DMH Stallard is an award winning South East law, Legal 100 firm with offices in London, Brighton, Gatwick, Guilford, Horsham and Hassocks. DMH Stallard has grown rapidly since it was established in 1970, and has a headcount of approx 380. Our firm provides a comprehensive range of commercial, dispute resolution and litigation, employment, cyber security and cyber-crime, corporate, intellectual property, real estate and technology, media and telecoms advice to both businesses and individuals. Our clients, our people and our professional networks are the keys to our success. |
Our Dispute Resolution Family Team handle all manner of family legal services covering family, child, relationship and separation cases including pre-nuptial agreements to divorce and financial disputes and settlements.
Job Purpose:
- To operate as an effective member of the Family Team sitting in the Dispute Resolution Group based in the Guildford office
- Provide legal & administrative support to fee-earners within the London and Guildford Family Team
- To achieve the targets as defined by the Group Head/Head of Department, including contribution and hours
- To work with and assist members of the Family Team in the day-to-day running of cases
- To assist the admin team with taking detail and instructions from potential new clients and working with more senior fee earners to arrange appointments.
Responsibilities and Duties:
Personal
- To participate and contribute to the Family Team and the Dispute Resolution group to ensure an effective working environment, supporting Associates and Partners on more complex matters as appropriate
- Attend relevant technical training to ensure that skills and knowledge remain up-to-date
- To attend and contribute to group meetings
- Continuously develop their own technical expertise
- Maintain awareness of the legal market specifically relating to family work, and litigation.
- Taking calls from new clients and arranging for them to meet with a more senior fee earner for initial consultations.
- To promote the vision and culture of the Firm
- Annually participate in appraisal meetings
- To maintain a culture where individuals are encouraged to identify problems or mistakes and are encouraged to “speak up” to ensure issues are resolved
Legal
- Work as part of the Dispute Resolution (Family) Group dealing with, but not limited to divorce; matrimonial arbitration/mediation; pre-nuptial agreements; custody agreements; wills & trusts disputes etc.
- Drafting documents, reports & correspondence as dictated by Associates & Partners
- Attend meetings as requested by Associates & Partners with subsequent drafting of minutes
- Attend court as requested by Associates & Partners and associated support work as required
Financial
- Maintaining accurate data on case manager system
- To monitor own performance in relation to file closures, file openings, time recording and to take appropriate action to ensure targets are met
Client Care
- To be responsible for the delivery of the service to the client, ensuring that the highest standards of client care are maintained so that clients use DMHS again and recommend the firm to others
Business Development
- To assist with marketing and business development initiatives such as writing for e-newsletters website, social media or attending seminars
Risk
- To be fully familiar with the Money Laundering and FSMA Policies and Procedures and to ensure full compliance with them
- Conforming to the risk management procedures as stated by the firm
- Attend regular meetings with the group to review all current work and workloads
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Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required:
- Some previous experience of litigation and/or Family work would be an advantage (or a demonstrable ability to do so)
- Some knowledge of Civil Procedure Rules and the Family Procedure Rules
- Some knowledge of general family related legislation and relevant case law
- Able to effectively manage their time to achieve client and internal deadlines
- An understanding of the importance of client care and ability to communicate effectively with clients, in writing, over the telephone and in meetings
- Able to work within a team and provide support to Associates and Partners as appropriate
- Confident Excel skills sufficient to enable the reviewing of relevant matters
- Competent IT skills including Outlook, Word, Digital Dictation and Aderant/iManage
- Ability to draft documentation and minutes, with attention to detail
- Understanding of the strategy and vision of the firm
- Convey technical legal information when necessary in an effective and accessible way
Benefits:
- 25 days holiday (of which 3.5 are taken during the Christmas period), plus Birthday holiday, plus Bank Holidays.
- Life Assurance
- Private Healthcare
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Sodexo Discounts
- Pension Scheme
- Interest free season ticket loans
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounts on Legal work
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