Website JE Bennett Law
Hours – Full-time (35 hours per week; Monday-Friday; 09:00 – 17:00)
Salary – Commensurate with Experience
Location: Eridge House, 1 Linden Close, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 8HH
Closing date: Ongoing until role filled.
If you have the relevant experience as detailed in the job description below, then please contact hr@jebennettlaw.co.uk with your CV and cover note explaining your suitability for the role.
The role:
Salaried Partners are required to; conduct themselves as highly professional advocates of the Firm at all times, both during and outside of contracted office hours, undertake casework commensurate with their level of seniority, to achieve and maintain an appropriate profile such that they are recognised for their expertise and standing in the Firm. To deliver accurate, timely and efficient fee earning work to clients with a high degree of skill and care whilst ensuring an excellent level of service at all times.
The key focuses of this role are:
Team Management:
- To comply with and give full support to Managers in respect of upholding the policies and procedures of the Firm
- To ensure effective and appropriate people management skills
- To give advice, guidance and mentoring to junior lawyers, trainees and paralegals within the department and generally
- To maintain conducive working relationships and effective supervision of, and delegation to support staff and to liaise with the Office Manager as appropriate
- To maintain an effective diary system in liaison with support staff
- To contribute to and support the management and running of the department
- Responsibility for yearly Appraisals; completion of forms and reporting outcomes to the HR department
- Reporting to HR in relation to any disciplinary matters within their team
Personal Management:
- To display appropriate leadership and management skills and to support the effective management of both the staff and the Firm generally
- To lead by example by supporting and upholding the policies and procedures set down by the Firm
- To conduct oneself, at all times, in a professional manner as expected of a very senior member of staff
- Managing your own caseload, including assisting the solicitors in the provision of advice and the making of decisions to ensure the clients’ best interests are met
This role includes:
- To maintain highest possible standards of legal advice and client management
- To consistently achieve billing targets and to monitor own fees against target
- To process transactions in a timely manner and effect financial controls for matters under your supervision in accordance with departmental procedures, including timely and effective management of debtors
- To consistently demonstrate a high level of competence in file management procedures including client care, fee estimates, time recording, prompt and regular billing, obtaining funds on account, collecting outstanding disbursements and rendering timely interim bills (as appropriate)
- To monitor work in progress and ensure clients are kept informed
- To ensure that the highest level of professional standards and client care are maintained at all times
- To build and maintain respectful and conducive working relationships with clients, colleagues and other associated third parties
- To actively initiate and maintain relationships in order to obtain new clients and to maximise business opportunities with existing clients and to maximise potential cross selling opportunities across the Firm
- To be proactive in identifying new marketing and networking opportunities and to attend events as required
- To ensure that any work/matter related issues that may detrimentally affect the Firm, are brought to the immediate attention of the Head of Department
- To ensure positive and professional representation of the Firm at all times
- To undertake all training as required by the Firm and CPD
- To act as an ambassador for the Firm both professionally and personally
- Any additional duties that may reasonably be required
Key Relationships
- Partners, Solicitors, Department Heads, Fee Earners, PA’s and support staff
- Suppliers and Clients
Essential Academic/ Vocational Qualifications
· Appropriate level of post qualification experience
· A high level of competency and experience in the relevant area(s) of law
· Ability to manage a complex caseload effectively
· Appropriate leadership, management, supervisory and mentoring skills
Experience
· Solicitor experience specifically in the private client field with aspects of related Court of Protection work such as Statutory Will applications
· Strong written and spoken communication skills
· Excellent analytical skills
· Independent and proactive approach to work, but willing to ask for help when needed
· Hard-working, resilient, highly organised, and flexible
· Acute attention to detail
· Respectful of client confidentiality
Knowledge/ Skills
· Demonstrates sound judgement and good decision making when dealing with problems
· Able to identify a problem arising and can develop a solution or take the correct course of action
· Knows when to seek guidance or further input from others before taking action
· Checks that information is accurate and complete
· Looks for new solutions to problems as well as tried and tested methods
Communication Skills
· Able to express oneself both orally and in writing in a clear and constructive way
· Willing to ask questions, listen to others’ views and accept advice
· Willing to contribute ideas and seek improvements
· Good client / introducer handling skills both by telephone and face to face
Working with People
· Ability to build and maintain working relationships with others and act as a role model for the values of the Firm
· Operates effectively as part of a team encouraging others to contribute ideas and seek improvements
· Willing to offer help to all colleagues to ensure company success
To apply for this job email your details to hr@jebennettlaw.co.uk