TRAINEE SOLICITOR
(3 - 4 seats across the Family, Private Client, Property & Litigation teams)
BEXLEYHEATH / BLACKHEATH / PETTS WOOD
SALARY LAW SOCIETY RECOMMENDED
Job Role
To provide a high-quality legal service to all our clients whilst gaining the necessary skills and competencies to qualify as a solicitor.
Main tasks/Accountabilities
Case & Transaction Management
These duties will be conducted under supervision.
- Conduct interviews with clients
- Gain understanding of client expectations and requirements
- Assess legal problems
- Advise clients on costs
- Conduct legal research
- Successfully deliver transactional goals
- Devise strategy for case
- Draft case papers
- Obtain information from relevant experts
- Assess the strengths and weaknesses of your client's case and the other party's case
- Instruct a barrister
- Negotiate settlements
- Meet deadlines
- Issue proceedings
- Attend court to conduct advocacy and/or with counsel and/or to take notes
- Make applications to the court
- Assist fee earners as required
- Maintain confidentiality
- Comply with all office procedure requirements
Administration
- Maintain your training record
- Conduct self-appraisal and development planning
- Actively participate in supervision and appraisal
- Complete accurate time recording
- Maintain files, whether electronic or paper
- Deal with billing, payments and closing files
- Follow administrative systems and procedures
- Take external telephone calls as part of a telephone rota
- Deal with new enquiries
- Deal with post, scanning and general office admin responsibilities
Development
- Gain competency in the SRA skills standards
- Participate in team meetings and business development activities
- Attend internal courses and training and pass the Professional Skills Course
- Keep up to date with law and practice
Knowledge/Qualifications
Good academic record Degree, preferably 2:1 or higher Passed all necessary law exams
Skills / Abilities / Personal Qualities
- Good organisation and ability to prioritise
- Confident communicator, both verbally and in writing
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Attention to detail, particularly with grammar, spelling and punctuation
- Enthusiastic
- Proactive and able to take initiative
- Empathetic Ability to work under pressure
- Commercial awareness
Experience
- Prior legal experience, preferably in private practice
- Prior experience of working in a commercial environment
- Prior experience of working with the public
Other factors