Via

Personal/Executive Assistant to Directors, Chief Executives and Senior Partners with 18 years of experience in Law Practice.

Background includes expertise in litigation, probate, employment, immigration, conveyancing, and commercial law. Gained in-depth experience supporting fee earners across different areas of law with strong organizational, administrative and client liaison skills.

Legal Secretary – Litigation department/Probate department - Midwinters Solicitors - Cheltenham

(2023-08)

Currently providing secretarial support to the Probate solicitor and Litigation Solicitor.

• Preparing documents and liaising with clients in terms of assisting them through the Probate process
• Completing LPAs, Wills and relevant documentation
• Preparing monthly bills and file notes
• Diary management, preparing Court trial bundles
• Liaising with clients, maintaining the filing system to ensure all matters comply to Money Laundering regulations
• Responding to new enquiries and setting up the file
• Month end billing and dealing with client accounts

Travel - Career break - US, Philippines, Hongkong and India

(2023-03 - 2023-07)

Career break to travel. Due to the change in retirement age from 65 to 66, returned back to work in the Law Practice industry.

Legal Secretary, Employment and Immigration Team - Harrison Clark Rickerbys Solicitors - Cheltenham office

(2019-10 - 2023-02)

Providing secretarial support to a team of 4 senior partners and 7 Associates and solicitors.

• Liaising with internal departments as required
• Organising internal and external events to include sourcing out venues, speakers and attendees
• Coordinating monthly file reviews and quarterly Lexcel assessments ensuring all fee earner matters are compliant
• Attending training as required on the Learning Hub and completing mandatory training eg Money Laundering Regulations
• Preparing court documents including Tribunal bundles
• First point of contact for all employment enquiries by phone or email
• Managed the Settlement Agreement helpline and successfully completed 70 plus claims
• Responsible for monthly billing and ensuring bills are submitted to Accounts prior to the billing deadline and individual and team targets are achieved
• First Aider and Fire Warden for the Cheltenham office

Legal Secretary, Commercial and Residential Property team - Davey Law

(2019-06 - 2019-10)

Temporary basis work assisting Commercial and residential fee earners.

• Assisting Commercial and residential fee earners in the preparation of commercial documents ie Shareholder Agreements, Articles of Incorporation
• Meeting with clients on initial instruction and throughout the conveyancing process
• Exchanging contracts and managing pre-completion and post completion documentation
• Maintaining physical and electronic files using Partner for Windows

Legal Secretary, Residential and Commercial Conveyancing department - Thomson and Bancks - Cheltenham

(2017-09 - 2018-10)

Providing secretarial support to fee earners and managing pre and post completion matters.

• Meeting clients throughout the conveyancing process
• Preparing monthly billing

Legal Assistant, Residential and Commercial Conveyancing - Davis Gregory Solicitors - Cheltenham

(2015-09 - 2017-09)

Responsible for managing the whole conveyancing process from inception, progression, completion and post-completion.

• Liaising with clients throughout the process and ensuring accuracy throughout to meet expectations and deadlines for completion
• Alerting Fee earners for any issues and enquiries raised by the client and other parties
• Preparing pre and post completion documents ie TR1 and SDLT online submission
• Liaising with HM Land Registry for title documents

Legal Secretary, various departments - BPE Solicitors - Cheltenham

(2006-11 - 2015-09)

Gained in depth experience and knowledge in all areas of Law to include Dispute Resolution. Secretary to Equity Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution. Personal Assistant to Equity Partner for Private Client and Matrimonial (2 years).

Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive - Gloucestershire Probation Office - Gloucestershire

(2006-05 - 2006-11)

Under the jurisdiction of the Home Office.

• Diary management
• Attending meetings on behalf of the Chief of Probation
• Representing Gloucestershire Probation during meetings at the Home Office in London and other probation offices within the Southwest region
• Preparing Board minutes and sending them out prior to each board meeting
• Preparing the agenda and taking minutes during Board meetings
• First point of contact for board members, the Home Office for lines to take for news releases
• Responsible for processing documents for emergency prisoner recalls

Marketing Assistant - PHI Group - Cheltenham

(2001-10 - 2006-05)

Started as Secretary to the Marketing Director and then promoted as Marketing Assistant responsible for managing the Export business and marketing events.

• Attending exhibitions all over UK and Scotland, as required
• Liaising with external agencies for advertising and promotional materials
• Point of contact for clients and civil engineering companies

Personal Assistant to Customer Planning Director - Kraft Foods UK

(1998-06 - 2001-10)

Started as a temporary PA cover for the Customer Planning Director and was offered a permanent position within a week. After two years offered a secondment role as Contracts Administration for Kraft Foods Europe.

• Responsible for managing preferred suppliers and ensuring they conform to Kraft purchasing procedures
• Attending meetings throughout various locations in UK and meeting suppliers and negotiating rates eg for Hotel accommodation and overseas flights
• Liaising with airlines for best international air fares for senior executives and their families
• Organising product launches from venues, invitations, handouts and marketing materials, accommodation and catering requirements

Social Work Secretary - Cheltenham General Hospital

(1998-02 - 1998-06)

Providing administrative and secretarial support to a team of Hospital social workers to include Reception and handling telephone enquiries from the public.

Bachelor in Science - Economics