Trainee Solicitor

Requirement Qualifications

• Law Graduate with Completed LPC
• Good academic record

Reporting to

• The Training Partner, currently Helen Penney, or whomsoever the Partners shall from time to time delegate this responsibility
• To be prepared to take day-to-day instructions from other members of staff as required

Training Seats

• To gain training and experience in at least three substantive areas of law, covering both contentious and non-contentious work in the following departments:
• Data Protection
• Litigation
• Residential Conveyancing
• Employment
• Wills & Probate

Objectives

To be provided with training, guidance and experience necessary to enable development of key skills to become a solicitor over a 2-year period, including but not limited to:

• Legal and procedural knowledge
• Case and transaction management
• Client care and practice support skills
• Communication skills
• Drafting
• Interviewing and advising
• Legal research
• Advocacy
• To develop and maintain good client relation skills, gaining clients’ confidence and that of other professionals
• To work and behave in a professional manner, in accordance with the standards of the profession and in accordance with any professional compliance requirements
• To provide a valuable contribution to the work of each department to which the trainee has been allocated a seat
• To provide administrative support generally within the firm as required

Main Responsibilities & Duties (Examples)

• To provide support to Fee Earners and the relevant Partner and/or Head of Department with their daily workloads, by way of undertaking elements of fee earning work under supervision and with administrative support
• To deal wherever possible with routine client and third-party enquiries and communications
• To deputise for principals in their absence passing urgent issues to senior colleagues for guidance
• Ensure that client files are kept updated with correspondence and documents
• To assist in the promotion, development and marketing of the firm and cross referral of clients to other fee earners
• To attend and participate in Firm meetings including bi-monthly Fee Earners Meetings and Departmental Meetings
• To attend and participate in the Firm’s social, charitable and marketing activities as required
• To comply with the Firm’s Policies and Procedures and to adhere to professional standards
• To comply with the SRA handbook including SRA accounts rules when dealing with office & clients’ money
• To maintain the image and integrity of the Firm always and to deal with clients and contacts in a courteous manner
• To maintain a training record
• To attend training courses as required by the Training Partner and to pass the Professional Skills Course
• To maximise the use of IT systems and to use these systems to provide a quality, cost effective and efficient service to clients
• Ad-hoc tasks and projects as detailed by the Partners

Person Specification

Key skills and personal qualities to include:

• Accuracy
• Efficiency and Organisational skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, completing high volume of work daily
• Ability to prioritise effectively and manage assigned tasks in an efficient and timely manner
• Ability to work as part of a team but also be able to work on own initiative
• To be able to accept constructive criticism
• Computer literate and be competent in the use of Microsoft Office applications
• Good verbal communication and telephone skills
• Attention to detail
• Enthusiastic and ambitious with a strong desire to learn

Hours & Place of Work

• Full Time – 5 days a week
• 8:30am – 5:30pm and 11:00 – 8:00pm on Monday to Friday and 9:30am – 4:30pm on Saturday and Sunday on a rota basis

Based in Altrincham but may be required to visit and attend to clients/contacts primarily in Cheshire, Lancashire and West Yorkshire.

 How to Apply

• Suitable covering letter and CV
• Email to helen.penney@khanmather.co.uk