Assistant Solicitor - Hybrid - Berkshire
£32,000-£45,000 + Benefits (dependent on experience)
This Assistant Solicitor role is a fee earning role reporting into the Partners and working in the Criminal Dept of our client, who are a congenial and very supportive firm of medium-sized solicitors. They have more than one office and you can select to base yourself from the office that is most accessible for you, during the 2 days+ that you attend the office. (They do adopt a flexible approach to this).
Our client prides itself on its cohesiveness and supportive team. Many members of staff who started off a as NQ solicitors are now Partners! They have an excellent staff retention rate.
They will consider solicitors with duty experience, (salary will reflect this). Also newly qualified solicitors, or paralegals who are police station accredited.
Responsibilities and Tasks Include:
- Covering court attendances in the following areas: Berkshire/West London/Thames Valley.
- Managing case files in accordance with Quality Assurance Standards.
- Providing advice and assistance to clients of the firm at a Police Station, by telephone and/or in person.
- Attend upon clients of the firm either at Court / the office / in custody / elsewhere to obtain their instructions and provide them with advice and assistance.
- Attend upon witnesses and experts to obtain relevant statements or opinions in connection with clients' cases.
- To communicate where appropriate with clients and other parties by email, letter, telephone and in person.
- To arrange for attendances upon and to assist Counsel, clients and witnesses at Court hearings and at case conferences.
- To participate in the appropriate Duty Solicitor Schemes and to provide advice and assistance in accordance with the Duty Solicitor arrangements.
- To carry out the correct preparation for all hearings, pleas, and trials and to ensure that all listings are dealt with promptly and accurately.
- To ensure that proofs of evidence, observations on evidence and witness statements are taken and prepared promptly.
- To effectively delegate and supervise work undertaken by support staff.
- To advise on appeals, to obtain Counsel's advice on appeals and lodging appeals, as necessary.
- To carry out advocacy in the Magistrates Court and as appropriate in the Crown Court.
- Where relevant to instruct Agent Solicitors or Counsel to attend at the Magistrates Courts.
- Paralegal (with duty qualification) or newly qualified (NQ) without duty qualification, salary is c£35k + benefits and extensive training.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience required
- Degree or recognised diploma.
- Pass or above of the Legal Practice Course or Law Society Finals.
- Valid current Law Society Practising Certificate.
- Eligibility or membership of local Court and Police Station Duty Solicitors Schemes.
- Excellent advocacy, oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills.
- Ability to work to set deadlines.
- Ability to decide and act upon priorities of work and function effectively under pressure.
- Ability to get on with people and motivate others.
- File management skills.
- Financial management.
Our client and Our Vacancies are inclusive employers and value diversity in their workforces. We encourage applications from all individuals without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age.