Private Client - Legal Assistant (Part time)

Job description

Private Client Legal Assistant - Redruth Office

We are seeking a dedicated Private Client Assistant to join our friendly and fast-paced Redruth office. This role is ideally suited for someone with some prior experience in a private client department or legal environment.

Role Details:

• Work Hours: 9:00 am - 5:15 pm, Thursday and Friday, with 1 hour unpaid lunch, totalling 14.5 paid hours per week.
• Additional Hours: The role requires covering staff absences in the Private Client Department, which may occasionally include paid extra hours during other staff holiday periods.
• Salary: £9,600 to £12,000 per year, depending on experience (based on full-time hours, 36.25 hours per week equivalent to £24,000 - £26,000).

Key Responsibilities:

• Data Entry & Management: Use Microsoft Office, Osprey Approach, and other software platforms for data entry and file management.
• Case support: Prepare and organise essential legal documents, including wills, codicils, LPA forms, deeds of change of name, oaths, estate accounts, and assent documents. General Office Duties: Contribute to departmental tasks, such as filing, data entry, and other support tasks as needed.
• Administrative Support: Assist fee earners with managing case files, correspondence, and document preparation across wills, lasting powers of attorney, estate administration, change of name deeds, and related private client matters.
• Client Communications: Act as a first point of contact for clients and beneficiaries; handle incoming enquiries via phone, email, and in person; provide updates on file progress and request further information when required. Liaise sensitively with bereaved families and vulnerable clients.
• Quotations & Estimates: Prepare and issue initial quotes and estimates for private client services, ensuring accuracy and compliance with pricing policies.
• Correspondence Drafting: Draft and send routine letters, emails, and forms, including client care letters, authority forms, instruction confirmations, and notifications to beneficiaries, executors, and third-party organisations.
• Transcription & Dictation: Transcribe audio dictation and produce accurate legal documents and correspondence as directed by fee earners.
• Case Management System (CMS): Use platforms such as Osprey Approach to open new files, track key milestones, update case progress, and maintain detailed electronic records.
• Probate Registry & Court of Protection: Assist with the preparation and submission of grant of probate and letters of administration applications via the Probate Registry, and registration of LPAs with the Office of the Public Guardian.
• Asset & Liability Enquiries: Write to banks, building societies, insurers, pension providers, utility companies, and HMRC to obtain asset valuations, close accounts, and collect estate funds.
• Estate Administration Support: Assist with the preparation of estate accounts, distribution schedules, and assent documents; help coordinate the collection and distribution of estate assets to beneficiaries.
• Post-Matter Support: Assist with the submission of inheritance tax returns to HMRC, registration of property transfers at HM Land Registry, and ensure timely closure and archiving of completed files.
• Financial Admin: Prepare interim and final estate accounts, draft invoices, and assist with billing queries in accordance with office procedures and Solicitors' Accounts Rules.
• Compliance & Record-Keeping: Maintain up-to-date and compliant file records in line with GDPR, AML, and firm protocols; flag issues to fee earners or the Practice Manager.

Key Attributes:

• Organised and Calm Under Pressure: Effective time management and task prioritisation.
• Communication Skills: Clear, professional interaction with clients and team members.
• Microsoft Office Proficiency: Basic experience with Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Confidentiality: Strict client confidentiality, ability to show understanding and sensitivity to high-level access information and financing

What We Offer:

• Job Types: Part-time
• Salary Range: £9,600 to £12,000 per year, with a yearly bonus (based on part-time hours of 14.5 per week).
• Meets minimum wage for entry-level
• Salary increases with experience
• Additional Benefits: Flexitime, paid overtime, holiday entitlement based on contracted hours, and additional time off at Christmas and New Year.
• 9 Days annual leave (23 based on full-time entitlement)
• Additional leave on all bank holidays
• Additional leave at Christmas & New Year

If you’re looking for a role that provides comprehensive training and the chance to grow within a supportive environment, we’d love to hear from you!

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Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: £9,600-£12,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 14.5 per week

Additional pay:

• Bonus scheme

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Transport links

Schedule:

• Thursday & Friday
• No weekends

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Redruth: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location:

• In-person - Redruth Office

Reference ID: Private Client Legal Assistant