide reliable advice to barristers and clerks on fee note queries, drawing on a sound understanding of chambers billing procedures.
  • Assist in preparing regular progress reports for the Senior Clerks on collection activity and outstanding balances.
  • Assist in developing and documenting best‑practice debt collection processes, ensuring full use is made of available technology and systems.
  • Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and professionalism in all client facing and internal communications.

Person Specification

• Proven experience in a fees or credit control role, ideally within a barrister’s chambers or legal professional services environment.
• Working knowledge of the LEX practice management system preferable.
• Solid understanding of the debt collection lifecycle and its commercial importance within a chamber’s environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to liaise effectively with barristers, solicitors and clients.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and meet deadlines under pressure.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail in all financial record keeping and reporting.
• Discreet, professional and approachable; able to build working relationships at all levels.

Contract Terms

• Core working hours for this role are 9am – 6pm (5 days per week).
• 25 days holiday per calendar year, plus 8 bank holidays; limit of one week’s holiday permissible during legal term time.
• Flexible working available; working from home, 1 day a week.
• Benefits include interest‑free season ticket loan, private health insurance and private GP after probation, as well as income protection, critical illness and death‑in‑service insurance.
• Auto‑enrolment pension scheme membership.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Blackstone Chambers strives to be an equal opportunities employer and is committed to diversity amongst its members and staff. We encourage and welcome applications from women, people of minority ethnic origin and people with disabilities as well as candidates from other groups which are underrepresented in the legal sector.