Practice and Tech Administrator - Private , Commercial Litigation
Location
London
Description
The Department
At Mishcon Private, we have a deep understanding of the dynamics and
politics of families, family businesses and personal relationships. We
understand the issues our clients face and what keeps them awake at
night. We know that their concerns go far beyond money and wealth
preservation: family issues, reputation, their home, the things they
love, or their legacy are far more important. Our business is
protecting them, their interests and the things that matter most to
them.
Our team at Mishcon Private comprises art, reputation, property,
immigration, tax and wealth planning specialists, alongside tenacious
litigators who are highly experienced at dealing with both family and
business disputes and complex multi-jurisdictional cases. We provide
practical and inventive solutions, combining our legal expertise with
commercial, real world advice.
We never take for granted the privilege we are afforded by our
clients to sit alongside them and be entrusted with their most complex
and personal problems. The work we do is never just business, it is
always personal and the breadth of Mishcon Private enables us to
provide our clients with the support they need whatever their issue
may be now or in the future.
The Role
The Practice & Tech Administrator is a
team focussed role, based within a practice area in one of the
Firm's fee-earning departments, where the role holder will also be a
key point of contact for Tech matters within the team.
The Practice & Tech Administrator will
work as part of the Legal Operations team to provide timely and high
quality administrative/co-ordination support to a group of lawyers.
This is a varied role, involving client contact, working as part of
a friendly and high-performing team providing great service to our
lawyers, and ultimately, the Firm's clients. In addition the
Practice & Tech Administrator will be highly skilled in the
Technology systems used in their teams, and will have a particular
interest in new technology, and will work with the Technology and
Strategy teams to test and design new systems, as well as working
closely with the Academy Tech learning team to identify training
needs within the team.
Duties and Responsibilities
To build a good understanding of the
practice's clients and work, how these align with the Department's
business strategy and that of the Firm.
Acting as a first point of contact on
behalf of the fee-earners, fielding calls, emails, correspondence
and meeting requests (both internally and from clients),
responding on behalf of the fee-earner, if appropriate.
Full calendar management for assigned
lawyers, including scheduling calls/meetings (ensuring all
supporting papers/information are available for each meeting),
looking ahead and following-up as needed to ensure best use is
made of fee-earners time).
To support fee-earners in the smooth
running of the client/matter lifecycle, following documented
procedures, ensuring all required information/documentation is
obtained, issued and correctly stored on the Firm's systems. This
will involve pro-actively chasing fee-earners and their clients
for any missing information as well as full management of client
files etc.
To develop a strong working knowledge of
the Firm's billing systems, including processes, IT systems and
specialist support available internally, to support the
fee-earners in being able to prepare and issue timely and accurate
bills to clients.
Supporting fee-earners with monitoring
and addressing unpaid bills, liaising with Credit Control as required.
Full management of travel and expenses
for assigned fee-earners, ensuring business travel is booked via
the Firm's in-house provider. This will include both routine and
more complex travel arrangements, ensuring that fee-earners are
provided with full itineraries, supporting materials and that
business expenses are captured, approved and processed for payment
in line with policy.
Ensuring all documents are maintained
and filed in line with the Firm's electronic and hard copy filing protocols.
Prepare, amend and proofread documents
(e.g. letters, reports, attendance notes, memos, emails, pitch,
presentations, articles etc. ensuring these are produced in the
Firm's house style, and that they are retained and filed accurately.
Assisting fee-earners keeping their
LinkedIn and Mishcon profiles up to date.
Organising business breakfasts, dinners
or smaller events and ensuring that business expenses are
captured, approved and processed for payment in line with policy.
Researching company/client information and biographies.
Assisting fee-earners logging referrals
and contacts to Interaction.
Supporting the fee-earning teams in
using existing tools and technology (including giving access,
providing admin support etc.)
Contributing to requirements gathering
for new technology and solutions, including testing and providing
active feedback.
Facilitating testing and engaging other
members of the team in any pilots for new technology.
Contributing to training and engagement
planning for new technology and solutions, in collaboration with
the Tech, Strategy and Academy Tech Learning teams.
Supporting the rollout of new technology
and solutions.
Being actively involved in the MDR LAB
programme as and when required.
Ongoing involvement in technology
product development, including identifying new use cases for
existing technology. Working closely with the Academy tech
learning team to identify training needs for Legal Operations
training on Tech subject matter, and to act as a key point of
contact between both teams as well seeking and providing feedback.
If hired within the team, collaborating
with Administrative Assistants to ensure that they provide support
with filing and archiving, scanning, photocopying, updating
contacts on Interaction and arranging couriers etc.
Liaising with other internal departments
(to obtain specialist input as needed, taking ownership of issues
and following up where appropriate.
When required stepping up to cover
Practice Assistants or working flexibly across other Legal
Operations teams as needed.
Skills/Experience
Previous experience gained in an
administrative role supporting a team in a similar professional
services environment (ideally legal).
Excellent IT skills across a broad range
of MS Office and other business management applications, with a
natural affinity for Tech and the ability to share knowledge with
others in its use.
Previous experience in a role that has
involved some responsibility for testing or supporting the rollout
of new technology and solutions would be highly desirable.
Strong time management skills; will need
to juggle a number of tasks at any given time, plan ahead, and
have the ability to re-prioritise and adapt to changes in requirements.
Previous experience managing calendars
for multiple individuals, with the ability to apply judgement and
common sense to ensure the best use of people's time is made, and
that any potential diary clashes are pro-actively identified and addressed.
Excellent attention to detail, with the
ability to deliver work to a consistently high standard of
precision (even under pressure) in an environment where accuracy
is prized.
A flexible approach to work: able to
respond positively and willingly to changes to requirements,
schedules, work required etc.
Organised and methodical, and able to
operate effectively within structured work processes, in
particular, with compliance/quality control frameworks.
Well-developed interpersonal skills,
with the ability to work effectively with a range of people and
working styles.
A strong team player, willing to take on
work for additional fee-earners and/or help with other tasks as
needed in order to meet the needs of the business.
Able to communicate effectively, with
warmth and professionalism, to clients and colleagues both orally
and in writing, including drafting business emails/correspondence.
High levels of discretion, with the
ability to deal effectively with sensitive or confidential information.
Previous experience using bespoke
in-house systems (e.g. client contact databases, matter management
systems, billing systems etc.) with the willingness and potential.
Please note that this job
profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline
of the key components of the role. You may be required by your
line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.
About The Mishcon de Reya Group
The Mishcon
de Reya Group is an independent international professional
service business with law at its heart, employing over 1450 people
with close to 670 lawyers. It includes the law firm Mishcon de Reya
LLP and a collection of leading consultancy businesses that complement
the firm's legal services. We have grown rapidly in recent years,
showing more than 40% revenue growth in the past five years alone.
Based in London, Cambridge, Oxford, and
Singapore, with an association with Karas So LLP in Hong
Kong, the firm services an international community of clients and
provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography
often do not apply. The work we undertake is cross-border,
multi-jurisdictional and complex, spanning six core practice areas:
Corporate;
Dispute
Resolution; Employment;
Innovation;
Private;
and Real Estate.
As of 1 January 2023, Mishcon de
Reya and Taylor
Vinters merged. The merger delivers on both firms' strategies
to support the innovation economy and accelerate our growing share
of the technology, media and life-sciences legal and consultancy
services market in the UK and in key international innovation hubs globally.
In times of such far-reaching and
profound change we want to be the law firm that enables our clients
- and our own people - to shape the world's possibilities. We are
here to help our clients benefit from new economies, new geographic
centres of wealth, the new global movement of people and capital,
and the impact of new technologies and new knowledge.
Our purpose remains rooted in our
founding values. We take pride in the diverse range of people who
make up the firm and are proactive in driving change and continuous
improvement across the spectrum of equality, diversity and
inclusion.
Mishcon Academy, our in-house place of learning, development
and new thinking for our people, clients and contacts and our
innovative impact strategy, including a commitment
to be a net zero carbon business, also play a central
strategic role in the direction of the firm. In 2020 we launched Mishcon
Purpose, a first-of-its-kind sustainability practice providing
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) advice and purpose-driven
insight to clients.
We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all
our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of
our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.