CMS is a Future Facing firm. With 75 offices in 43 countries and 4,800+ lawyers worldwide, we combine deep sector understanding with a global overview, giving us the ability not only to see what's coming, but to shape it.

CMS is well equipped to help our clients face the future with confidence. We are driven by technology and readily embrace the possibilities it opens up for developing new and better ways of delivering legal services. Our bold approach to a changing future ensures that we nurture our employees and recruit top talent.

To ensure the provision of a high-quality and efficient PA service to a defined number of Partners across various practice groups, in addition to supporting other fee-earners with PA-related tasks if required

Key Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Assistant Secretarial Support Manager (or other as appropriate in regional offices), responsibilities will include:
Complex diary management of partners (and other senior fee-earners as required) using own initiative to arrange meetings and conference calls and liaising with other secretaries/external clients during partner absence
Comprehensive e-mail management - checking, prioritising and summarising e-mails on a daily basis and dealing with correspondence where necessary in the partners' absence; collation of any action points
Collating documentation for meetings and circulating agendas in advance; carrying out research as may b
Booking video/conference calls, meeting rooms and required refreshments, and lunch and dinner reservations
Booking attendance at conferences/seminars (including national and international travel) and organising trip itineraries and logisti
Taking a proactive approach to building relationships with clients and their secretaries in a professional manner
Handling telephone enquiries in a professional and polite manner, taking accurate messages and following up on any agreed actions
Acting as 1st-Line IT support for any basic IT queries raised by fee-earners
Organisation of any team socials and other events as may be required (cards, flowers, prizes etc)

About You

Previous experience of working within a busy corporate environment is essential
Excellent client care skills - the ability to deal with queries from internal and external clients in a professional and polite manner
Excellent organisational skills - the ability to take responsibility for own tasks and prioritise work in a calm and efficient manner
Highly developed time management skills - the ability to work to very tight deadlines while maintaining a high standard of accuracy
Highly developed communication skills - the ability to communicate in a confident and professional manner with people at all levels within the business
Demonstrate flexibility/adaptability in meeting internal and external clients' demands - in both the nature of the work undertaken and working additional hours as required to complete the task(s)
Demonstrate proactivity and the ability to work on own initiative
Maintain high levels of confidentiality and discretion at all times
Reliable with a strong work ethic and a 'can-do' approach
Acts as a positive role model at all times

Skills & Knowledge

High levels of IT literacy in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint (although more complex and/or lengthy documents are likely to be undertaken by others in dedicated roles e.g Team Secretaries/DDC/ Finance)
A fast and accurate typist with excellent attention to detail, use of language and grammar
Any specific skills as may be required within a particular Practice Group]

Equal Opportunities

At CMS, a next-generation mindset is woven into all we do. We're diverse, supportive and inclusive, embracing our corporate social responsibility and creating a culture of sustainability in which every one of our people, whatever their background, can maximise their potential and thrive. For further information about CMS' diversity initiatives and programmes, please view the Diversity & Inclusion pages on our website.

Please apply online or contact a member of the Talent Acquisition team if you have any questions. For information regarding our competitive range of benefits please visit our Rewards & Benefits page on our website.

Please note that CMS have a preferred agency panel in place. Only applications submitted via the portal at the point of instruction will be accepted.

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