Overview
We have a fantastic opportunity for an apprentice to join our Legal Operations Team which provides high quality business support to Reading Borough Council's Legal Service.
The Legal Service in Reading provides excellent in-house provision to our teams across the Council and, through our Joint Legal Shared Service, we provide councils across Berkshire with a legal service approaching 25 years in operation. It is an exciting time to join our legal service in Reading as we continue to deliver our ambitious strategic plan. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities. We are open to flexible working patterns and can provide a hybrid working environment with a mix of office working in central Reading and homeworking according to the needs of the Service.
About The Role
Our Legal Operations staff work as part of a team responsible for providing comprehensive administration support to the council's legal service. The postholder will deliver general operational support to a very busy service and, with the right training and support, will help deliver effective system and process support to staff within the service. The role offers the opportunity to develop core skills and build strong transferable administration skills to support the whole service and our customers. The role is varied and no two days will be the same. You may be asked to complete a range of administration-related tasks including processing financial transactions, taking minutes at meetings, assisting staff with IT system queries, or providing management information and reports. You will work both on office administration and the finance side of the business. You will be working towards achieving a Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship. For more information, see the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education page for Business Administrator.
About You
* Strong administrative skills and attention to detail.
* Good communication and teamwork abilities.
* A willingness to learn and adapt to new systems and processes.
* Experience in finance administration, data management, or legal operations is desirable but not essential.
Duties
Legal Operations Administration
* Seal legal documents and complete HM Land Registry search requests.
* Monitor service inboxes and manage post.
* Conduct records management and organise print room requests.
* Support the set-up and induction of new starters.
* Carry out satisfaction surveys to help improve our services.
Finance Duties
* Process purchase order requests and court invoices.
* Produce finance reports and assist with invoicing and internal recharging.
* Support supplier set-up and management.
Systems & Data Management
* Set up new users and support the legal case management system.
* Administer Microsoft Teams and SharePoint platforms.
* Assist with process mapping, workflow development, and reviewing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
General Support
* Provide flexible support to the team, undertaking any other duties in line with the grade.
You will be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues you work closely with every day, you will also be part of Team Reading, contributing to Reading being a successful and vibrant place.
Benefits
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values guide how we will achieve this: - Work Together as one team – work collaboratively with colleagues and partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do - Drive Efficiency – show initiative, adapt to change and propose ideas to improve delivery and efficiency; take responsibility for our learning and development - Be Ambitious – strive for personal performance and be prepared to challenge leaders constructively - Make a Difference to Reading – maintain high levels of customer service and be flexible to provide services when needed.
* Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years, with the option to buy additional leave
* A wide range of flexible working opportunities
* Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in Reading
* Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
* Life Assurance - three times annual salary (LGPS members)
* On-site day nursery rated Outstanding by Ofsted
* Season Ticket Loan for rail/bus travel
* Lease car salary sacrifice scheme
For more information on this position please contact Harjit Bains, Legal Operations Manager, via email.
Closing Date: Thursday 16 October 2025
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Other
References to locations and related roles are provided for context and may appear in other postings.
#J-18808-Ljbffr