Legal Support Team Leader

• Location: Guildford
• Fixed Term Contract

About the role

Are you a strong and efficient Team Leader looking to work for a newly merged firm carving out a new way of working within the Legal sector? The team are industry renowned in the Legal 500 and Chambers. The work has some great quality and commercial disputes, so this is a really great opportunity for someone ambitious to be a part of something progressive.

The Moore Barlow culture is open, diverse, and inclusive; it’s an environment of belonging, where people can thrive and be the best version of themselves. We strive to nurture our people and offer enjoyable, fulfilling, and sustainable careers. This includes providing the best training, great pay and rewards, a set of values to be proud of, and more control over work life balance.

We’ve also won awards! Named as one of the top 200 law firms in the UK in The Times Best Law Firms 2021 list, we have also been widely recognised in Legal 500 UK 2021, the UKs leading guide to law firms, as 8 of our practice areas have been ranked Top Tier.

This is a great opportunity for a knowledgeable and friendly Senior Legal Secretary with litigation and team management experience to join our dynamic and fast-growing team who deal with all aspects of commercial, organisation and individual disputes.

Please note – This role will be a 12 – 14-month maternity cover contract.

The focus of this role is to provide comprehensive legal secretarial and administrative support to a team of 5 Lawyers and co-ordinate the provision of legal operations support for the department, as well as managing the departments secretarial support team.

This role will be based in Guildford, however you may be required to travel to some of the other offices a few times per month. When making an application please supply us with a cover letter outlining your interest in the role!

Key tasks will include:

• To administer files to include opening, closing, storage and retrieval in accordance with the firm’s management procedures
• Accurately records information in the practice management system provided by Lawyer/s

• Drafting of own letters, documents, and forms, to be checked by Lawyer/s using case management system and/or Microsoft Word as necessary
• Daily diary management for themselves and Lawyer/s. Inputting important key dates and diarising when to chase for things

• To make appointments, arrange meetings, book rooms for clients and colleagues as requested, organising refreshments as necessary

• Using Oyez forms to generate and complete legal forms

• Able to deal with and respond to some correspondence in the absence of Lawyer on annual leave

• Plan and book travel for Lawyer/s when required

• Ensure that letters, telephone notes and file notes are accurately presented and formatted in a professional style and in line with company procedures

• To prepare correspondence, documents and enclosures for despatch using digital dictation and the practice management system as applicable, at all times adhering to the laid down policies and procedures

• Ensuring files are maintained accurately and filing kept 100% up to date

• To undertake any specific training to improve or enhance skill base as requested

• To accurately maintain and update data in the practice management system relating to client and contact information and marketing activity and preferences

• To assist clients with updates/progress on their cases

• To proactively assist as requested with Departmental marketing and networking events

• Go to person for file opening and general practice management queries

• Responsible for Department specific training and queries for new starters

Team contribution & development where all our people feel engaged, developed

· To manage the Department’s secretarial support team ensuring high quality, effective and efficient support is provided to the lawyers and broader team

• Responsible for the coordination of work across the secretarial team, managing resource effectively to cover absence and periods of high workload, forecasting future challenges and requirements for the team
• Schedule all department team and other meetings required by the Head of Department
• Manage the holiday system for all support staff within the department ensuring adequate cover is maintained at all times
• Manage the performance review process for support staff within the team in conjunction with the appropriate lawyer
• Ensure any identified learning and development needs for the team are addressed
• Support the People team with recruitment and selection of new secretarial staff within the team
• Liaise with the Business Support teams in relation to starters and leavers and general department administration
• Champion the induction process for all new joiners within the support team
• Continually reflect on work processes and practices to identify and effect process improvements within the department and/or firm more broadly
• Create and maintain an up to date detailed guide for all departmental support tasks

What we look for:

• Previous Legal Litigation experience is essential • A strong Senior Legal Secretary with team leader experience • Advanced level of Word, Excel and Outlook • MOS Accreditation in Word Expert, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook if required • Willingness to travel to other offices for regular catch up sessions (once every few weeks) with secretaries in the Department • To demonstrate commitment to the role, department and Moore Barlow through excellent punctuality, timekeeping and attendance.

How to apply

Interested in a career at Moore Barlow? Please send your CV and cover letter to the Human Resources team at recruitment@moorebarlow.com

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It is our policy to provide equal opportunities for all employees and prospective employees in relation to recruitment, training and promotion. Decisions in these areas will be made by reference to the requirements of the job and shall not be influenced by any consideration of ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.