Wills & Probate Legal Assistant

Description

Sue Ross Legal are recruiting for a Wills and Probate Legal Assistant to join our client, a well-established and respected specialist law firm based in Derby.

The prime role of the Wills and Probate Legal Assistant is to provide support to his/her Private Client Solicitor to enable them to operate at optimum efficiency. This will include, but will not be limited to, the main responsibilities given below. The Wills and Probate Legal Assistant is expected to use a high degree of self-management and initiative and to maintain a high level of confidentiality.

• Manage the overflow of telephone calls
• Provide support and assistance alongside other office duties and functions as
required, and when agreed
• Provide administrative support to the Wills and Probate Department e.g.,
scanning, faxing, photocopying
• Open new files
• Maintaining files
• Closing files on completion of the matter
• Preparation of initial paperwork
• Obtaining ID/AML Checks
• Printing of Client Care letters
• Preparation of letters to clients
• Booking appointments and managing a diary system
• Dictation
• Receiving and making calls to all parties involved
• Managing and maintaining contact via email
• Maintaining Client relationships
• Liaising with Clients and other professional bodies
• Drafting Wills using the “Arken” software system
• Preparing Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Managing Lasting Power of Attorney files – sending to Attorneys to sign, sending
to The Office of the Public Guardian for registration
• Preparing bills and invoices
• The Archiving of legal documents
• Obtaining office copies from the Land Registry
• Obtaining financial reports for probate files
• Obtaining bankruptcy checks
• Liaising with legal accounts
• Distribution on monies via BACS
• Writing to financial institutions in respect of probate files
• Preparing applications for Grant of Probate/Letts of Administration
• Preparing estate accounts

Essential Skills and Qualifications:

• A Law degree and a sound understanding of Private Client matters.
• Excellent IT Skills with working knowledge of all MS applications, especially
Word.
• Competent typing ability.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Previous experience in office administration, preferably in a legal office
environment.

Personal Attributes:

• Self-motivation to work independently and as part of a team with a ‘can do’
attitude.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• A positive approach to working under pressure in a busy environment.
• Discretion and respect for client confidentiality.
• Be reliable and diligent.

For more information about the above vacancy or for a confidential chat about our other vacancies throughout Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, the Northwest and the North East, please send your details to us and one of our dedicated legal consultants will contact you.

Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, we are unable to provide individual feedback to all applicants. Please assume that if you do not hear from us within 72 hours that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

May we take this opportunity to thank you for expressing an interest in one of our roles and wish you the very best in your search for employment.