Legal Secretary - Apprentice
GOODWIN PROCTER (UK) LLP
London (EC1A 7AZ)
Closes in 14 days (Friday 3 July 2026)
Posted on 17 June 2026
Contents
Summary
The Legal Secretary - Apprentice plays a crucial role in supporting attorneys, paralegals, and business leaders by providing high-quality administrative and executive support. This position is central to ensuring the smooth day-to-day operations of the legal team.
- Wage
-
£25,000 a year
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 9.30am - 5.30pm
35 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
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1 year 5 months
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
Administrative Support
- Manage complex calendars, schedule meetings, and coordinate travel arrangements for attorneys, paralegals, and business leaders
- Coordinate all aspects of meeting logistics, including booking conference rooms, registering guests, arranging equipment, and organising catering
- Manage communications across multiple channels, including telephone, email, and hard copy correspondence, ensuring timely and appropriate handling
- Prepare and process expense reports and cheque requests, ensuring accuracy and timely submission
- Provide backup support to other secretaries, including absence coverage and assistance with overflow work
- Build strong working relationships with attorneys, PAs, and Business Services colleagues across the firm
Document Preparation and File Management:
- Proofread and edit legal documents, correspondence, memoranda, and other materials to ensure accuracy, consistency, and clarity
- Prepare accurate documents and correspondence adhering to the firm’s house style
- Assist with the preparation, management, and distribution of audit response letters
- Maintain organised and up-to-date client and administrative files within the firm’s document management system, ensuring compliance with firm policies and ease of retrieval
- Support preparation of bibles, court bundles, and other legal materials following training
Business Intake and Conflicts:
- Open new client and matter numbers and maintain accurate matter records
- Perform conflict checks in accordance with firm procedures
- Prepare engagement letters and coordinate execution via DocuSign
Time Entry and Billing:
- Facilitate time entry for assigned attorneys and paralegals, including inputting, reviewing, editing, and releasing time
- Support the billing process by tracking deadlines and circulating prebills for review where required
Where you'll work
10-15 Newgate Street
London
EC1A 7AZ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BPP PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION LIMITED
Training course
Business administrator (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to: write letters or emails, create proposals, perform financial processes, record and analyse data. Examples include MS Office or equivalent packages. Able to choose the most appropriate IT solution to suit the business problem. Able to update and review databases, record information and produce data analysis where required.
- Produces accurate records and documents including: emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals. Makes recommendations for improvements and present solutions to management. Drafts correspondence, writes reports and able to review others' work. Maintains records and files, handles confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures. Coaches others in the processes required to complete these tasks.
- Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and is able to deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.
- Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation. Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately. Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.
- Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms. Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively. Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately. Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately. Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation or department.
- Completes tasks to a high standard. Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise required to complete tasks and applies themself to continuously improve their work. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation e.g. coaches others to perform tasks correctly. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.
- Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines. Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example for others in the workplace. Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice, showing understanding of implications beyond the immediate environment (e.g. impact on clients, suppliers, other parts of the organisation). Manages resources e.g. equipment or facilities. Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics e.g. travel and accommodation.
- Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report. Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects. Undertakes and leads projects as and when required.
Training schedule
- The role will follow a structured apprenticeship programme
- As this is an apprenticeship, the role will be based on 80% working hours and 20% off the job learning time
- The role will be a 17- month fixed-term position based on the duration of the apprenticeship
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 9 - 4)
- Maths (grade 9 - 4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Analytical skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
About this employer
At Goodwin, we deliver unprecedented client value through a unique combination of industry knowledge, legal excellence, and business advisory expertise — all powered by our high-performance culture.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- The Apprentice will complete a Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship, providing a strong foundation and head start in their career as a Legal Secretary
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BPP PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION LIMITED
earlycareerslon@goodwinlaw.com
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000037056.
Apply now
Closes in 14 days (Friday 3 July 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.