Legal Secretary HCPL

Department: Health Care and Public Law - Leeds and Manchester Location: Manchester Description The main purpose of this role is to provide an excellent standard of secretarial support to fee earners across the specified practice. You may also be required to provide support across other practice groups as and when required. The hours for this vacancy are 9:00-17:00. DACB operate Flexforward which supports a Life that Works across the whole firm. The secretarial team in HCPL have a hybrid work pattern which means the week is split between office and home based work. We are looking for an enthusiastic and driven individual who wants to embrace all that the role has to offer and seize the opportunity to work with likeminded people. Key Responsibilities Client Relationship Management Responsible for keeping up to date with client specific protocols and processes, implementing, providing guidance and training to others where necessary and ongoing monitoring Respond to client queries Financial Take ownership of billing and account queries and work with fee earners and support teams to resolve these Prepare expense claims Complete all accounts forms Maintain spreadsheets Maintain good knowledge and understanding of client billing processes and rate tables Supporting Lawyers: Handle confidential information in line with the firm's data security protocols Prepare correspondence and documents from digital dictation Prepare electronic bundles for Court Amend and engross documents to client specifications Prepare and create client reports Scanning correspondence and documents to the relevant electronic file Manage lawyer inboxes during periods of absence Prepare and amend documents, proof reading and creating comparisons to highlight changes Use of OneDrive for the safe exchange of client information Use of PDF Docs application to assist with delivery of client documents/letters and creation of bundles Opening new matters and drafting of letters of engagement Filing correspondence and relevant documentation retained in client files/case management systems Photocopying and scanning as and when required by the team Filing and archiving where required Manage fee earner diaries, liaise with courts and clients and booking day to day appointments for witness meetings and making travel arrangements Handle confidential information in line with the firms data security protocols Assist in organising client events as and when required Help maintain a tidy office and clear desk Deal with telephone enquiries in a professional manner Sending out letters/emails on behalf of fee earners Effective prioritisation and ownership of tasks whilst managing a full workload Providing a first class client-facing service, liaising positively with clients and their support staff over the phone, email and in person, and building relationships as appropriate Proactively assisting with ad-hoc business development and communications activities e.g. client contact reports, delegate packs etc Maintain and develop internal and external relationships Maintain a level of knowledge required for the role both individually and for the team Skills, Knowledge & Expertise Experience of working in a legal or professional services environment An aptitude for managing multiple priorities, producing documents and client communications of the highest standard Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Advanced knowledge of document management/case management systems An effective communicator with an excellent customer and client service approach; striving to provide exceptional service at all times Customer/client service focused Proven experience of managing client facing tasks and priorities, with a hands-on, practical approach Effective at investigating issues and seeing a problem through to conclusion Conscientious, taking personal responsibility for own work and accountability for its delivery and quality Excellent team player, sharing in team goals to provide excellent quality and efficiency of service, with a willingness to take on new responsibilities and challenges Positive can-do attitude with the ability to adapt to change Confidential and discreet but able to redirect information when appropriate to ensure areas of concern are resolved effectively Well organised and methodical with excellent attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in all client communications and deliverables.