Legal Assistant - Employment in London

Note for Agencies: We are currently only accepting direct applications for this role. Please refrain from sending through applications via email to either the HR team or Partners at the firm as they will not be accepted as an introduction for the purpose of any fees. We operate a PSL for agencies that have agreed to our terms who will be invited to submit candidates at the appropriate time.

Main Purpose of Role: To play a key role in Joelson’s Employment department by delivering a first-class service to clients and supporting partners and colleagues across a broad range of fee-earning matters. N.B. this role will primarily be covering administrative duties and would not be suitable for candidates that are seeking paralegal or training contract opportunities.

Hours: Three days per week, 9.30am to 5.30pm, with Wednesday as the team day.

The Opportunity: Joelson is a thriving commercial law firm based in London’s West End, with 60+ people. This Legal Assistant role sits within the busy Employment team and would suit a proactive candidate with administrative experience who is keen to develop in a legal environment. The successful candidate will play an important role in delivering a high level of client service, providing administrative support and assisting the department. They will report to the Partners in the Employment team.

The role involves:

• Opening new electronic and paper files, obtaining and uploading ID documents, securing system approval, and issuing client engagement and matter acknowledgement letters
• Following up team members of diary events
• Producing, amending, formatting documents and letters
• Making sure all emails, letters, documents and invoices etc. are filed correctly
• Arranging conference calls
• Answering the telephones when other members of staff are absent from the office
• Monitoring and recording client referrals on Lawman
• Supporting fee-earners with expenses
• Scanning and printing documents
• Helping the team to prepare for any training sessions/seminars they are giving - including preparation of PowerPoint presentations and handouts
• Getting involved with departmental marketing/BD tasks
• All aspects of billing for the department including producing and sending out invoices
• Assisting with ad hoc departmental and firm-wide projects
• Closing and archiving of files when necessary
• Working to strict deadlines
• Opening and distribution of clients’ registered office post

Ideal Candidate: Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Good work ethic
• Good academic results to A Level
• Experience of working as a secretary or PA, ideally within a law firm
• Good typing speed and accuracy
• An outgoing, enthusiastic and confident manner
• Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing
• Strong organisation and administration skills and experience, with the ability to prioritise workloads effectively
• Good attention to detail with the ability to execute tasks efficiently
• A friendly and personable approach with colleagues and externally
• A proactive, flexible attitude
• Ability to work on his/her own initiative as well as working well as part of a team
• Ability to learn and pick up new skills
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and an ability to pick up new systems quickly.

Recruitment Process: Our recruitment process is designed to help us get to know you while giving you the opportunity to learn more about our firm and the role.

• Stage 1 - First Interview: You'll meet the Head of HR and a Legal Secretary. This interview focuses on your experience, skills, motivation for applying and gives you the chance to ask any questions about the role and our firm.
• Stage 2 - Final Interview & Written Test: If the first interview is successful, candidates will be invited to a second stage interview with a Senior Associate and a Partner, or two Partners. As part of this stage, you will also complete a written assessment designed to evaluate your written communication.

Following the final stage, we'll be in touch to let you know the outcome as soon as possible.

Environment, Social & Governance: Being a responsible business is at the core of what we do. We place value in creating a fair and equal working environment and ensuring that we operate ethically. Our B-Corp certification shows our dedication to these values! Which is why we place great emphasis on taking care of our employees, managing our social and environmental impact within our community through undertaking Pro Bono cases and by being a member of LawWorks. We have partnered with Ecologi and are now a climate positive workforce. Moreover, this year we are proud to be supporting City Harvest as our firm charity.

Our commitment to inclusion: At Joelson we actively encourage diversity and inclusion as an integral part of the cultural fabric of our firm. It is in our mission to provide equitable opportunities for all. As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from under-represented identities to help improve our diverse thinking across all specialisms. As a part of this, you will receive a short survey upon submission of your application, so that we have data by which to measure our progress and continue to improve our diversity levels. Such diversity data will be anonymised to protect applicant privacy.