About the Firm
Wall James Chappell is a modern specialist firm of solicitors offering a wealth of specialist expert knowledge to both corporate and individual clients not just locally but across the UK. The firm places importance on providing technically excellent advice with a practical and sensitive approach, working in partnership with its clients. Clients receive friendly and effective advice from a solicitor whom they can trust.
The Role
We are looking for an experienced Probate Legal Secretary/Assistant to join our friendly, office-based legal team (c. 45 staff) in Stourbridge, West Midlands. You will be working within the Private Client department, and you will be tasked with a varied range of secretarial and administrative jobs to ensure the smooth running of a busy department.
Responsibilities:
- Providing secretarial and administrative support and assistance to Fee Earners.
- Sorting client’s probate paperwork.
- Creating and updating estate accounts on Excel.
- Utilising the Firm’s case management system to best effect.
- Attending meetings with or without a Fee Earner in or out of the office.
- Sending and receiving emails.
- Preparing letters, memos, documents and bills.
- Typing complex documents.
- Copy typing and digital audio typing.
- Filing.
- Maintaining diaries using the case management system.
- Making and taking telephone calls.
- Seeing clients when necessary and updating clients on estate progress.
- Dealing with client enquiries both new and existing.
- Booking house clearances, gardeners etc.
- Organising postal redirections, paying utility providers, arranging insurances.
- Attending deceased’s home either with or without a Fee Earner to gather paperwork and items of value and meet with agents etc.
- Where there are no relatives, registering deaths and planning funerals.
- Registering Trusts with HMRC and uploading documents onto the Land Registry Portal.
- Covering for other secretaries as required.
- Updating Fee Earner timesheets
- Closing files and sending to archive/safe custody.
- Retrieving documents and files from archive/safe custody.
- Any other duties commensurate to your role that are reasonably asked of you by the Partners.
General Duties
- Complying with the Firm’s various policies and procedures, as set out in the office manual.
- Ensuring the confidentiality and security of all practice and client documentation and information.
- Ensuring that outstanding client care is given at all times.
Experience and Qualifications
Essential
- Experience in a similar role for at least 2 years
- A good standard of English, both verbal and written
- Legal right to live and work in the UK
- A good standard of computer literacy and experience working with Microsoft Office
- A valid UK driving licence
Desirable
- Experience using Credas, DocuSign and Partner for Windows software
Person Specification:
- Super organised
- Friendly and helpful
- Flexible and able to prioritise a changing to do list
- Detail oriented and accurate
- Trustworthy, discreet and reliable
- Self-motivated
- Able to work in a team
- Calm under pressure
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Experience:
- legal administration: 2 years (required)
- Microsoft Office: 2 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person
