Legal Assistant in London

One source is a fully integrated shared legal service providing legal advice to Newham and Havering; two busy, innovative and progressive Councils. It also provides legal advice to a range of external public sector organisations such as schools, colleges and other local authorities. The service is Lexcel accredited and has high standards in the quality of the advice given to clients and in the professionalism of its staff.

Supporting six legal teams with 80 fee earners, our legal business support team plays an integral role in the running of the service. This Legal Assistant role will join five others to provide support to lawyers in handling day-to-day legal cases, carrying out tasks such as legal research, collation of court bundles, liaison with third parties such as the courts and external barristers, and maintaining case data on the service’s legal case management system.

We are looking for a proactive legal administrator who has excellent communication and IT skills and the ability to work using their own initiative with competing priorities and deadlines. Our service operates a hybrid working model with some working from home and time spent in the office. You may, on occasion, need to attend both Newham and Havering’s offices as part of your duties but on a day-to-day basis our main location is Newham’s Dockside offices situated near London City Airport and next to the Docklands Light Railway.

Team player, highly motivated, resilient, and confidently able to act independently. You will use your initiative when appropriate to ensure clients’ interests are protected. You need good communication and IT skills and the ability to manage competing priorities. Local government experience is desirable.

The London Borough of Newham is a Disability Confident employer. Candidates who declare that they have a disability in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and meet the essential criteria as specified in the Job Profile will be guaranteed an interview. Newham is one of the youngest, most diverse, and vibrant boroughs in the UK. As an inclusive employer we welcome and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, including applicants who are ethnically diverse and/or have a disability.

Priority consideration on all advertised roles will be given to London Borough of Newham redeployees. The London Borough of Newham is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expects staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Please be aware that a Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) check will be required for any position with access to these groups under the provision of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. In addition, the Authority reserves the right to request employees undertake a basic disclosure check (Disclosure Scotland) where required for the role, which includes anyone who has access to or information obtained directly from a government database, or has a GCSX.