Job Description

At Howells, we combine a fresh and forward-thinking approach with a client-focused, local feel to deliver a range of award-winning, quality services.

We are seeking an organised, proactive and professional Legal Secretary to provide comprehensive administrative and secretarial support to our Private Client team. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting fee earners with a varied caseload involving wills, probate, estate administration, lasting powers of attorney, trusts and Court of Protection matters.

The ideal candidate will possess excellent organisational skills, strong attention to detail, exceptional client care skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a busy legal environment.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

• Provide full secretarial and administrative support to fee earners within the Private Client department.
• Accurately transcribe legal correspondence, court documents, reports, and other legal documentation from digital audio recordings while maintaining strict confidentiality and attention to detail.
• Draft routine letters and documents from precedents and fee earner instructions.
• Manage diaries, schedule appointments, meetings and client reviews.
• Handle incoming telephone calls and enquiries professionally, taking accurate messages and responding where appropriate.
• Manage incoming and outgoing mail, emails and other correspondence.
• Act as a professional first point of contact for clients, beneficiaries, executors and third parties.
• Maintain a courteous, empathetic and confidential approach when dealing with sensitive client matters.
• Onboarding new clients, including issuing engagement documentation and obtaining identification in accordance with anti-money laundering (AML) requirements.
• Maintain regular communication with clients regarding administrative aspects of their matters.
• Assist with preparation of probate application documentation.
• Prepare engrossments of Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Trust documentation.
• Assist with registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney.
• Ensure documents are correctly filed and scanned into the case management system.
• Maintain strict client confidentiality at all times.
• Comply with Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Standards and Regulations and all firm policies.
• Any other duties as directed by your line manager or Director.