Legal PA

Shoosmiths is the law firm clients choose for excellent service, incisive thinking and above all for our ability to focus on what matters. From offices across the UK and Brussels, 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. The first top 50 law firm to achieve ‘Platinum Standard’ Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm.

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.

To discover more about our benefits, please visit: Benefits Package

Our national Banking and Finance team advises clients on a range of financing transactions across a wide variety of sectors, often with a multi-jurisdictional element. Acting for borrowers, lenders and investors means we have a practical understanding of the needs of all parties to a financing transaction. Our expertise extends to asset based lending, invoice discounting, corporate lending, leverage finance, asset finance, real estate finance (investment and development) and project finance . We work closely with some of the UK's major banks and financial institutions and have approved panel status with many of them.

Working alongside other Pas in the team, providing a full PA and secretarial service supporting Partners and Legal Advisors in the Banking & Finance team (this will require cross office working across Birmingham, London and Belfast).  This role requires proactive thinking to support the needs of our Partners and Legal Advisors.

• Full diary management.
• Email management to include email filing.
• Preparation of draft emails and correspondence. 
• Typing/amending reports, pitch/fee quote documents, file notes, correspondence and other ad hoc documentation.
• Answering the telephone and dealing with routine enquiries
• Filing and eFiling of incoming and outgoing post and correspondence. 
• Complex document production, cross-referencing and amendments..
• Incepting clients and matters in line with the firm’s guidelines.
• Assisting in undertaking all money laundering compliance on new client inception.
• Assisting in conflict checks prior to client and matter inceptions.
• Assisting with all invoicing related tasks, including obtaining billing guides ,invoice preparation and submission of invoices to Client.
• Assisting Legal Advisors with credit control processes.
• Liaising with the Finance team in relation to incoming/outgoing funds requests, including cheque requisitions as well as assisting in confirming account details when necessary.
• Preparing enclosures ready for signing and sending out via email and/or post.  
• Closing client matters in line with corporate best practice.
• Processing of expense claims.
• Undertaking all client filing management and archiving tasks.
• Updating Interaction with client details.
• Liaising with clients, mainly over email and the telephone.
• Organising meetings and team/client events.
• Travel booking.

• Previous secretarial/administrative experience within Corporate, similar practice area or other professional service firm (although not required depending on candidate).
• 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, Teams, Excel (basic knowledge) and Powerpoint.
• 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.
• 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 lunch cover.
• Ability to be pro-active and deliver a quality service to both internal and external clients.
• Team player.

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.

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