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 clients our people and our professional networks are the keys to our success.

Our Real Estate Team handle all manner ofresidential and commercial propertyrelated matters from Landlord and Tenant to Construction and Development Asset Management Utilities Conveyancing and Property Finance.

JOB PURPOSE:

To provide administrative and secretarial support to the Real Estate Development team based in Gatwick.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Preparation of correspondence reports forms documents and bills from instructions given by the legal team (mainly via email but potentially by digital dictation) in compliance with DMH Stallard house style guide;
• Completion of standard forms without fee earner assistance and production of standard letters without dictation;
• Preparing applications for registration at Land Registry and carrying out Land Registry searches and local authority searches;
• Deal with general telephone enquiries take telephone calls in absence of fee earner and report to fee earner receive and relay messages to and from clients and other professionals on behalf of fee earner;
• Open files using DMHS file opening system generate initial client letters and engagement summary (the Welcome Pack) and once approved send to client with all relevant enclosures;
• Close files using standard procedures maintain an efficient filing system and review files to identify where follow up action required;
• Comply with office procedures for document production and management;
• Carry out basic accounting transactions and deal with financial queries;
• Preparation of client invoices on a monthly basis;
• Prepare completion statements and assist in preparation and submission of Stamp Duty Land tax returns;
• Preparation of legal documents for using DMHS preferred electronic signing platform (currently Docusign) or in hard copy;
• Attend Group meetings and such training courses as determined by the Group Leader;
• Scanning incoming documents to electronic files;
• Dealing with accounts and obtain partners signature on financial CHAPS/BACS dockets.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Legal background and knowledge or experience of conveyancing process preferred.
• Fast and accurate copy and typing skills.
• Excellent IT skills with experience in Word Excel Outlook and Internet. Ability to use track changes.
• Ability to prepare emails and other correspondence based on instructions given by email and/or digital dictation
• Experience of legal document management systems (such as iManage) preferred.
• Experience of electronic signing platforms (such as Docusign) preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and professional telephone manner.
• Effective administrative communication decision making and team working skills.
• Good standard of written English and grammar.

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