Legal Secretary

Currently seeking a motivated and organised Legal Secretary to join a leading law firm specialising in real estate and residentiallaw matters. The ideal candidate will have experience supporting in a fast-paced legal environment, with a strong focus on property and real estate law.To provide administrative and secretarial support to the Real Estate residential team based in West Sussex.

JOB PURPOSE:

To provide administrative and secretarial support to the Real Estate residential team.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Previous residential property experience required.
• Fast and accurate copy and typing skills.
• Legal background and knowledge or experience of conveyancing process preferred.
• Excellent IT skills with experience in Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Outlook and Internet.
• Ability to use track changes.
• Ideally previous experience of digital dictation and a case manager system.
• Strong attention to detail, and professional telephone manner.
• Effective administrative, communication, decision making and team working skills.
• Good standard of written English and grammar.
• RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
• Preparation of correspondence, reports, memos, forms and bills from digital dictation, manuscript and precedents in compliance with the front house style guide;
• Completion of standard forms without fee earner assistance and production of standard letters without dictation;
• Preparing applications for registration at Land Registry and carrying out Land Registry searches and local authority searches;
• Deal with general telephone enquiries, take telephone calls in absence of fee earner and report to fee earner, receive and relay messages to and from clients and other professionals on behalf of fee earner;
• pen files using Ignite file opening system, generate initial client letters and engagement summary (the Welcome Pack) and once approved send to client with all relevant enclosures e.g. Sale/Purchase Questionnaires, Property forms, etc.
• Close files using standard procedures, maintain an efficient filing system and review files to identify where follow up action required;
• Comply with office procedures for word processing file management;
• Carry out basic accounting transactions and deal with financial queries;
• Prepare completion statements and invoices, assist in preparation and submission of Stamp Duty Land tax returns;
• Attend Group meetings and such training courses as determined by the Group Leader;
• Scanning incoming documents to electronic files;
• Dealing with accounts and obtain partner’s signature on financial CHAPS/BACS dockets.