Introduction

Southern England Law Centre is a Legal Services Centre based in Swindon.We specialise in Housing and Welfare Benefits legal advice and representation.

About the Employer

Southern England Law Centre has provided free and low-cost specialist legal services to alleviate poverty and disadvantage for over 40 years. We provide specialist Housing and Welfare Benefits legal advice and representation.

What You'll Do

Responsible to: Senior Billing Co-ordinator

Duties:

1. Legal Help and Help at Court Submissions:

Ensuring billing deadline dates are met
Entering correct details to the spreadsheet
Uploading claims
Allocating BACs payments from bulk payments to individual matters
Preparing and submitting (3x over) escape claims
Monitoring Caseworkers closed and open cases

2. Legal Aid Certificated Matters:

Reviewing Bills of Costs and Legal Aid Report Bills prepared by the costs draftsman to ensure accuracy
Uploading claims for costs to the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) via CCMS
Liaising with the counsel to ensure that their claims are uploaded on the same day
Preparing and submitting appeals of LAA costs reductions

3. Inter Partes Matters:

Preparing invoices for opponent party(ies)
Paying all third parties correctly
Preparing profit costs bills
Uploading claims for costs to the LAA via CCMS (preparing Claim 2’s for payment of the LAA costs element)

4. Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme:

Diarising relevant dates
Submitting monthly HPCDS court duties for payment from the LAA in a timely manner
Reconciling payments from LAA for HPCDS
Preparing and submitting LAA Criminal Claims (CRM Claim 11)
Allocating BACs payments received from LAA to the correct client matter within case management system
Petty cash – monthly balance
Back up for payment of supplier invoices

9. Ensuring the ledgers are correctly allocated and cleared upon closure and storage of the files.

10. Answering incoming telephone calls and completing intake, which often involves managing difficult clients

11. Managing file storage:

Closing files and ensuring clear ledgers prior to recording file details on case management system (if applicable) ready for off-site storage
Managing and maintaining any relearnt hard copy files on site in office
Maintaining the record of archived files and initiating their destruction by the storage company upon the expiry of the relevant periods

12. To attend appropriate training courses in order to maintain and develop professional expertise and to satisfy regulatory requirements.

13. Proficient in Microsoft 365 applications and to be self-servicing.

14. To keep updated with changes in the law within relevant legal areas, as necessary.

15. To undertake any other tasks as may be identified and which are generally compatible with the functions for the post and to support the efficient operation of the Law Centre.

16. To adhere to all Law Centre policies, including the Equality and Diversity policy.

Training Outcome

Potential for a permanent role on completion.

Skills Required

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Excel
Word
Numeracy
Punctuality
Integrity

Qualifications

Essential - GCSE - English and Maths - 4/C or above, or equivalent

Course Information

Course: Assistant accountant (level 3)

Level: 3

Route: Legal, finance and accounting

Apprenticeship Level: Advanced

Working Arrangements

Working Week: Monday to Friday, 9 am-5 pm.

Expected Duration: 1 Year 6 Months

Training Provider: BPP PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION LIMITED

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