Alanah Hare

During my time with Kacir Safi & Halligan Lawyers my role was that of Legal Secretary to the Director of the Personal Injury and Family Law Departments.

My roles included but were not limited to:

• Provide administrative support to a minimum of 3 lawyers
• Drafting of all legal documents such as letters, memorandums and court pleadings
• Ensure the smooth running of all cases
• Effectively communicate with barristers, clients, colleagues and partners
• Greet visitors and perform initial screening of clients
• Attend trials, type minutes and all outgoing correspondence
• Write case briefs and synopses of depositions, contracts and testimony
• Conduct thorough statistical/ documentary research
• Source and verify important case intelligence
• Produce and file various legal documents such as appeals, motions or petitions
• Preserve an updated case record system
• Answer phone calls, take notes/messages and redirect calls when required
• Maintain and update inventories of all contact details
• Facilitate the meeting of deadlines by ensuring multiple agendas were kept and provide timely reminders to all involved
• Scheduling appointments, depositions and court appearances
• Preparing and filing documents with the court
• Recording and maintaining court documents
• Conducting legal research
• Preparing and billing clients

During my time with Primary Eye Care my roles included:

• Ensuring the smooth running of an extremely busy medical practice whilst being the first point of contact for all patients and visiting professionals
• Answering and directing all incoming phone calls and messages
• Daily mail and banking
• Greeting and liaising with patients and other Professionals
• Diary management for x4 Specialists
• Scheduling examinations and appointments for clients, both in office and with other Specialists
• Medicare and HICAPS billing
• Weekly stocktaking
• Daily preparation of diagnostic equipment and machines and sterilisation of all medical equipment
• Small repairs on frames i.e. broken temples, missing screws etc

During my time with Consolidated Lawyers I progressed from the position of Receptionist to Legal Secretary within the Personal Injury, Family &Property Divisions.

My responsibilities initially included:

• Attending to all incoming phone calls on a very busy switchboard
• Daily collection and distribution of incoming and outgoing mail
• Greeting and liaising with clients, barristers, associates etc
• Arranging couriers
• Preparing and maintaining the boardroom and function rooms
• Booking flights and accommodation for out of town meetings
• Organisation of catering
• Data Entry
• Filing

Once my role advanced to that of Legal Secretary my responsibilities then included but were not limited to:

• Extensive diary management
• Typing and formatting of all dictated correspondence
• Scheduling all client appointments, meetings, settlement conferences etc
• Scheduling medical examinations on behalf of all clients within the Personal Injury Division
• Preparation of all Court documents, MAS & CAR Applications, Workers Compensation Commission & Tribunal Documents, Victims Compensation Applications
• Preparation of in office weekly reports i.e. Fee Estimate Report, Weekly Settlement and Court Listings
• Preparing and issuing tax invoices to clients
• Opening and preparing new files
• Closing and archiving of files
• Arranging staff functions, company dinners and Christmas parties
• Daily file reviews on each and every file
• Court filing, research and searches

• Streamlined office operations by organizing and maintaining efficient filing systems.
• Enhanced team productivity by providing administrative support to colleagues as needed.
• Ensured timely communication with clients through professional handling of phone calls and emails.
• Improved organisation-wide efficiency by managing appointment scheduling for staff members.