Apprentice Office Assistant – Crime Department
Meikles Solicitors is offering an excellent opportunity to develop valuable professional office skills within a busy legal environment.
The successful apprentice will play an important role in supporting the day-to-day running of the office, acting as a welcoming and professional first point of contact for clients and visitors.
Role
- Greet and welcome clients and visitors in a professional, courteous and client-focused manner.
- Direct clients, visitors and callers promptly to the appropriate person, office or department.
- Answer incoming telephone calls, take accurate messages, and ensure calls and messages are passed promptly to the appropriate fee earner or member of staff.
- Monitor shared reception or departmental email inboxes and ensure enquiries are passed to the correct person or recorded appropriately.
- Book, confirm and rearrange appointments in accordance with departmental procedures, recording relevant details accurately.
- Receive, open where required, stamp, sort and distribute incoming post and deliveries daily, and assist with outgoing post as required.
- Maintain office security and confidentiality by following safety procedures and controlling access via the reception desk.
- Monitor stationery and office supplies and assist with reordering when required.
- Deal with petty cash and related basic office administration tasks where required.
- Scan, save, print, copy and file documents accurately in both paper and electronic format.
- Assist with the opening, maintenance, organisation and closing of paper and electronic files, including accurate digital document management.
- Use and learn office systems, case management systems and other digital office systems, including email and digital dictation where required, in accordance with training and office procedures.
- Maintain confidentiality and handle client information in accordance with firm procedures.
- Refer legal queries to the appropriate qualified person rather than attempting to give legal advice.
Training
All delivered in the workplace with monthly assessor visits.
To be discussed at interview.
- Apprenticeship Standard
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Training Provider
- BISHOP AUCKLAND COLLEGE
- Working Week
- Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm. 1 hour for lunch.
- Expected Duration
- 1 Year 3 Months
- Positions Available
- 1
- Closing Date
- Sunday, 27th September 2026
- Start Date
- Monday, 12th October 2026
Desired Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Team working
- Initiative
Qualifications
- English GCSE, grade 9-4 / A*-C / Level 2 (Essential)
- Maths GCSE, grade 9-4 / A*-C / Level 2 (Essential)
About the Employer
Meikles Solicitors
Meikles Solicitors is a legal practice situated in County Durham. We have offices in Bishop Auckland, Darlington, Hartlepool, Ferryhill, Sedgefield Gateshead and Spennymoor.
Our history can be traced back to the late 1800’s.
We have Solicitors who are members of the Law Society's Children, Criminal Litigation and Mental Health Accreditation Scheme. We hold the CQS Accreditation and SQM Accreditation. We are members of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers. Within the firm we also have several members of Resolution who specialise in family law, including a Resolution Accredited Specialist. We have several Solicitors who are members of the Police Station Representatives Accreditation Scheme and members of the Court Duty Solicitor Scheme.
Each of our offices is able to provide a wide range of legal services. We are committed to providing a high quality legal service to our clients in a friendly and efficient manner.