The Role
Provides administrative and fee-earning support to a Commercial Litigation team. Responsibilities include handling client enquiries, opening files, preparing engagement documents, checking identification for money-laundering compliance, maintaining case records and deadlines, drafting straightforward legal documents, supporting billing and file closures, and assisting fee earners. The role may involve court work and advocacy, with training provided. Strong organisation, communication, IT, administrative, and multitasking skills are required.
Summary Generated by Built In
Due to internal progression, we have an excellent opportunity for a Paralegal to join our Commercial Litigation team in Exeter on a full-time permanent basis. This role will assist the fee earners by providing administrative support in a way that is conducive to enabling them to operate at optimum efficiency. An interest and willingness to undertake advocacy is essential as the role may involve some court work, although prior experience of advocacy is not essential as training will be provided.
The successful applicant will undertake fee-earning work with special emphasis on drafting straightforward legal documents; assisting other members of the team; and engaging in business development initiatives to grow the work of the team.
Key Responsibilities
- Receiving new enquiries from prospective clients by email or telephone.
- Open files, prepare and send initial client engagement documentation.
- Review client ID documents to ensure compliance with Money Laundering obligations and internal policies.
- Ensure all email correspondence and attachments are entered on to the case management system and matter summary sheets are updated accordingly.
- Draft straightforward legal documents using the precedents provided, filing documents online where appropriate and to develop skills to deal with more complex transactions.
- Contribute to the maintenance of a strict diary note of deadlines and timescales relevant to the team’s matters.
- Ensure all photocopying and scanning is accurate; take responsibility for checking photocopying/scanning done by Office Assistant.
- Attend to clients on the phone and in person, accurately recording any messages and passing on to the appropriate person without delay.
- Provide proactive administrative support and matter management tasks to the fee earners within the team which include but are not limited to keeping up to date with progress on matters; identifying follow up actions needed; proactively contributing to team billing and file closures where appropriate, WIP, disbursement and debts, file closure and residual balances.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Working closely with the fee earners in our Commercial Litigation department, this role would best suit someone who is pro-active and enthusiastic, with great interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with people at all levels. Strong organisational and administrative skills are essential, along with the ability to multi-task and a confident telephone manner. More technical requirements include excellent IT skills including the use of Microsoft office, Outlook, and basic Excel functions. Ideally you will have experience in a law firm environment, or alternatively you are a law graduate looking to progress your career.
Benefits
In addition to a competitive salary, you will also get:
- Flexible Working
- 25 days holiday, plus Bank Holidays
- Extra Day of Holiday for your Birthday
- Private Healthcare
- Pension Scheme(s)
- Life Assurance
- Eye Tests
- Flu Jabs
- Corporate Gym Membership Discounts
- Legal Support
- Opportunities to get involved with charity fundraising, sports teams and office socials
About
Porter Dodson is an award-winning Top 200 UK Law Firm, providing commercial and private legal services to individuals and businesses across Somerset, Devon and Dorset.We're proud of a regional presence that gives clients the local connections and friendly in-person service they love. Being embedded in our local communities and market sectors gives our clients a superb service grounded in the real world.What makes Porter Dodson a great place to work is our people and our culture. Our team are the lifeblood of the firm, and we are fully committed to ensuring our team are motivated, well cared for, and fulfilling their potential at work. Our people are our priority, which is why we have such excellent staff retention rates and how we have sustained a gold accreditation from Investors in People since 2016.
Skills Required
- Interest in and willingness to undertake advocacy and potential court work
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Strong organisational and administrative skills
- Ability to multitask effectively
- Confident telephone manner
- Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Office, Outlook, and basic Excel functions
- Experience working in a law firm environment
- Law graduate seeking to progress a legal career
- Prior advocacy experience
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The Company
What We Do
Porter Dodson is a full-service law firm providing expert legal advice and support across personal, business, and specialist sectors, helping clients navigate everything from family matters to corporate transactions.
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