Executive Assistant
Recruitment
Thank you for being interested in working for me as my Executive Assistant.
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I am a practising disabled barrister and disability activist seeking one full-time Executive Assistant to provide comprehensive administrative, research, accessibility, and personal support. I am also recruiting part-time Executive Assistants to provide cover.
The roles involve managing legal documents, aiding with case preparations, assisting in travel and navigation, and offering personal care. This position is based in Central London and provides a unique opportunity for individuals aspiring to legal careers. The role is also ideal for lawyers wanting experience in civil and public law work. Ideal candidates should possess excellent communication skills, depth in research and legal analysis, outstanding personability, strong numeracy, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
The successful candidates will gain valuable experience in the legal field by working closely with a practising barrister. They will develop their research, drafting, and advocacy alongside networking, legal administration, document management, and court preparation skills. The role offers insights into legal and non-legal advocacy, providing a unique perspective on accessibility issues.
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More information about the job, the person specification, and frequently asked questions can be found below.
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Access Adjustments
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Please do contact me to request a change in the process that will allow you to show your potential.
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Job Description
​General Administrative Support
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Moving and handling papers.
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Printing and scanning.
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Photocopying and preparing documents for court.
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Helping me to access and use written materials.
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Loading documents onto document systems.
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Paper-based research.
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Making phone calls.
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Taking notes.
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Legal Support
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Assistance with case preparation, including legal research.
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Providing support at court, conferences, events, and other professional meetings.
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Liaising with legal professionals.
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Arranging Access
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Arranging access.
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Assistance in travelling to and from work, travelling to client conferences/BD activities, etc and court.
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Assistance in navigating buildings, including chambers and court buildings.
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Accessing support.
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Personal Care
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Assisting with clothing, if required.
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Assisting with wig and gown, if required.
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Helping to access and eat food and drink during mealtimes.
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Assisting with accessing and using the toilets.
Personal Specification
Your suitability for the role will be assessed against the following skills, knowledge, and experience. Previous experience of support, care or being a personal assistant is not required. The person specification criteria may be demonstrated through education, extra-curricular activities, or voluntary work rather than formal employment. You will be trained on the job. The most important things are a good attitude and the ability to learn.
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Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) and numeracy skills.
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Ability to multitask and operate within a fast-paced and demanding environment.
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A confident and positive attitude.
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Ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team.
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Flexibility and adaptability.
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Organised with attention to detail and time management.
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Strong interpersonal skills.
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Experience in legal concepts and research.
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Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and online law libraries.
Frequently
Asked Question
Frequently
Asked Question
01/
What are the pay and working hours?
The pay is £50,000 per annum, and you will be working around 45 hours per week. This equates to around £21.00 per hour. You may need to be flexible with timings.
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The cover role is paid at £21.00 per hour, and we agree on timings.
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What practice areas do you do?
I have a broad practice involving public, civil and regulatory law.
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Is the start date flexible?​
Yes, but starting mid-June is ideal. We can discuss options if this is a concern.
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I have never done legal research before. Does that matter?
Legal research is fundamental to the role. You will be able to learn how to use legal libraries, such as Westlaw and LexisNexis, but you will need to demonstrate that you can conduct professional and academic research
05/
English is not my first language. Does that matter?
I have employed lots of people who have English as a second language, but you will need to understand my instructions and write fluently.
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There are some things in the job description I have not done before. Does that matter?
Not necessarily, as long as you can demonstrate the required skills. A willingness to try and to learn is most important.
You will be supported with learning everything you need to know.
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Is this a full-time or part-time job?
I am recruiting for full-time and part-time cover roles. The cover roles are ideal for people who are self-employed and/or county court advocates.
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Do I need to do anything "medical"?
No. Everything you do for me is just doing physical things that I can't do for myself.
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Is there an induction period?
You will learn on the job with me.
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I've never done "personal" things for someone else before. Isn't that a bit weird?
I have gotten used to it, and you will too.
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Can I request access/
reasonable adjustments?
Yes. Please contact me and we can discuss changes to the process that will enable you to show your potential.
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Who is the employer?
Me.
What my EA says about the role
"What will my day-to-day be like?"
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Each day is a new adventure! One day, you might be reading papers, researching the law for one of Daniel's cases, and the next, taking notes for him in court. You'll have the opportunity to travel and assist with various tasks, from phone calls to keeping abreast of emails and legal developments. What's constant is the supportive and collaborative environment, where your responsiveness and willingness to help are highly valued.
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"What do you like about the role?"
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I made lovely professional and personal friendships. His place of work also becomes your place of work, and you are integrated into events, his life, and activities. However, discretion and subtlety are essential in certain situations, such as in court, in interviews, and with opponents. Excellent judgment about what is appropriate in any situation is a must.
"What are the key skills and attributes you need?"
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The nature of the Bar means that being calm and adaptable are not just necessary traits; they're skills that you'll develop and hone in this role. Unexpected problems are to be expected, and they keep things exciting! An ability to quickly understand, recall, and use information is also beneficial, and you'll find yourself becoming more proficient in these areas as you grow in the role.
"What will I get out of this opportunity?"
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For any aspiring barrister, it is an unparalleled experience. The hands-on contact with clients, clerks, colleagues, and different areas of law gives you an excellent understanding of how the Bar works. A qualified lawyer looking to retrain or cross-train in civil and public/regulatory law would also benefit from this experience.
Apply
Please read all the information on this website about the role before completing the application form below, especially the job description and person specification.
The application form is conveniently available online and can be completed on your computer or mobile device. Please note that I do not accept CVs as an alternative to the application form. This is because the form is designed to gather all the specific information I need to assess your suitability for the role. Candidates are also asked to complete the drafting exercise below before the deadline.
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If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to an online interview on 3 June 2024. This is an opportunity for us to get to know each other better and for you to demonstrate your suitability for the role.
The final interview, on 4 June 2024, will be in central London and allow us to consider whether this job is right for you.
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Once you have understood the information on this page, please click on the link below to apply.
If you have any questions not already addressed on this website, you can contact me by clicking on the button below: