Receptionist – Fixed Term Contract

The Firm

Payne Hicks Beach is a 45 partner firm of solicitors based in offices in New Square, Lincoln’s Inn.  In total the firm comprises about 200 staff.  The firm provides specialist legal services to private and commercial clients.  We are best known for our family and private client work and are widely regarded as one of the very best of the small number of firms in the UK who provide these specialist services at the highest level.  We also have an excellent reputation in many other areas of law (rated in both Chambers and Legal 500), including trust litigation.

Our offices are located in one of the finest squares in London, a building which the firm has occupied since 1770.

More information about the departments and the work of the firm may be found on our website, the address of which is www.phb.co.uk

The Reception Team

The reception team is made up of four staff.  Three full time and one part time. Reception is open from 8am to 6.30pm.  The shifts are 8.30am to 4.30pm, 10.30am to 6.30pm and 9.30am to 5.30pm.  The shift for this role is 9.30am to 5.30pm, although the team cover each other’s shifts as and when necessary.  In normal circumstances two people are required to cover Reception/Switchboard from 9.30am to 5.30pm each day.  This means that on days when all four members of the team are at work time is available to assist with tasks of an administrative nature. Rotas will be agreed amongst the team.

The Firm operates an Avaya IP Office telephone system.

The Role

 We are looking to recruit an individual who will cover switchboard and reception as required but who will carry out administrative tasks when they are not required to ensure adequate cover on Reception/Switchboard.

The responsibilities within the Receptionist/Switchboard part of the role include handling incoming telephone calls;  meeting and greeting clients, maintaining the room booking system including close liaison with the kitchen for refreshments and room changes;  keeping the waiting room and meeting rooms tidy at all times;  ordering couriers and dealing with “By Hand” post from time to time.  The administrative parts of the role will be varied but will include helping the kitchen staff when required and maintaining various records.

 The role is full time however flexibility will be required at times of absence or when functions taking place.

The Individual

Reception can be extremely busy so our receptionists are required to be calm under pressure at all times.  We are looking for a well-spoken individual with good interpersonal skills who can deal with clients and members of the firm at all levels.  The Firm has a number of high profile clients and discretion and confidentiality are vital elements of the role.  The individual must be polished, professional and articulate:  We do not operate a dress down policy.

The ideal candidate will have previous reception experience although experience within a legal environment is not essential.  Training will be provided in respect of our IT and telephone systems.

The ideal candidate will also have a positive and upbeat attitude, attention to deal, patience dealing with difficult situations and be reliable.