Catherine Merriman

Processed property reservations for developers by checking details for completeness and accuracy.

• Preparing exchange and completion correspondence for buyers' solicitors and developers using standard template documents.
• Updating buyer and solicitor records on database to keep information current.
• Arranging transfer of exchange and completion funds to client and managing agents.
• Maintaining membership lists and other team records with accurate updates.
• Coordinating meetings by booking conference rooms and arranging equipment and catering.
• Organising travel for team members and submitting expense claims promptly.
• Working with other assistants to deliver consistent administrative support across team.
• Handling telephone enquiries professionally and responding quickly to support requests.

Private Client legal secretarial support role in a fast-paced solicitors practice

• Prepared accurate legal correspondence, attendance notes and billing narratives to support the Private Client team
• Drafted wills from digital dictation and prepared final documents for signature with a high level of accuracy and confidentiality
• Witnessed will signings when required and supported related administrative processes
• Handled finance and billing queries and arranged client payments efficiently
• Managed retrieval of wills from storage and maintained the wills database accurately
• Co-ordinated meeting room bookings, catering, equipment, travel and accommodation arrangements
• Completed file closing and archiving, ensuring documents were stored correctly and securely
• Handled telephone enquiries professionally and provided responsive administrative support to clients and colleagues

Undertook several short-term temporary assignments with a number of local firms, ie:

• Leathes Prior Solicitors - Temporary reception cover, temporary secretraial cover in various departments
• Spire Solicitors - Temporary secetarial cover in various departments

Corporate legal secretarial support role providing high-quality administrative and document support

• Prepared legal correspondence, attendance notes and billing narratives to support fee earners a fast-paced corporate environment
• Obtained company documents from Companies House and ensured they were filed accurately to the relevant matters
• Handled finance and billing queries and arranged client payments efficiently
• Co-ordinated meeting room bookings, catering, equipment, travel and accommodation arrangements
• Managed file closing, archiving and transfer of documents to storage in line ith firm procedures
• Provided additional secretarial cover during staff absences, maintaining continuity of support across the team
• Handled telephone enquiries professionally and delivered reliable day-to-day administrative support

Long-standing legal secretarial support role within Corporate Real Estate, providing comprehensive administrative support in a busy commercial environment

• Using digital dictation, prepared legal correspondence, documents, attendance notices and billing narratives for the Corporate Real Estate team
• Handled finance and billing queries and processed client payments accurately and efficientlyly
• Co-ordinated meeting room bookings, catering and equipment for internal and client meetings
• Organised travel and accommodation arrangements for team activity and training events
• Managed file closing and archiving, ensuring documents were stored correctly and could be retrieved easily
• Handled telephone enquiries professionally and provided dependable day-to-day administrative support in a busy legal environment

Administrative support role within International Tax & Legal Services, supporting senior proifessionals in a demanding corporate environment

• Worked alongside two other secretaries to provide administrative support to the accountants and managers
• Prepared correspondence, documents, bills and Powerpoint presentations to a high professional standard
• Co-ordinated billing and work-in-progress management across the team
• Handled finance and billing queries and responded to client telephone enquiries professionally
• Arranged meetings, conference rooms and catering and managed extensive travel bokings, including flights, hotels and overseas vehicle hire
• Provided administrative support at a conference in Paris as part of the wider team
• Managed a range of general administrative duties including filing, scheduling and file closing

Provided long-term administrative support within the Corporate Accounting team, gaining extensive experience in accounts procedures, document preparation, organisation, and day-to-day office coordination.

Provided secretarial and administrative support in a property-related environment, strengthening accuracy and professional communication skills.

Supported office and administrative processes in a publishing environment developing strong document handling and organisational capability.

Undertook an early administrative support role, gaining valuable experience in office processes, communication and document preparation.