Legal PA

Taylor Wessing

Taylor Wessing is a global law firm that serves the world's most innovative people and businesses. Deeply embedded within our sectors, we work closely together with our clients to crack complex problems, enabling ideas and aspirations to thrive. Together we challenge expectation and create extraordinary results. By shaping the conversation in our sectors, we enable our clients to unlock growth, protect innovation and accelerate ambition. 

With 1000+ lawyers, 300+ partners, 29 offices and 17 jurisdictions we are looking to expand our Admin  team, with the addition of a Legal PA.

The opportunity for you

This Legal PA role will provide a high level of professional support to Partners, counsel and associates, and undertakes a wide range of activities. You will be expected to take on complex tasks, support projects, and provide departmental PA support, as well as playing a critical role in managing daily administration for stakeholders. This role requires proactive and highly competent individuals who will operate effectively in a pressurised and fast paced environment.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive knowledge of clients, sector mandates, stakeholders and projects;
• Understand priorities, potential issues, sensitivities and key client stakeholders and practically apply this knowledge to support partners and fee earners across a range of activities;
• Act as the key liaison point between clients (both internal and external) and take responsibility for handling and directing incoming queries/issues. Assess, prioritise and follow up requests and actions, whilst managing clients’ expectations;  
• Manage fee earners' schedules; coordinate and arrange meetings to best utilise time; proactively manage diary conflicts and ensure fee earners are prepared in advance of meetings with all necessary documentation and details;
• Suggest and arrange keep in touch client visits/other meetings;
• Booking and administering room reservations for all future meetings, events and on the day meeting requests;
• Ensure that calls to the switchboard are answered and directed in a prompt, efficient and professional manner;
• Assist clients with other business services as required to include; printing, scanning, faxing, photo copying, document production and travel arrangements including taxi bookings and hotel reservations;
• Ensure the highest standard of customer service is always upheld;
• Acting as ‘front of house’, welcoming clients;
• Answering internal and external calls, screen and direct / forward calls;
• Provide information to callers along with taking and relaying messages
• Arrange travel effectively and efficiently; plan for contingencies and anticipate additional requirements. Build extensive knowledge of fee earner preferences;
• Draft and amend emails, letters and other documents on behalf of fee earners where applicable;
• Establish and maintain an efficient, effective and up to date electronic filing system and other administration systems with the ability to quickly store and retrieve key documents;
• Carry out advanced research/request information from relevant support teams to provide detailed information regarding clients and companies and analyse material to support the transaction team (in conjunction with Knowledge and Information Centre and other support services);
• Ad hoc duties as and when required.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral with an ability to interact and build strong relationships at all levels;
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail;
• Ability to demonstrate absolute discretion and handle sensitive situations;
• A confident, enthusiastic and committed approach, whilst remaining flexible and proactive at all times;
• A patient and calm demeanour with an ability to work well in pressured situations, always maintaining a professional attitude;
• Ability to anticipate and identify potential problems and provide innovative solutions;
• An excellent team player with an ability to form constructive and supportive relationships throughout the firm;
• Adaptable and open to change showing a willingness and confidence to make suggestions for change where appropriate;
• Previous front of house / PA experience from a professional services environment desired;
• Pleasant, clear and confident telephone manner;
• Excellent client care skills with the ability to deal with clients on the telephone and face-to-face;
• Pro-active team player;
• Ability to prioritise, manage own workload, and be pro-active and reliable;
• Confident manner, being polite and approachable at all times;
• Strong attention to detail and presentation skills with a high level of accuracy;
• Self-motivated, disciplined individual with excellent problem solving skills;
• A calm, clear thinker with keen attention to detail; a multi-tasker who enjoys a fast-paced working environment;
• Excellent customer service skills with a positive can do attitude;
• Strong organisational skills with experience of managing end to end tasks that require multiple touch points;
• Technical skills with knowledge of Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Excel packages.

Benefits

Here are a select few benefits that Taylor Wessing offer; 

• Hybrid working (Offering the opportunity to work remotely, while maintaining a social boundary by working from our award-winning offices for 3 days a week) 
• Holiday (Our basic annual holiday entitlement starts at 25 days, with a further discretionary day of paid leave in December. You may also purchase up to five extra days each year (pro rata). 
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity leave (After one-year service, you are entitled to up to 26 weeks leave full pay if you or your partner give birth or adopt a child). 

Along with these there are many more benefits we offer, with the addition of a comprehensive flexible benefits package available. 

Our culture

Nurturing a diverse, inclusive culture allows all of our talent to flourish, sparks creativity and powers innovation.  We continue to build a team that exemplifies inclusivity and reflects the firm's core values: creative, excellence, integrity, responsible, respect and team.  We value and celebrate the differences in who we are, what we have experienced and how we think, so all candidates will be treated fairly regardless of age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender identity, marital status, neurodiversity, pregnancy, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and socio-economic background.

The way we work

At Taylor Wessing, we never settle for average. We're creative thinkers, problem solvers and continuous learners who excel at what we do and believe our best work is still ahead of us. We are a firm that's large enough for you to achieve your ambitions, but connected enough to be a true community.