Legal PA - Planning

The role involves playing a core supporting role in the Planning team by providing a dedicated PA service to the senior leadership. The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate energy and enthusiasm together with proactive thinking and excellent planning and diary management skills.

The team is one of the most respected and fast‑growing planning teams in the UK, advising a broad spectrum of clients including leading commercial and residential developers, strategic land promoters, investors, funders, and public‑sector bodies. Recognised nationally for its comprehensive expertise, the team is noted for its strength in navigating complex planning regimes, negotiating Section 106 agreements, and securing consent for some of the country’s most ambitious development schemes.

The firm is the law firm clients choose for excellent service, incisive thinking and above all for our ability to focus on what matters. We support some of the world’s most exciting and ambitious businesses; amazing clients making an impact. We empower our people to be their authentic selves and deliver together in supportive teams committed to excellence and innovation.

We have an outstanding benefits package to complement our competitive remuneration system. In addition to the competitive salaries, great working environment and high‑quality work, we believe that all staff should be rewarded for their commitment to the continued success of the firm through a comprehensive and flexible range of benefits.

• Full diary management.
• Email management.
• Collation and sending out of client monthly reports.
• Undertaking regular billing / financial management relating to various clients.
• Preparation of draft emails and correspondence for approval.
• Typing reports, file notes and attendance notes.
• Complex document production and amendments.
• Preparing enclosures ready for signing and sending out with the post.
• Opening and closing client files in line with Real Estate and Firm policies.
• Undertaking all money laundering compliance on new client inception.
• Undertaking all conflict check compliance on new matter inception.
• Filing and eFiling of incoming and outgoing post and correspondence.
• Preparation of expense claims.
• Cheque requisitions.
• Undertaking all client filing management and archiving tasks.
• Updating interaction with client contact details.
• Management of client data sites including uploading of documents and issuing invitations to third parties to access the site.
• Deeds management.
• Liaising with clients mainly over the telephone.
• Organising meetings, travel arrangements etc.
• Travel booking for legal advisers.
• Preparing bundles and liaising with the court on occasion.
• Answering the telephone and dealing with routine enquiries.

• Previous legal secretarial experience preferred within Real Estate or similar practice area.
• Excellent document production skills in particular within Word, updating complex documents.
• Self‑motivated and able to work without supervision and to a high standard.
• Excellent and accurate keyboard skills required, as you will be required to obtain typing speeds to a minimum of 60 wpm.
• Good working knowledge of various applications – Word, Outlook, digital dictation, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Taking care and attention into all correspondence and documentation.
• Flexible with the ability to adapt to change, new practices and cope under pressure.
• Excellent presentation skills reflected in their work.
• A methodical and organised approach with keen attention paid to every detail.
• Good organisational skills to ensure that the tasks are effectively scheduled within working time available, and that urgent work is completed and returned within the specified timescales.
• The ability to meet competing client and Legal Adviser demands is fundamental to the role.
• Occasional ability to be flexible to meet the demands of the work.
• Friendly and helpful approach to dealing with queries.
• Excellent communication skills and telephone manner.
• Ability to prioritise, be organised and efficient.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Good listening skills.
• Able to integrate within a team as well as working on one’s own initiative.
• Work as part of a team ensuring telephones/lunch cover.
• Ability to be pro‑active and deliver a quality service to both internal and external clients.

Our approach to our people is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion and well‑being. Our ambition is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents, and a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and has a strong sense of community between colleagues. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.