Apprentice Secretary

We are seeking a full time legal Secretary Apprentice to support our friendly team at our Milton Keynes office.

Are you the kind of person who is keen to get on with your life? If you’ve worked hard at school or college and are ready to apply your energy and passion to a new challenge then this could be for you.

We will initially support you to complete a business administration apprenticeship. The training will be fully funded, and you can expect to be paid a salary right from the start. Plus if you are looking to continue with a career in law there could be the opportunity to continue your training to develop into a paralegal or solicitor in the future. The successful candidate will be working with the senior legal secretaries within the team.

If you are type of person who prefers a hand-on approach to learning, then this role may be suitable for you. Below is a list of the tasks you will undertake in this role.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Data input, photocopying, scanning, filing and typing duties.
• To assist with file opening and closing.
• To assist with deed scheduling.
• To cover reception when needed including greeting clients and making teas and coffees.
• To deal with internal and external post and emails on a day-to-day basis.
• To prepare completion statements.
• To deal with billing.
• To answer/deal with queries, both face to face and via the telephone, take messages and pass them on to the relevant member of staff in an appropriate and timely manner.
• To maintain filing systems in line with the organisation’s policies and procedures.
• Arrange meetings and manage diaries.
• Assist with event organising as required.
• Assist with fee-earner expenses claims as required.
• To maintain strict confidentiality at all times.
• Attend and take part in internal team meetings and regular reviews with line manager etc.
• Throughout the training period the post holder will be expected to complete all educational and training as required.

Technical Competencies

• Touch typing skills
• Good IT skills, preferably in both Word and Excel
• Good telephone manner
• Good written and oral English skills
• Good teamworking skills
• Presentable and friendly appearance
• Good organisational skills
• An ability to be flexible and adapt to both the changing needs of the organisation and our clients

Qualification – Education

• 5 or above Maths and English
• D or above at x 2 A levels (desirable)

About You

At Howes Percival, we are driven by a commitment to our clients and a passion for achieving their goals. With a rich heritage spanning over 200 years, we have evolved into a leading law firm with a reputation for delivering exceptional results across a wide range of practice areas. Our team comprises highly skilled lawyers who combine deep industry knowledge with innovative thinking to provide strategic advice and tailored solutions to our diverse client base.

As an employer, we value talent, diversity, and collaboration. We foster a supportive and inclusive culture where every team member is empowered to thrive and make a meaningful impact. Joining Howes Percival means being part of a dynamic growing and forward-thinking firm dedicated to excellence in legal practice and client service.

Below are some other reasons that help us in our mission to be a place where people want to work and enjoy working:

• We achieved a three-star ‘World Class’ accreditation in the top 75 “Best Companies” (formerly The Sunday Times Best Companies Awards) and ranked 5th in the top 75 “UK's Best Large Companies to Work For” category for 2025.
• We have been ranked #1 Best Law Firm to work for in the UK by Best Companies for 2025 and #1 company in the East Midlands region.
• We have been accredited with “Investors in People” since 1996 and were shortlisted for Employer of the Year in 2023.
• Our lawyers come from a variety of backgrounds, many from larger and City firms, some from in-house – we all share the same Howes Percival DNA and all of this rich experience is there for you to learn from.
• We offer a wide range of benefits for all our valued employees including (but not limited to); Perks at Work discounts, profit share scheme and discretionary bonus, 25 days holiday entitlement, one paid ‘charity day’ per year, comprehensive private medical cover, plus a well being calendar with a wide range of regular events.