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Legal Assistant Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A Legal Assistant, or Paralegal, is someone who supports both Lawyers and Solicitors. They undergo training and education that enables them to prepare legal documents, handle evidence and prepare briefs. A Legal Assistant can also work as a Licenced Practitioner and offer legal advice to private clients.

 

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Legal Assistant duties and responsibilities

A Legal Assistant needs to have great attention to detail as they support Attorneys and Solicitors and help clients with legal issues. Their main duties and responsibilities include:

  • Preparing legal documents such as wills, summons, complaints, responses and witness summons
  • Readying materials for trial proceedings including documents, evidence and verifying factual information
  • Researching and compiling information that helps strengthen a case for the assigned Lawyer
  • Communicating with Lawyers and clients to keep everyone up to date
  • Supporting Attorneys during trial by preparing documents, fact checking, preparing evidence for presentation and tracking case developments
  • Assisting with accounting and billing
  • Coordinating appointments, including all correspondence and logistics necessary
  • Studying case law as it pertains to the type of law that is practised by the firm
  • Maintenance of a case log and/or file for reference and review

 

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Legal Assistant Job Description Examples:

Example 1

Experienced Paralegal is required to join busy and growing ID department. The ideal candidate will be expected to run a caseload of around 100 files and prepare the cases for medicals and then progress them to the Part 36 stage. General chasing for liability and disclosure documents, a proactive approach is a must. Must use own initiative and work with speed and care. Previous experience in dealing with noise induced hearing loss claims and other ID claims is desired. 35 hours a week Mon - Fri Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Salary: per year Schedule: * Monday to Friday Experience: * Paralegal: 1 year (preferred) Work remotely: * No

Example 2

Our highly regarded Divorce, Family and Civil Partnerships Team has a rare opportunity for a paralegal to join the team in a role which involves a significant amount of client-facing work. In this role you will assist solicitors (up to partner level) on a range of family law cases. You’ll be involved in drafting divorce petitions and court documents, collating information relating to financial remedy applications and the care of children. You may also be involved in other family issues from time to time. You’ll have contact with clients, barristers, solicitors, courts and other organisations. You’ll also support the team with some of the administration involved in their work to ensure the team provides an efficient and timely service. This may include client on-boarding checks, some filing and archiving. Family law work supports people at one of the most stressful periods of their lives. It demands a high level of professionalism, communication, resilience and empathy. It can be as tough as it is rewarding, so we will expect a lot from you in this role. In return you’ll gain a significant amount of experience and development to help you in your career. To apply you need a qualifying law degree or GDL and have completed your LPC – at least one of which must have included a family Alternatively, you may have at least 12 months’ experience already working as a family paralegal or legal assistant. Current experience as a paralegal is desirable, but not essential for someone who can show a particular passion for family work. We’ll also expect a strong and consistent record of academic success, a high level of proficiency in IT/document production skills and excellent organisation skills. While some of this role will be able to be performed remotely as a temporary adjustment during the current pandemic restrictions, other elements of the role will require some office attendance. You should therefore be able to attend our office in Reading as required. Once covid restrictions are lifted there will be the option to work from home up to two days per week. Please ensure that your application includes a detailed CV and a covering letter/message explaining your suitability for the role and your availability to start. Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Salary: £21,250.00 per year Benefits: * Flexible schedule Schedule: * Monday to Friday

Example 3

*Legal Assistant – Residential Conveyancing* Location: Ledbury, Herefordshire Start date: ASAP An interesting opportunity has arisen for a Legal Assistant to join us in our Residential Conveyancing department – Ledbury on a permanent basis. The Legal Assistant will work closely with Fee Earners to support in the day to day running of matters effectively and efficiently, improving client service and compliance where possible. *Key duties: * · Supporting Fee Earners with the organisation and prioritisation of their matters, improving client service and case progression; · Supporting Fee Earners with their day to day work. This may include assisting with drafting letters, legal research and liaising with clients; · Supporting Fee Earners with file opening, administrative matters and billing; · Supporting Fee Earners with new enquiries *Person Specification: * · Strong IT skills, particularly MS Office Package · Highly motivated, proactive and resourceful in approach · Ability to work to tight deadlines in a fast-paced business · Strong organisational skills and high attention to detail Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Salary: per year Additional pay: * Bonus scheme Benefits: * Additional leave * Company pension * Gym membership * On-site parking * Sick pay Schedule: * Monday to Friday Work remotely: * No

Example 4

JobTitle:Legal Assistant

Department:Legal

ReportsTo:Senior Solicitor

Purpose of ob:

The primary purpose of this role is to support the Chief Legal and Compliance Officer and the Legal Department in management of actual or potential legal risks relating tothe company and its business activities and to assist with the delivery of an up-to-date value added Legal Service to the business.

This may include ad-hoc legal related actions and tasks,project support, training, engagement with regulators and/ or 3rd parties and other business-relatedinitiatives and assisting in the ongoing development and maintenance of a customer focused and compliant regulatory culture across to minimise thepotential for adverse reputational comment or regulatory intervention and financial loss.

The Legal Assistant will be expected to take ownership of delegated tasks and ensure timely delivery to the Legal Team / business colleagues and other stakeholders as appropriate.

Core Key Accountabilities:

  • Delivery of assigned activity to the appropriate standard in the agreed time frames
  • Ensure positive and pragmatic engagements with the business and senior stakeholders
  • Assist in the preparation of legal submissions/returns/reports.
  • To contribute to the setting of the risk agenda
  • Develop key business, legal, regulatory and risk knowledge and skills
  • Attain and maintain an awareness of legal and regulatory responsibilities, particularly Treating Customers Fairly (TCF), Anti Money Laundering (AML) and Data Protection (DPA)
  • Undertake ad-hoc tasks for,and on behalf of/deputise for, solicitors in the Legal Department when required.

    Essential Competencies:

  • Can understand and convey information clearly in verbal and written form
  • Able to manage multiple tasks concurrently, prioritise appropriately and manage stakeholders;
  • Have a strong team working ethic with a collaborative approach
  • Havea proactive"can-do"outlook and be able to work under own initiative
  • Intermediate Microsoft Word and Excel skills; a working knowledge of Adobe acrobat and Microsoft Powerpoint
  • To be able to build a network of contacts across the organisation to deliver on departmental and personal objectives; and

    Desirable Skills/ Qualifications:

  • A willingness to learn and put learning into practice
  • Good communicator (verbal,written and body language)
  • Has drive and enthusiasm
  • Self-motivated/pro-active
  • PC literate

    Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

    Salary: £22,000.00-£32,000.00 per year

    Experience:
  • Legal Secretary: 3 years (required)

    Work Location: ID: ss

    • Example 5

    This is a full-time role based in our Witney office in Oxfordshire, with a requirement of a minimum of 3 days in the office each week

    About us
    Audley Travel is an award-winning, consistently recognised tour operator that specialises in tailor-made travel in over 80 countries. Our clients come to us because we are the true experts of the region and use our knowledge to provide meaningful travel experiences. Our employees are passionate about travel and exploring other cultures. In 2021, we proudly celebrated serving our travel clients for 25 years. Take a look at our video below to get a real taste of who we are and what we love doing:

    [website]

    The role
    This role presents an exciting opportunity to join our team to provide administrative support to our Legal function in the processing and management of supplier contacts.

    You will carry our administrative tasks as directed by the Legal Counsel and Contracts Manager.

    Key responsibilities include:

  • Booking and scheduling meeting rooms for legal training or development
  • Using Word/Excel/PowerPoint to create documents, as requested
  • The provision of timely, accurate, consistent and commercially focussed support and assistance with the contracting process.
  • Co-ordination and day to day management of ongoing roll out of contracts, including preparing and issuing contracts and contract negotiation (with the support of the Contracts Manager and Legal Counsel) and conclusion.
  • Working closely with the Compliance Officer and Contracts Manager to ensure supporting documentation and policies are issued at the appropriate time in the contracting process
  • Working closely with the Contracts Manager and Audley’s team of Product managers and Head of Purchasing to efficiently manage contract negotiation and conclusion.
  • Supervision of efficient contract execution process using Docusign, ensuring compliance with Audley’s procedures.
  • Assisting with development, maintenance and management of Supplier Information Management (SIM) system, including day to day updating of SIM database
  • Monitoring and periodic reporting on contracts in SIM database.

    About you
    You have excellent communication skills and are a strong team player, with the ability to prioritise work effectively to manage changing demands.

    Additional experience required:

  • Excellent written and spoken communication skills
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Flexible and adaptable team player
  • Ability to keep calm, work effectively and stay focused under pressure
  • Prioritisation and time management skills.
  • Communication skills, verbal and written.
  • Able to deal with various of levels of seniority
  • Problem-solver with a ‘can-do’ approach
  • Embodies the Audley values of being positive, being the difference, being one team and being passionate about travel.

    What you’ll get in return

  • Holiday – 25 days rising to 30 with length of service
  • A day off for your birthday
  • Smart Working – This provides the opportunity for all of our employees to have more choice and flexibility when it comes to deciding where, when and how we work within the UK
  • Healthshield health cash plan
  • PERKS Benefits Platform – access to discounts and cashback with hundreds of retailers
  • Discounted Audley trips and access to staff travel discount websites
  • Sabbatical leave
  • Enhanced family leave
  • Long service awards

    We believe it’s our people that make the difference and who build Audley into the success it is today. We pride ourselves on enabling people to reach their full potential through promoting and celebrating a diverse and inclusive working environment.

    Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

    Salary: £21,000.00-£23,000.00 per year

    Benefits:
  • Casual dress
  • Company pension
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Employee discount
  • On-site parking
  • Referral programme
  • Wellness programme
    Schedule:
  • 8 hour shift

    Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Witney, OX29 9SX: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

    Experience:
  • Legal Secretary: 1 year Location: One location

    • Example 6

    Duties include but are not limited to:

  • Offering close case management and support to the principal fee earner, being actively involved in managing the administration of client matters from instruction to conclusion.
  • Receiving client calls to the firm and upon instruction readying files and dealing with initial client care and file opening efficiently and accurately.
  • Progressing divorce, financial remedy and Children Act 1989 applications via the Court Service’s on-line Portal having an understanding of the basic provisions of the law and its relevance to the portal and other systems currently in use.
  • Preparing court bundles (whether in paper format or electronically) taking the initiative to draft bundle indexes and basic pleadings for hearings. Making preparations for court hearings such as filing/serving bundles and instructing counsel.
  • Preparing under supervision basic pleadings and forms such as a Forms G and H and a framework to Forms E within financial remedy applications and (for example) outline C100 forms in children act matters inputting core information for fee earner review, maintaining ‘ownership’ of the file.
  • Taking notes in client meetings, whether alongside the fee earner, at court or in conference as may be required.
  • Taking a full role in the department’s functional administration such as assisting with the billing and costs recovery, dealing with the payment of disbursements and experts, telephony, filing, and general office organisation.
  • Assisting the principal fee earner with diary administration, email management, appointments and reminders – you will also be the principal user of the family law department’s case management system.

    Requirements of the role:

  • Minimum 2-years’ experience in a similar role, preferably longer.
  • You will deliver a first-class standard of client care – with a “nothing is too much trouble” approach. Client care is a core value of the practice.
  • You will have a sound understanding and experience of legal case management systems, the Court Service’s on-line portal, billing practices and invoicing.
  • You will have a good understanding of the practices and principals involved in private family law – including a sound understanding of the divorce process and legal issues affecting relationship breakdown.
  • You will have experience of assisting a fee earner across the full range of private family legal matters including divorce, finances on divorce, children act matters, and injunction applications.
  • You can work comfortably in a fast paced environment, dealing with matters of a sensitive, confidential and sometimes distressing nature.
  • You carry out work accurately and organise your priorities and those of your fee earner to meet deadlines.
  • Your typing is very good with excellent grammar and punctuation and your presentation and wider written and verbal communication skills are excellent.
  • You can maintain integrity and professionalism at all times, work alone and be calm under pressure.
  • You will have a good working knowledge of Office software such as Microsoft Office.

    Job Type: Full-time

    Salary: £21,000.00-£25,000.00 per year

    Benefits:
  • Company events
  • Company pension
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Sick pay
    Schedule:
  • Monday to Friday

    Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Sutton Coldfield, B72 1UL: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

    Education:
  • GCSE or equivalent 2 years (required)

    • What does a Legal Assistant do?

    The Legal Assistant prepares legal documents for the Lawyers in the firm. The prepared paperwork should adhere to legal standards and contain the correct information as dictated by the Attorney. The Legal Assistant collects and prepares evidence along with supporting documentation for trial purposes. A Legal Assistant maintains communication between the client and Attorney and also keeps a log of the conversations. The Legal Assistant schedules calendars and is responsible for reading case law and briefs. They also keep notations for the Attorney’s review and verify the information for accuracy and validity.

     

    Legal Assistant skills and qualifications

    A successful Legal Assistant candidate will possess certain skills and qualifications that are needed for the execution of their duties. 

    • Ability to use initiative
    • Capable of using legal software
    • Accurately perform tasks as required
    • Legal research skills 
    • Flexible attitude towards daily tasks
    • Legal database certifications

     

    Legal Assistant experience requirements

    The amount of experience the ideal Legal Assistant candidate should have varies from one law office to another. A Junior Legal Assistant needs to be able to write legal documents to the required standards, handle office management software and legal industry software and manage schedules for both clients and Lawyers. A Junior Legal Assistant has less experience with studying the law, but should be capable of reading and understanding the main practise area of the law firm. 

    A Senior Legal Assistant requires experience that aligns with the type of law practised by the law firm. This includes the ability to draft, review and negotiate non-disclosure agreements for use by others in the practise. A Senior Paralegal should be capable of maintaining legal templates for use by others. They should also have experience in supporting Lawyers with their daily duties and have existing knowledge of the relevant area of law. 

     

    Legal Assistant education and training requirements

    A Legal Assistant can have one or multiple diplomas and certificates that qualify them to work in the role. The organisation has the option to hire an individual with relevant skills and train them in the role through an apprenticeship or require education. The ideal education for a Legal Assistant candidate includes a Level 2 Diploma in Legal Studies, a CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice and a Level 3 Legal Secretaries Diploma. All coursework is entry-level. 

    There are also advanced degrees for Legal Assistants that are more specialised and may be preferred by a firm.

     

    Legal Assistant salary expectations

    According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Legal Assistant is £22,660 per year . The salary varies depending on geographic location, candidate experience and the law firm.

     

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    Legal Assistant job description FAQs

     

    What are the different types of Legal Assistants?

    Legal Assistants are also classified as Paralegals or Legal Secretaries. While the roles are similar, they are not identical. A Legal Secretary is not qualified to provide legal advice, but a Paralegal and Legal Assistant are. A Legal Assistant can perform the work of the Legal Secretary if necessary and can also fulfill the duties of the Paralegal.

     

    What should you look for in a Legal Assistant CV Resume?

    At the very least, you should look for someone with secretarial experience and a willingness to learn the duties of the Legal Assistant. Look for candidates with the minimum education required to become a Legal Assistant and who is capable of performing their duties. If specialised experience is needed, look for candidates that have experience that matches the focus of the law office.

     

    How can you make your job description stand out?

    Be clear about the area of practice for the law firm and describe the duties clearly and concisely. Talk about the office culture, expectations of new hires and what the law firm can offer to a qualified candidate. Also describe a benefits package if applicable.

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