Job Description
Secretary - Family Legal Aid
Location: Leeds City Centre (predominantly office-based with some home working available)
Salary: 24000 - 28000
Working Pattern: Full-time
Experience required: Experience as a legal secretary within family care / Legal Aid
About the Role
We are seeking a full-time Legal Secretary to support a renowned team of family solicitors who specialise in children care and domestic violence matters funded by the Legal Aid Agency.
This is a demanding but rewarding role supporting solicitors who spend significant time at court. You will need to provide excellent support effectively liaising between solicitors and clients and producing accurate documents and letters in a timely manner. The team have a large caseload and the nature of the work means that deadlines are often extremely tight.
Responsibilities
* Secretarial and Administrative Support
o Audio and copy typing to fee earners specification
o Producing documents from the Case Management system
o Managing files from opening through to archiving under fee earner direction
o Filing photocopying and collating documents
o Maintaining diaries and making appointments when required
* Client and Court Liaison
o Liaising with clients and other parties on behalf of fee earners
o Dealing with enquiries in a customer-friendly and effective manner
o Providing crucial support whilst solicitors are at court
o Handling sensitive family matters with professionalism and empathy
o Maintaining excellent communication with all parties
* Legal Aid Administration
o Checking Legal Aid payments and distribution thereof
o Managing Legal Aid Agency funded files
o Understanding and applying Legal Aid procedures
o Ensuring compliance with Legal Aid requirements
o Processing Legal Aid documentation accurately
* Financial Administration
o Liaising with the Accounts department to produce cheques and pay disbursements
o Managing financial documentation accurately
o Ensuring compliance with financial procedures
o Maintaining accurate financial records
* Case Management
o Managing family care files efficiently
o Ensuring all documentation is accurate and up to date
o Supporting fee earners with case progression
o Meeting extremely tight deadlines
o Preparing files for archiving
* Office Support
o Contributing to maintaining a safe and healthy working environment
o Contributing to maintaining and improving office procedures
o Supporting team members as required
Qualifications and Requirements
* Essential Requirements
o Experience as a legal secretary within family care / Legal Aid
o Good knowledge and understanding of the legal process
o Familiarity with forms and documents used in family law
o Experience dealing with Legal Aid Agency funded clients
o Good keyboard skills
o Literate and numerate
o Ability to work accurately in accordance with team requirements
o Ability to deal with enquiries in a customer-friendly and effective manner
o Ability to work under pressure and meet extremely tight deadlines
o Strong prioritisation and time management skills
o Ability to work on own initiative and as a member of a team
o Excellent written English to produce documents for clients, court and other parties
o Professional and clear communication to resolve telephone enquiries
* Knowledge Required
o Microsoft Office programmes
o Use of a Case Management system
o Confidentiality requirements
o Legal Aid procedures and processes
o Family law documentation and forms
* Personal Attributes
o Flexible and can do attitude
o Professional demeanour to promote the firms image
o Strong organisational skills
o Excellent attention to detail
o Empathy and sensitivity when dealing with family matters
o Resilience and ability to handle demanding workloads
Benefits
* Financial Rewards
o Salary: 24000 - 28000 (dependent on experience)
o Comprehensive pension scheme
* Professional Development
o Opportunity to develop specialist family law expertise
o Training on Case Management systems and Legal Aid procedures
o Support for professional development
o Ongoing training opportunities
o Working with a renowned family law team
* Working Environment
o Supportive and collaborative team environment
o Predominantly office-based with some home working available
o Leeds city centre location with excellent transport links
o Rewarding work supporting vulnerable clients
About Our Client
Our client is a well-established Yorkshire law firm with a strong reputation for quality legal services and excellent client care. Their family law team is renowned for their expertise in children care and domestic violence matters providing crucial support to vulnerable clients.
Location & Working Arrangements
Based: Leeds City Centre
Working Pattern: Full-time Permanent
Hybrid Working: Predominantly office-based with some home working available
Ready to Take the Next Step
If youre an experienced family legal secretary with Legal Aid expertise looking for a rewarding role supporting vulnerable clients we want to hear from you.
For a confidential discussion about this exciting opportunity please contact:
Lee Hawthorne-Finch
People and Talent Director
Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions
Email: Phone: 0
Key Skills
Diploma, ICT, Fire, Flash, ACCA, AV
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