Why Porter Dodson?
Porter Dodson is an award-winning Top 200 UK Law Firm, providing commercial and private legal services to individuals and businesses across Somerset, Devon and Dorset.

We're proud of a regional presence that gives clients the local connections and friendly in-person service they love. Being embedded in our local communities and market sectors gives our clients a superb service grounded in the real world.

What makes Porter Dodson a great place to work is our people and our culture. Our team are the lifeblood of the firm, and we are fully committed to ensuring our team are motivated, well cared for, and fulfilling their potential at work. Our people are our priority, which is why we have such excellent staff retention rates and how we have sustained a gold accreditation from Investors in People since 2016.

 

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Legal Support Assistant to join our well-respected Corporate and Commercial team in our Taunton office. This varied and interesting role is to provide effective and proactive assistance to all aligned fee earning staff to support daily client and business responsibilities. The role will entail the following:

• Proactive matter management and transactional administrative support across the team.

• Accurate and prompt time recording of all billable time.

• Prepare draft bills for legal advisor approval (as required).

• Review of weekly pipeline reports and identify actions required to prevent matters becoming dormant.

• File closure and archiving.

• First point of contact for clients and third parties.

• Proactive fee earner diary management.

• Liaison with accounts to ensure matter hygiene, including lock up, WIP, client balances, bills, payments etc.

• Filing, storage and correct labelling of correspondence and documents on the ‘Peppermint’ file, ensuring compliance with the firm’s ‘paperlite’ policy.

• Team specialist support with systems / processes, including data rooms, Docusign and Adobe Pro.

• Document formatting and proof reading.

• Liaison with central support departments to proactively prevent and resolve problems on lawyers' behalf, taking ownership of the issue and following up where appropriate.

• Ownership of and active participation in regular departmental meetings.

• Work closely with the Marketing team with departmental event organising/event management.

• Undertake any additional duties which from time to time may be requested.

 

About You

Working closely with the fee earners across the business, this role would best suit someone who is proactive and enthusiastic with great interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with people at all levels. The successful candidate will be someone who takes pride in their work, has a keen eye for detail and has excellent time management and prioritisation skills. Ideally you will have experience in a legal environment providing support to fee earners, but we welcome applications from those who feel they meet the skills and behaviour requirements:

 

The Benefits
In addition to a competitive salary, you will receive:

• Flexible Working

• 25 days holiday, in addition to plus bank holidays

• Extra day of holiday for your birthday

• Private Healthcare

• Pension Scheme(s)

• Life Assurance

• Eye Tests

• Flu Jabs

• Corporate Gym Membership Discounts

• Discounted legal Support

• Opportunities to get involved with charity fundraising, sports teams and office socials