Advocacy Clerk

Our established Advocacy department is looking for an Advocacy Clerk with impeccable organisation skills to assist with diary management, departmental reporting, assessing incoming work, booking travel, and ad hoc administrative tasks as applicable.

 

This role is required for a rapidly expanding part of the business and so it is expected that the successful candidate will be enthusiastic and flexible in order to assist with fine-tuning the specifics of the position.

 

The ideal candidate must have worked in a legal environment, this could have been as a Personal Assistant, someone with clerking experience at Chambers, or other such exposure.

 

Knowledge of Personal Injury is preferred but not essential.

 

It will be necessary for the candidate to understand the logistics of the role of barristers/advocates and be able to organise the workload so as to suitably structure their working days.

 

It is crucially important that the candidate is a confident communicator and can liaise quickly and effectively with members of staff at all levels of the business, including the Managing Partner.

 

Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office packages, and a strong command of English spelling, punctuation and grammar are both essential. An audio typing speed of 65+ wpm is a distinct advantage.

 

The successful candidate is expected to be pro-active and to use a high degree of self-management and initiative, as well as being a competent team player.

 

Job description

·         To manage all incoming communications into the Advocacy department, including requests for cover for hearings and drafting work.

·         To understand the logistics of the role of a barrister/advocate and organise the workload to properly structure their working days

·         To ensure the team has the bundles/paperwork they need sufficiently in advance of hearing dates/drafting deadlines

·         To confidently conduct effective dialogue between instructing fee earners and the Advocacy department.

·         To make appointments, arrange meetings and to manage the Advocacy department diary.

·         To act as a PA to the Head of Advocacy (Partner) as required

·         To liaise regularly with the Head of Advocacy (Partner), and occasionally with the Managing Partner

·         To work to strict deadlines

·         To prepare correspondence and documents through audiotyping and word processing.

·         To provide support to other secretaries and the administration team as required.

·         To produce reporting metrics for the department

·         To undertake ad hoc administrative tasks as required, to a strict deadline, such as printing, copying, bundling, bookmarking and document retrieval.

·         To undertake any specific training when required to do so and overall to have a responsibility towards self-development.

·         To ensure the confidentiality of all the firm’s and clients’ documentation and information.

·         Help us live the Service Pledge and deliver excellent levels of client care.

 

Requirements

·         Demonstrable legal knowledge (to be able to review incoming requests to the Advocacy department and organise the workload appropriately).

·         Impeccably organised

·         Computer literate.

·         Excellent command of English spelling, punctuation and grammar (we may test at interview)

·         Excellent word processing and audio typing skills

·         Excellent personal communication skills, including professional and friendly telephone manner.

·         Experience of working in a legal environment

·         Highly motivated, enthusiastic, and willing to learn

·         Capacity to work effectively in a pressured environment

·         High level of attention to detail

 

Benefits

·         Previous experience of managing a barrister’s diary and/or as a PA

·         Demonstrable legal knowledge of Personal Injury

·         Knowledge of the Proclaim case management system

·         Audio typing speed of 65+ words per minute

·         Experience of working with court forms and creating pleadings

·         Experience of digital dictation, ideally Big Hand

 

Salary, Hours & Benefits

 

·         The salary is dependent on experience but in the region of £25,000+.

·         Our standard working hours are 8:30am to 5:30am Monday-Thursday and 8:30am to 5pm Friday.

·         23 days holiday a year, rising to 26 days (3 days reserved for Christmas closure of the office)

·         3 holiday buy backs per year after 1 year of service

·         Extra day’s holiday for your birthday after 2 years’ service.

·         Private medical insurance available after 2 years’ service

·         Death in Service – 2 x salary

·         Active social committee with generous departmental and firm-wide social budget.

·         Active training culture and various groups and events such as Diversity & Inclusion.

·         Netball / Football team, 10km Manchester team and more.

·         Enhanced Maternity Leave payment if you have over 1 year tenure

·         Other benefits including Employee Assistance Programme, free fruit & annual flu jab

 

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