Secretary

DMH Stallard is an award winning South East law Legal 100 firm with offices in London Brighton Gatwick Guilford Horsham and Hassocks. DMH Stallard has grown rapidly since it was established in 1970 and has a headcount of approx 380. Our firm provides a comprehensive range of commercial dispute resolution and litigation employment cyber security and cybercrime corporate intellectual property real estate and technology media and telecoms advice to both businesses and individuals.Our clients our people and our professional networks are the keys to our success.

Our Dispute Resolution Family Team handle all manner of family legal services covering family child relationship and separation cases including prenuptial agreements to divorce and financial disputes and settlements.

Job Purpose:

• To operate as an effective member of the Family Team sitting in the Dispute Resolution Group based predominantly in the Brighton office but may have to travel to the Horsham office on occasion.
• Provide legal & administrative support to feeearners within the Sussex Family Team and support the Senior Family Solicitor in Brighton in particular.
• To achieve the targets as defined by the Group Head/Head of Department including contribution and hours.
• To work with and assist members of the Family Team in the daytoday running of cases.
• To assist the admin team with taking detail and instructions from potential new clients and working with more senior fee earners to arrange appointments

Responsibilities and duties:

Personal

• To participate and contribute to the Family Team and the Dispute Resolution group to ensure an effective working environment supporting Associates and Partners on more complex matters as appropriate
• Attend relevant technical training to ensure that skills and knowledge remain uptodate
• To attend and contribute to group meetings
• Taking calls from new clients and arranging for them to meet with a more senior fee earner for initial consultations.
• Annually participate in appraisals/objective meetings forwarding a copy to HR

Legal

• Work as part of the Dispute Resolution (Family) Group dealing with but not limited to divorce; matrimonial arbitration/mediation; prenuptial agreements; custody agreements; wills & trusts disputes etc.
• Drafting documents reports & correspondence as dictated by Associates & Partners
• Attend meetings as requested by Associates & Partners with subsequent drafting of minutes
• Attend court as requested by Associates & Partners and associated support work as required

Financial

• Maintaining accurate data on case manager
• To monitor own performance in relation to file closures file openings time recording and to take appropriate action to ensure targets are met

Client Care

• To be responsible for the delivery of the service to the client ensuring that the highest standards of client care are maintained so that clients use DMHS again and recommend the firm to others.
• To assist in the monthly generation of bills;
• Administrative support to the Sussex team in general to include audio typing filing and secretarial duties.

Knowledge Skills and Experience Required

• Some previous experience of litigation and/or Family work would be an advantage (or a demonstrable ability to do so)
• Some knowledge of Civil Procedure Rules and the Family Procedure Rules
• Some knowledge of general family related legislation and relevant case law
• Able to effectively manage their time to achieve client and internal deadlines
• An understanding of the importance of client care and ability to communicate effectively with clients in writing over the telephone and in meetings
• Able to work within a team and provide support to Associates and Partners as appropriate
• Confident Excel skills sufficient to enable the reviewing of relevant matters
• Excellent IT skills including Outlook Word Digital Dictation
• Ability to communicate well orally and in writing including dealing directly with clients when required.
• Strong standard of written English grammar punctuation and spelling with the ability to produce high quality written work with minimal corrections.
• Attention to detail; Exceptional organisational skills; Numerate.
• Strong team working ethic; Effective administrative skills; Flexibility.
• Ability to work well under pressure and be proactive.
• Experience in a case manager system.

Benefits:

• 25 days holiday (of which 3.5 are taken during the Christmas period) plus Birthday holiday plus Bank Holidays.
• Life Assurance
• Private Healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Sodexo Discounts
• Pension Scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounts on Legal work