Job Description

Main information

Term type

Contract

Duration

1 year

Team

Employment

Location

London

About us

Successful businesses rely on a unique set of

ideas

and

people

. We help our clients protect and develop those vital assets, unlocking

possibilities

for future success.


From iconic brands and leading multinationals to pioneering start-ups, we are proud to work with a huge range of inspiring clients, helping them to turn their ideas into reality and get the best from - and for - their people.


Our people are not only exceptional at what they do, they also enjoy doing it and consistently give their best to a firm they're proud to be part of. This stems from our

firm culture

and our ethos of

bravery and kindness

. That ethos runs through everything we do, from our approach to recruitment, business practices, and DEI activities to the day-to-day environment in our office and our relationships with clients.


With an internationally minded team of more than 700 working across key areas of law - plus strategic partnerships around the world - we've got both the combination and calibre of legal experts it takes to enable our clients' businesses to thrive. Whether it is providing global employment law advice, managing a global IP portfolio or piecing together a multijurisdictional corporate transaction, we are able to have the right people, in the right place, at the right time.

About the team

The Employment, Immigration, Reward and Data, Privacy and Cyber practice groups are some of the leading law practices in the UK and consistently top ranked by independent legal directories; we have more recognised experts in employment than any other UK firm. Lewis Silkin's employment, immigration, reward and data, privacy and cyber teams offer an unrivalled service supporting clients, including many of the world's leading businesses, on their HR, employment, data and immigration law needs domestically and internationally.


The work of the team is a mix of contentious and non-contentious matters, for a wide range of clients. The lawyers undertake a significant amount of business development and knowledge-sharing including giving seminars, training the team and creating content for various channels and publications. There is a significant international element to the team's work, largely on account of its membership of the Ius Laboris international alliance of employment lawyers.

About the role

You will be providing first class support to Associates (including Senior Associates, Managing Associates and Legal Directors), acting as their 'ambassador' both within the firm and externally and being the first point of contact for clients and colleagues. You will produce accurate and timely legal documentation and correspondence as required alongside handling administrative duties on behalf of the allocated Associates.

Key Responsibilities

Be the first point of contact for clients, dealing with them efficiently and appropriately - liaising with them to deal with any queries or issues if able to. Fielding as many calls and matters as possible; Build a working knowledge of the legal area of expertise of the allocated Associates; Ensure sensitivity and confidentiality when dealing with clients, colleagues and private matters on behalf of the allocated Associates; Build a strong knowledge of the firm's strategy and an understanding of how the work of the allocated Associates fits with this strategy; Co-ordinate billing/credit control and accounting matters relating to clients of the allocated Associates, including drafting bill requests, bill narratives, and chasing clients for payment of unpaid bills as required; Maintain the allocated Associates' diaries by liaising with them on a regular basis to discuss forthcoming appointments and any required arrangements; Schedule internal and external meetings, ensuring that all arrangements are in place and any required materials and documentation are prepared in good time; Assist with marketing activities as required including liaising with the marketing team and assisting with the preparation for seminars and other events as required; Assist with the preparation of client correspondence and documents as required; Answer the telephone in a helpful and professional manner, dealing with queries if able and ensuring messages are taken accurately and dealt with appropriately; Develop a sufficient knowledge of the legal practice groups' work to be able to work with any of the fee earners or with colleagues from the other legal practice groups when necessary; Build a sufficient knowledge of files and matters to be able to support the allocated Associates in assisting clients and others, as appropriate, in their absence; Take an active part in developing own role and work to provide increasing support for the allocated Associates - ensuring suitable training is undertaken; Assist secretarial colleagues across England and Wales by providing overflow support to other Associates in order to help with workload as required; Willing to provide support to and cover for Departmental Assistant as required, such as during periods of absence; Any other duties as required in line with the level of the role.

About you

The successful candidate will be experienced in working in an administrative capacity and have a good understanding of how a law firm operates. They must have a professional manner and first-class communication skills. They must be highly organised with excellent administration skills. They will be able to demonstrate a pro-active approach to their work and work on their own initiative, seeking support and guidance from more experienced colleagues as required. They must enjoy working in an involved team environment. They will need to have a flexible nature and a co-operative and willing attitude.

Specialist experience:

We are looking for someone to have at least two years' administrative experience in a legal environment.

Abilities and desired qualities:

Good eye for detail - a high level of accuracy is essential; Excellent organisational and administration skills - must be highly organised; Ability to manage a heavy workload and support a number of people; Ability to work to tight deadlines in a pressurised environment; A confident and natural communicator - able to communicate at all levels; Ability to be proactive and to work on own initiative where possible but seeking help and guidance if necessary. Ability to motivate and train Departmental Assistants as required; Team player and enthusiastic - flexible and willing to take on extra responsibilities to support allocated associates, team or firm objectives.

IT skills required:

Proficient IT skills - Microsoft Office 365; Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, Sharepoint, PDF Docs, Word Compare (Deltaview), document management systems and practice management systems, although full in-house training will be provided.

Educational and professional qualifications required:

Good grammatical English - at least to GCSE standard or equivalent.

Additional information

At Lewis Silkin our ethos is simple. We strive to do the best for our clients, our people and the communities in which we operate. We recognise that an inclusive workplace allows for all kinds of ideas and thoughts, a variety of points of view that can trigger discussions or deliver innovative results, and a wide range of versatile skills and expertise. We are proud of the diversity within Lewis Silkin and of our culture that allows people to be themselves at work, ensuring we provide the best possible service to our clients. We are committed to supporting candidates throughout the recruitment process by supporting anyone who requires adjustments, in order to ensure they have the opportunity to perform at their best. All applicants will be considered equally and fairly. If you'd like to request any adjustments throughout the recruitment process, or would like to discuss flexible working patterns, please email the recruitment team in confidence (recruitment@lewissilkin.com).