Planning Legal Secretary

In this role you will provide direct secretarial support to the Planning Law Department Fee Earners and, as part of a busy and vibrant Department, play an important role in the delivery of housing, commercial and infrastructure in East Anglia and beyond. The day to day: :Your day to day work will include but will not be limited to:

• Typing documents, letters, attendance notes, file notes & bills, via Bighand digitial dictation.
• Use of Precedent for Windows to check/amend client data held on the accounting system
• Use of Microsoft Office, Case Management, Oyez forms and other software applications, including use of auto text and document templates.
• Filing (paper and electronic).
• Prepare mail and enclosures for despatch.
• Making appointments, arrange meetings and maintaining an up-to-date diary for the Fee Earners in the Team.
• Ensuring case files are managed in accordance with the requirements of the office manual and using your initiative to ensure fee earner matters are kept in order
• Attending clients both in person and on the telephone and to provide such support in a professional and friendly manner in keeping with the firm’s standards for client care.
• Ensuring the confidentiality of all the firm’s and clients’ documentation and information.
• Assisting clients with updates and enquiries on their matters in the absence of the Fee Earner.
• Provide support to other secretaries/fee earners as required.
• Provide support and guidance to junior and temporary secretaries when required to do so.

What experience do I need?We are looking for a professional and enthusiastic Legal Secretary with a least 3 years previous legal experience preferably within a busy Commercial Property or Litigation department.What skills should I have?

• Excellent communication (written & verbal) and inter-personal skills, with the ability to establish and maintain a professional working rapport with both Clients and other members of the Firm.
• Keen eye for detail and consistently accurate in all job aspects, to include word-processing and audio-typing skills.
• Ability to prioritise and manage a large workload effectively and efficiently.
• Proactive team-working approach

What are we offering?As well as joining a vibrant and supportive Team, we offer a modern and agile working environment at the firm’s regional head office, the A12 Commercial Hub, at Marks Tey, Colchester. The A12 commercial Hub offers colleagues free parking, agile working space, and easy access by road (being based on J25 of the A12) or train (500m from Marks Tey train station).Other benefits also include:

• 28 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays;
• Medicash and Unum dental cash back schemes after 1 years' service;
• Life insurance ;
• EAP and various other physical and mental wellbeing support services including virtual GP access 24/7;
• Family friendly policies such as enhanced maternity and paternity pay plus, family event(s) leave;
• Company sick pay
• Cycle to Work scheme