Legal Assistant

Location: Sussex, United Kingdom
Contract: Locum

About the role

Our client is looking for a Legal Assistant to join their legal services team on a locum basis, providing practical support to lawyers and helping to keep casework and administration running smoothly across a busy public sector function.

The successful candidate will support solicitors and other legal professionals with day-to-day matters, including preparing documents, managing files, carrying out research and liaising with internal clients and external parties. The exact mix of work will depend on the team’s needs and the candidate’s experience.

This is a position for someone who is organised, accurate and comfortable working in a structured, deadline-driven environment. It offers exposure to the range of legal work handled within a local authority and the chance to contribute to a team that supports a wide variety of council services.

Main responsibilities

• Provide administrative and case management support to the legal team
• Prepare, proofread and format legal documents, correspondence and bundles
• Open, maintain and close legal files and keep accurate case records
• Carry out basic legal research and gather information and evidence for lawyers
• Assist with the preparation of documents for court, tribunal and other proceedings
• Liaise with council departments, external solicitors, courts and other third parties
• Manage diaries, deadlines and key dates, and flag time-sensitive matters
• Support with property, contract, litigation or regulatory matters, depending on the needs of the team
• Handle queries from internal clients and direct them appropriately
• Follow confidentiality, data protection and information governance requirements

Requirements

Essential

• Previous experience in a legal support, legal administration or paralegal role
• Good understanding of legal terminology and document preparation
• Strong attention to detail and accurate record keeping
• Ability to manage a varied workload and meet deadlines
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Competence with Microsoft Office and case management systems

Desirable

• Experience within a local authority or wider public sector legal team
• Knowledge of areas such as property, litigation, contracts, childcare or regulatory law
• A relevant legal qualification or progress towards one, such as CILEx or a law degree
• Experience preparing court or tribunal bundles

The offer

This is a locum role based in Sussex. Rate, contract duration, start date and working pattern are to be confirmed with candidates. Further detail on the team and the scope of the role will be shared with shortlisted applicants.

If you are an organised legal support professional looking for a locum role within a Sussex local authority, this position offers varied work and the chance to make an immediate contribution to a busy legal team. Apply below.