Secretary - Employment

**Why Baker McKenzie?**

At Baker McKenzie, we are different in the way we think, work and behave. The first local, truly global law firm in Australia, we commenced operations in Sydney in 1964, in Melbourne in 1982 and in Brisbane in 2014. Our lawyers work seamlessly with our global colleagues, collectively providing a capacity of more than 13,000 people, including over 6,500 lawyers who work alongside our clients to drive growth that is both sustainable and inclusive.

Baker McKenzie Australia offers you access to complex, market leading matters working with some of the world's best legal minds - people who know the law and who understand business. We have an unrivalled ability to provide training and secondment opportunities across our global network, working for the world's leading brands.

**About the Team**

Our market-leading Employment Practice is a dynamic and essential part of our Australian operations. At Baker McKenzie, we assist many of Australia’s top 200 employers and numerous Fortune 500 companies with employment law and strategic industrial relations advice. Our dedicated team provides comprehensive guidance on all aspects of Australian employment and industrial relations law, offering practical and commercial legal advice, training, and development to help clients thrive in the Australian market.

**About the Role**

A rare opportunity exists within our Melbourne Employment team for a full-time Secretary. In this role, you will provide timely, efficient, and high quality secretarial and administrative support across a variety of duties to assist two fantastic Employment Partners and their team of Lawyers. This is an exciting chance to be part of a growing practice and contribute to its success alongside two driven Partners.

Key Duties of the role include but are not limited to:

- **Answering the phone**:Screening calls, resolving simple queries, taking and relaying messages promptly, and redirecting queries when necessary.
- **Managing billing processes**:Handling monthly billing and specific client invoicing requirements, drafting and circulating invoices, distributing invoices to clients, and managing weekly, monthly, and quarterly reporting for key clients.
- **Supporting client matter intake**: Assisting with the intake process for new client matters.
- **Processing expenses**: Handling expense claims and cheque requisitions.
- **Conducting conflict searches**:Performing conflict searches as required.
- **Communicating with clients**: Maintaining relationships with clients and assisting with business development activities to support the growth of our practice.
- **Event and travel coordination**: Organise couriers, conferences, functions, travel, and accommodation. Arrange internal and external meetings, including room bookings, car spaces, catering, and invitations.
- **Calendar management**: Manage authors’ calendars and schedules, ensuring you are always informed about their whereabouts.
- **File management**: Identify, open, generate, maintain, label, update, and close files according to tasks, author preferences, and Firm requirements.
- **Ad hoc tasks**: Handle various ad hoc tasks as requested.

**About You**

This role is the perfect opportunity for an experienced Secretary who has strong organisational skills and attention to detail. These qualities will be valuable in supporting the smooth operations of our Melbourne practice and assisting two ambitious Partners in driving their vision forward.

You will bring:

- Previous experience in a similar role, ideally in a law firm or professional services environment supporting multiple fee earners;
- A minimum typing speed of 50 wpm (90% accuracy rate);
- Technical proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel;
- Excellent customer service and client relationship skills;
- SAP experience (preferred but not required); and
- An Advanced Diploma of Business (Legal Practice) or equivalent qualification is desirable.
- ability to work well in a team environment (including across Australian offices and internationally);
- willingness to learn; and
- willingness to develop others through mentoring and sharing experiences.

**Our Benefits**
- **Financial benefits**: competitive remuneration package, generous bonus scheme, salary continuance insurance, life insurance, salary sacrifice options, employee discounts, referral rewards, and travel insurance for you and your family
- **Flexibility**: Hybrid and flexible working arrangements to balance your work and lifestyle
- **Leave**: 26 weeks paid parental leave for all parents with no minimum service, ability to purchase additional annual leave and flexible public holidays
- **Health & wellbeing programs**: Employee Assistance Program including confidential counselling and wellbeing and financial coaching for you and your immediate family, flu vaccinations and discounted health insurance

For more information on our benefits click here

**Diversity & Inclusion**

Baker McKen