Legal Assistant – Dispute Resolution – Colchester
About us
At Thompson Smith and Puxon (TSP), our mission is to Transform, Succeed, and Prosper—not only for our clients but also for our people and the wider community. We operate with integrity, innovation, and a commitment to fostering growth and opportunity for everyone within the firm. Collaboration, professionalism, and agility define our working environment, and we strive to empower our teams to deliver excellent results while supporting their personal and professional development.
Role overview
We are seeking an experienced and client-focused Legal Assistant to join our Dispute Resolution team in Colchester on a full-time, permanent basis.
This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about delivering an exceptional client experience, enjoys building trusted relationships, and takes pride in supporting clients through often complex and sensitive disputes.
The role
In this key role, you will support a busy Dispute Resolution team, assisting with a varied caseload of matters.
You will play an integral part in ensuring that clients receive a seamless, professional, and responsive service at every stage of their matter. This role goes beyond administrative support—it places you at the heart of the client journey.
While this role is primarily aligned to the Dispute Resolution team, you will also support the wider Contentious departments and may occasionally be required to assist other teams across the firm where needed.
We are looking for someone who is proactive, organised, and genuinely committed to exceeding client expectations.
Key responsibilities
1. Client care & relationship management
- Act as a primary point of contact for clients, providing a professional, responsive, and reassuring service
- Build strong, trusted relationships, demonstrating empathy and understanding, particularly in sensitive or contentious matters
- Manage client expectations and ensure a smooth experience through clear, timely communication
- Anticipate client needs and proactively support the team in resolving queries or issues
- Handle enquiries with discretion and professionalism
- Identify potential issues early and support their resolution
2. Matter support & coordination
- Support the day-to-day management and progression of dispute resolution matters
- Prepare, format, and proofread legal documents and correspondence
- Assist with file opening procedures and ensure all compliance information is obtained
- Manage diaries, court deadlines, and key milestones to ensure matters progress efficiently
3. Dispute Resolution casework support
- Assist with a range of contentious matters (e.g. civil disputes, property litigation, contractual disputes, and other litigation matters)
- Support drafting of correspondence, witness statements, and court documents
- Prepare bundles and assist with court and hearing preparation
- Liaise with clients, courts, barristers, experts, and third parties to progress matters
- Ensure all work is carried out accurately and in line with procedural requirements
4. Document & file management
- Maintain accurate and well-organised client files in line with firm procedures
- Ensure documentation is up-to-date, accessible, and compliant
- Use case management systems effectively to track progress and deadlines
5. Billing & financial administration
- Assist with billing processes and file financial management
- Process payments and disbursements
- Support accurate and transparent client billing
6. Compliance & risk management
- Ensure all client files meet regulatory and firm compliance standards
- Maintain strict confidentiality and adherence to data protection requirements
7. Liaison & team collaboration
- Work closely with colleagues across Dispute Resolution and wider teams
- Provide support to other Contentious departments as part of shared resourcing for legal support
- Occasionally assist other departments across the firm as required
- Liaise with external professionals including counsel, experts, and courts
- Contribute positively to a collaborative and supportive team culture
What we’re looking for
We are looking for someone who combines strong legal support skills with a genuine passion for client care.
You will have:
- Experience in a legal support role, ideally within Dispute Resolution or Litigation
- A strong commitment to delivering outstanding client service
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently and professionally
- High attention to detail and strong organisational skills
- The ability to manage a busy workload and prioritise effectively
- A proactive, solutions-focused approach
- A professional, positive, and approachable manner
The package
We offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Other benefits include:
- 22 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, together with an additional 3 days for the Christmas to New Year closure.
- Additional annual leave entitlement for long service (1 day after 5 years and a further day after 10 years).
- Death in Service benefit from day one of employment.
- Group Income Protection upon successful completion of probation.
- Medical benefits scheme and Employee Assistance Programme upon successful completion of probation.
- Firm sick pay scheme providing up to 10 working days' paid absence on a rolling annual basis following successful completion of probation.
- Scottish Widows pension scheme with auto-enrolment after three months' service.
Equal opportunities
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all communities and backgrounds. Recruitment is based on merit, skills, and suitability for the role.
To apply for this position please send your covering letter and CV to recruitment@tsplegal.com