Associate

Our client is a UK-based law firm that specialises in family law. They offer services including child law, divorce law, and legal advice relating to matrimonial property regimes. They do not operate on billable hours and instead offer fixed pricing structures to their clients. They are looking for an Associate with a minimum of two years PQE to join their team in Cape Town.

In this role, the successful candidate will be responsible for a varied caseload of the following -

1. Case Handling of varied caseload of family law matters
2. Completing low risk work independently
3. Submitting high risk work to seniors/COLP for approvals
4. Responsible for running your cases within approved SLA’s and ensuring either upgrades or closing of files if outside of SLA’s
5. Responsible for ensuring all hearing preparation is completed prior to hearing
6. Ensuring Barristers are instructed in advance of hearing
7. Responsible for Court Hearing advocacy invoices being raised for your matters

Caseload will include the following -

• Divorce and Clean Break matters
• Child Arrangement Orders
• TOLATA Applications
• Schedule 1
• Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders
• Pre-nuptial/Post-nuptial matters
• Financial disputes

Responsibilities will involve -

• Case preparation and preliminary advice
• Managing a varied caseload of a maximum of 40 files
• Ongoing day-to-day case management and ensuring client files are being run within the SLAs and clients are being kept up-to-date
• Completing onboarding process for new clients which is as follows:

• Raising an invoice and upon receipt of payment, opening a new client file
• Obtaining signed Terms of Business and relevant ID documents
• Scheduling onboarding call with client
• Legal work commences

• Drafting of Court Applications, Orders and documentation
• Trial Bundle preparation
• Following correct process to instruct Counsel, ensuring an invoice has been raised in advance of the hearing and payment is taken from client before instructing a Barrister

Skills and Experience

• Bachelor of Laws Degree

• Minmum two years post qualification experience

• Family Law experience

• Strong litigation background

Personal skills

• Ability to adhere to and manage deadlines
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic and reliable
• Strong literacy skills with excellent attention to detail
• Great communication and relationship building skills
• Organised and accurate approach to work, with effective prioritising skills
• The confidence to work in a fast paced and demanding role
• A passion and ambition to assist family law clients