Legal Assistant

Responsibilities/Duties
PA/Secretarial
•    Provide PA support to General Counsel managing his matters as well as his diary, work schedule and paperwork.
•    To complete audio dictation and copy type letters, memos and reports as required and to prepare signed correspondence for despatch.
•    Provide support for other administrative duties – photocopying, faxing, responding to emails, answering the phone etc.
Legal
•    Support General Counsel, the Best Practice team and other members of the co-opted team of solicitors on internal complaints handling.
•    Assist the General Counsel and members of the co-opted team of solicitors with a range of regulatory advice to partners and associates across the firm.
•    Conduct legal research, analysis and interpretation from relevant sources in relation to the identity of relevant entities, in their investigation of complaints and other compliance issues.
•    Maintain investigation files and documentation, providing reports to General Counsel and other members of the Board or co-opted team of solicitors as required.
•    Draft, prepare and proof legal documentation where required for General Counsel, the Risk & Compliance Team and members of the co-opted team of solicitors as required.
•    Prepare bundles and other legal documents as required.
Other
•    To work under pressure to meet deadlines with a flexible attitude to working overtime on the few occasions when an urgent matter may require it.
•    To maintain confidentiality in respect of those matters which are commercially sensitive or secret and only share them with colleagues and others on a need to know basis (who are themselves bound by an obligation of confidentiality).

Skills/Experience
•    Excellent organisational skill and attention to detail.
•    Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and document management.
•    Diary management/PA skill set e.g. travel and accommodation bookings, and arrangement of senior management level meetings.
•    The role is for someone who can be responsive to the changing needs and priorities of the Firm and be able to have active responsibility for certain aspects of their role as may be agreed from time to time.
•    This role requires absolute discretion and political astuteness. The role will involve access to confidential information and contact with the senior managers in the Firm.
•    Educated to at least degree level; with the GDL and/or LPC preferable but not essential.
•    Experience working as a Paralegal or Legal Assistant preferable but not essential.
•    Exposure to risk and compliance within in a legal or other regulated professional services environment.
•    Experience and knowledge in areas such as legal conflicts, complaints procedures, due diligence/AML checks and SRA rules.
Skills/Attributes
•    Dynamic and driven with an ability to work independently with initiative, discretion and confidentiality.
•    Ability to effectively manage own workload working independently and as part of a team.
•    Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels.
•    Personable and confident, able to build relationships with partners/ key stakeholders.
•    Resilient and calm under pressure.
•    Adaptable and flexible approach.
•    Pro-active and takes initiative.
•    Ability to work with and manage confidential information.
•    Has a genuine interest in developing a career in risk and complaints.