3 months contract with a Local Authority
Job Title: Legal Support Assistant – Litigation
Job Purpose
To provide comprehensive administrative and legal support to the Litigation Team, ensuring the efficient management of litigation matters and contributing to the delivery of high-quality legal services to the Council. The postholder will be responsible for case administration, litigation support, claims processing, diary management, disclosure activities, compliance monitoring, and maintaining accurate records and work trackers to support effective case management and legal compliance.
Key Responsibilities
Litigation Inbox Management
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Monitor and manage the Litigation Team inbox on a daily basis.
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Review incoming correspondence and distribute, forward, or action matters as appropriate.
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Identify and escalate urgent or high-priority matters promptly.
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Maintain accurate records of correspondence received and actions taken.
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Ensure enquiries are responded to within agreed timescales.
Diary and Administrative Support
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Provide comprehensive diary management support for members of the Litigation Team.
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Schedule meetings, hearings, appointments, and key case-related activities.
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Monitor and record critical litigation deadlines and limitation dates.
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Coordinate meeting arrangements, including preparation and circulation of relevant documentation.
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Provide general administrative support to the team as required.
Litigation Case Support
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Support the administration of litigation matters and legal case files.
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Open, maintain, and close files in accordance with departmental procedures and regulatory requirements.
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Update case management systems and ensure records remain accurate and current.
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Assist legal professionals with file preparation, document management, and document collation.
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Prepare correspondence, reports, bundles, and other legal documentation as directed.
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Ensure all case records are maintained securely and confidentially.
Disrepair Claims Processing
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Receive, log, and process new housing disrepair claims.
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Create and maintain case records, ensuring all relevant information is accurately captured.
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Liaise with internal departments and stakeholders to gather supporting evidence and documentation.
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Monitor claim progress and ensure records are updated accordingly.
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Support legal officers in managing claims through to resolution.
Disclosure and Information Requests
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Process disclosure requests in accordance with legislation, policies, procedures, and statutory timescales.
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Gather, review, organise, and prepare documentation for disclosure.
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Maintain confidentiality and ensure sensitive information is handled appropriately.
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Ensure records of disclosure requests and responses are maintained accurately.
Work Tracking, Compliance and Quality Assurance
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Maintain and update departmental work trackers, spreadsheets, and reporting tools.
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Monitor workloads, deadlines, and outstanding actions.
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Escalate concerns where deadlines or service standards may not be achieved.
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Conduct weekly compliance checks on litigation files and processes.
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Identify, report, and assist in addressing compliance issues, risks, or process improvements.
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Support continuous improvement initiatives within the Legal Services team.
Experience
Essential
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Experience providing administrative support within a legal, litigation, local government, or professional services environment.
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Experience managing busy inboxes, diaries, and document management systems.
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Experience maintaining accurate records and handling confidential information.
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Experience using case management systems, databases, and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams.
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Experience prioritising competing workloads and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Desirable
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Experience working within a local authority legal team.
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Experience supporting litigation, housing disrepair, claims handling, or regulatory matters.
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Experience processing disclosure or information requests.
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Knowledge of legal file management and court processes.
Qualifications
Essential
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Educated to GCSE level (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
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Demonstrable administrative and organisational skills gained through relevant training or experience.
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Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.
Desirable
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Legal Administration qualification, Law Degree, CILEx qualification, or equivalent legal studies qualification.
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Business Administration qualification (Level 3 or above).
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Training or certification in information governance, data protection, or records management.
Key Skills and Competencies
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Excellent organisational and time management skills.
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Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
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Effective verbal and written communication skills.
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Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
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Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
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Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
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Excellent customer service and stakeholder management skills.
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Ability to prioritise workload and meet strict deadlines.
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Strong IT skills and confidence in learning new systems and processes.
Additional Information
Location: Swindon
Rate: £20.00 per hour UMB, (Umbrella rate to be confirmed)
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Temporary/Contract (as applicable)
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday (Hybrid/Flexible Working may be available)
We operate on a bi-weekly payment schedule.
Closing date: Soon – early applications are encouraged.
