Our client based in Hertfordshire is recruiting a Private Client Secretary to join their busy and friendly team. The successful candidate will be appointed to assist the members of the Private Client practice area in carrying out their duties and responsibilities.

This is a full-time maternity cover contract until April 2026, working 36 hours per week. The working hours are 9.00am - 5.15pm, Mon-Thurs and 9.00am-5.00pm on Friday. Our client offers the option of hybrid working after completing initial training. The role offers a competitive salary, plus excellent company benefits.

The purpose of the role is to support a Senior Solicitor and Legal Executive undertaking administrative work and minor fee earning work and the preparation of standard documents. Our client is looking for a flexible, hardworking individual who thrives on variety and is prepared to take ownership of tasks. It is essential that the successful candidate has a sound knowledge and practical experience of Legal Secretary work and preferable that the successful candidate is already experienced in a similar role within Private Client.

Duties include:

Provide secretarial and administrative support within the Private Client practice area
Maintain the highest level of confidentiality always.
Proactively manage diaries and possess time management skills
Liaise with clients (and third parties) by correspondence, telephone, or attendance.
Answer queries and relay necessary information in a professional and confident manner
Type a wide range of documents with speed and accuracy and pay attention to detail
Draft routine correspondence
Assist in the preparation and proof reading of legal documents
Assist the other members of the Private Client practice area in organising their work effectively
Build and maintain client relationships
Carry out any reasonable instruction from the HOPA and other members of the team in a quick efficient manner.
Prepare bills, covering letters and take responsibility for the monitoring and reporting of unpaid bills to fee earners and carry out follow up tasks
Monitor client ledgers and liaise with fee earners regarding housekeeping matters, including dealing with accounting issues and file closures
Carry out procedural file reviews
Maintain the orderly running of client files and update file labels and outlook with key dates as and when necessary
Participate in practice area meetings
Comply with the Firm’s file management and file organisation procedures
Comply with the Firm’s, SRA and the Law Society’s rules about accounting procedures
Under the overall guidance of the relevant team member to assist in dealing with clients’ matters in an efficient manner
Record messages and attendances and to ensure that the relevant team member receives information in an appropriate and timely manner
Assist with Seminars if required

About the person

Appropriate Secretarial qualifications and/or experience
Experience and ability to work in a confidential manner
Ability to multi-task and cope with a busy and varied workload
Excellent IT skills
Exemplary level of attention to detail
Efficient time-management skills
Efficient, reliable, helpful, and enthusiastic
Confident, professional, and friendly with the ability to build good working relationships internally and externally
Initiative, drive and motivation to work at home
Effective and proactive team worker
Flexible and adaptable mindset
'Hands-on’ approach
Meticulous organisational skills
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Excellent client service skills
Personable and professional manner
Honesty and discretion
Ability to work under pressure and within deadlines
Ability to problem solve

General requirements

To work within the Private Client team and within the Firm if require.
To perform any duty not specifically referred to above, which may be reasonably requested by the Private Client team
To maintain a level of confidentiality appropriate to role
To deal with colleagues, clients, and other external contacts in a friendly and efficient manner
To observe the Firm’s policies, rules, and procedures
To act in the best interests of the Firm always
To have a suitable workspace at home and efficient broadband