Team Administrator

DLA Piper has a unique approach to our Legal Administration Function – 'the team' (a model encouraging true teamwork). This approach allows us to stretch and develop your skills ensuring you are given interesting work at an appropriate level whilst making sure you are not over-burdened. You still have contact with clients and partners but you will collaborate and work with a wider range of people in the department than in a traditional secretarial model.

We have 5 levels of role in the team:

Legal Administration Lead – Pracitce Group

• Working in collaboration with the Senior Legal Administration Manager to implement and embed strategic objectives across a dedicated Practice Group. Manages the Team Leaders across the Practice Group.  Is responsible for implementation of best practice within dedicated Practice Group, managing resource and workflow and acting as an escalation point.  Combines this role with managing their own administration team. Identifying training requirements for Team Leaders and working across broader UK projects to support functional deliverables.
• Secondary alignment to one of our UK offices to manage in office resource and accommodate Partner requirements.

Team Leader – monitors incoming work and team capacity and distributes jobs and projects to members of the team, whilst also operating as a Senior Secretary level. They are also responsible for communicating with fee earners to keep them appraised of a task or projects status. Responsible for dealing with all people matters, training and development and supporting a high performing team.

Senior Secretary – takes ownership of the efficient running of the team by role-modelling as an effective and responsible team member and acts as workflow supervisor where required.

Secretary – provides general secretarial and administration services as part of the legal administration team.

Team Administrator – a junior role for those still developing their skills, undertakes routine legal administration tasks at the direction of the Team Leader.

Providing high value support is an essential part of the services we provide as a Legal Administration function.  Developing strong and lasting relationships with key stakeholders, supporting team members, and developing technical expertise are integral to the success of this role.  In an ever changing fast-paced environment, we take pride in achieving objectives that support DLA Piper in its provision of market leading legal services.

Main duties and responsibilities

As Team Administrator you will work collaboratively with your Legal Administration team to deliver an exceptional service.

Core responsibilities include:

Stakeholder engagement

• developing strong relationships with stakeholders within your team and across the firm
• sharing any feedback received from stakeholders with Team Leader in a timely manner to help resolve issues in order to maintain excellent service delivery
• sharing knowledge and best practice with team members to help create consistent levels of support
• actively participating in and contributing to team meetings

Team workflow

• monitoring workflow from the team inbox and completing tasks in priority order
• meeting expectations in terms of deadlines and outcome of tasks assigned, highlighting any potential issues to your Team Leader
• ensuring work is undertaken in the most appropriate way to maximise efficiency

Providing general legal administrative support by:

• working closely with the legal administration team to provide support with standard administrative tasks, taking ownership to ensure the work is executed in the most efficient and appropriate way
• demonstrating flexibility and proactively contribute to the team's success by actively seeking to improve processes
• communicating, seeking help or clarification from the legal administration team, and confirm understanding when uncertain about a task or when instructions are not clear
• collaborating with the wider team to fully understand processes, procedures and solutions to problems
• undertaking simple conflict searches, CMA related activity and collation of key client inception information/billing data
• ensuring accurate and timely use of relevant platforms to facilitate matter opening matter maintenance, closure and archiving
• assisting with accounts payable (invoices), expenses and disbursements
• recording time for partners and fee earners when required (including non-billable productive time) on a daily basis
• demonstrating sound knowledge of the firm's file management system to ensure that clear and concise records are kept, correctly filing supporting materials, correspondence, emails and research documentation
• providing assistance to the wider legal administration team when organising internal and external client meetings including restaurant bookings, in house room bookings catering and IT requirements
• assisting with meeting organisation in a timely manner
• printing, scanning, photocopying and hard copy filing as required by fee earners or members of the team
• supporting senior team members with document drafting, creating and editing in line with the DLA Piper Style Guide templates and precedents, working appropriately with Document Production Teams as and when required
• processing simple travel requests
• working collaboratively with the wider team to support with client-related activities within the practice group, small-scale events preparation and/or arrangements, InterAction related activity and to provide general MBD administrative support as required
• collaborating with senior team members on - finance related activity as and when required and working with associated platforms/applications
• organising courier deliveries and collections
• assisting senior team members on ad-hoc projects as and when required

About you

• Leaving Certificate
• knowledge of technology platforms and systems, such as MS Office suite
• good verbal and written communication skills
• adaptable and willing to flex to meet business needs
• adopt a can do attitude

About Us:

We're a global law firm helping our clients achieve their goals wherever they do business. Our pursuit of innovation has transformed our delivery of legal services. With offices in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, we deliver exceptional outcomes on cross-border projects, critical transactions and high-stakes disputes.

At DLA Piper, we understand that inclusion is not a one-size-fits-all concept. We embrace and celebrate the range of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences that each individual brings to our firm. By fostering a culture that welcomes and appreciates all aspects of our individuality, we ensure that everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Our commitment to inclusion and positive social impact enables us to provide exceptional service to our clients and communities, while nurturing a unique and inclusive culture for all our people. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

We are committed to being accessible and accommodating any reasonable adjustments needed throughout the recruitment process to ensure an inclusive experience for all.   If you need any support or adjustments, please let us know.

Where local legislation permits, we will conduct relevant pre-engagement screening checks prior to your first day.

Apply now