Business Administration Apprentice (Salary £24,479)
IRWIN MITCHELL LLP
Reading (RG1 3EU)
Closes in 8 days (Friday 13 March 2026)
Posted on 3 March 2026
Contents
Summary
Irwin Mitchell are a national law firm with a local reach, for life’s important moments – the ones you plan for and the ones you don’t expect. Their legal experts combine technical excellence with empathy, understanding, and a commitment to always put their clients first.
- Wage
-
£24,479 a year
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, from 9.00am - 5.00pm.
35 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 4 May 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 4 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
Your main focus will be to deliver an efficient, high level of administrative support to a group of lawyers. The Private Client Advisory team advise private individuals in various matters including estate planning, trusts, powers of attorney, will-writing, probate, wealth protection and succession planning.
Whilst your local office will be Reading, you will be supporting case handlers nationally in all locations. This role is designed to teach valuable administration skills and give you experience of working in a busy office.
Your main responsibilities within the department will include the following:
- Ensuring our client files are in impeccable order, take responsibility for post coming into the business and methodically process important original documents in line with our policies and procedures
- Support the delivery of high levels of client communication
- Providing support wherever possible across the team and clients by dealing with queries and enquiries and ensuring Partners and fee earners are able to respond to queries from clients and other parties. This requires excellent written, verbal and telephone communication skills
- The role must ensure that the fee earners are able to focus their time on activity which increases revenue by coordinating all other activities and taking responsibility for delivering consistency across the Group.
- Support fee earner email management, ensuring emails are filed in the relevant electronic system in accordance with procedures, processes and policies
- Manage fee earner diaries via the electronic calendar system, arranging meetings and ensuring accurate information is included in invites to internal and external attendees
- Arrange conference calls and in-person meetings, follow procedures to book meeting rooms and video conferences when required and cancel those as soon as possible if arrangements change
- Ensuring that room bookings are made with sufficient information to enable Reception to have full details; use the appropriate room booking form to do this
- Book travel arrangements and accommodation in accordance with our Policy
- Prepare agenda for meetings, collate papers for meetings ahead of the meeting in a timely manner, take minutes of meetings and produce those minutes as soon as possible after the meeting
- Coordinate an efficient and accurate billing process and support fee earners with providing the right level of information to clients to ensure swift payment of invoices
- Liaise with our Finance Team in the delivery of this
- Undertake regular reviews of matter lists with fee earners to ensure high levels of financial hygiene
- Support our Group Sales & Marketing Team in the hosting of events in the relevant location or events in connection with Business Legal Services and/or Private Wealth
- Undertake file opening procedures ensuring all aspects of the process are completed including all compliance checks, creation of letters of engagement and, where relevant, completion of the pricing and resourcing model
- Work collaboratively with your Personal Assistant colleagues within your location and across the Group to provide a seamless and efficient, top quality service to the business
- Maintain email distribution lists; ensuring they are kept up-to-date
- Ensuring relevant pages of the intranet for your location, team, departments and kept up-to-date
Where you'll work
Davidson House
The Forbury
Reading
RG1 3EU
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
DAMAR 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
Business Administrator Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
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
- Team working
About this employer
Irwin Mitchell are a national law firm with a local reach, for life’s important moments – the ones you plan for and the ones you don’t expect. Their legal experts combine technical excellence with empathy, understanding, and a commitment to always put their clients first. Life at Irwin Mitchell. You’ll feel part of a welcoming, inclusive environment where your individuality matters. Irwin Mitchell celebrate what makes you unique and support you to thrive. Together, they achieve incredible things and make a real difference to their clients and communities.
After this apprenticeship
- Whilst this is initially a 2 year fixed term contract, Irwin Mitchell look to retain our apprentices after completion of the apprenticeship
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
DAMAR LIMITED
Miss Sabina Adam
Sabina.Adam@damartraining.com
07566 289 979
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000018693.
Apply now
Closes in 8 days (Friday 13 March 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.