Rachel Lodge

• In my role of Case Manager I currently have approximately 60 estates I am working on. This role has allowed me to further my legal knowledge in the field of Probate, dealing with a wide range of estates & circumstances. My main responsibilities are:
• Completed inheritance tax forms and submitted grant applications to Probate Registry, facilitating timely estate resolution.
• Coordinated sales or transfers of ownership for estate properties, ensuring compliance with legal requirements throughout the process.
• Gather information from third parties regarding the estate of the deceased and liaise with them to receive funds and close any accounts in the deceased’s name.
• Communicated with vulnerable, bereaved clients to thoroughly understand deceased’s estate while maintaining professionalism and empathy.
• Receive estate funds and distribute money to beneficiaries.

• Achieved highest debt collection in department while supporting Precision during challenging times when other staff opted not to continue.
• Updated clients within firm’s timeframe policy and suggested improvements for low contact clients, resulting in new fields and statuses added to the system for better tracking of client contact rates.
• Handling a mixed caseload of around 300 Debt Recovery and Car Finance files.
• Worked on multiple cases simultaneously both Car Finance and Debt Recovery simultaneously, have a good understanding of the different compliance thresholds for Debt (being one company who we are collecting debt on behalf of) and Car Finance where the clients are individuals.
• - I have drafted precedent documents for management to be used by the whole team, and have been praised for my drafting skills.
• - My clinical attention to detail meant I was given documents such as witness statements drafted by more senior members of the team to check through for mistakes and typos. This gave me protected exposure to commercial cases and their processes, I was able to gain an understanding of important documents and their contents whilst assisting the team.
• - Demonstrated capability in tackling new challenges and commitment to providing excellent client service by continuing work during staffing difficulties; seeking opportunities for complex case management and legal knowledge expansion.
• - Assisted on commercial dispute files by filing necessary documents, filling out retainers, and adding client correspondence to files.
• - Working files from set up onwards so have a broad understanding how to open and continue a file.
• - Demonstrated capability in tackling new challenges and commitment to providing excellent client service by continuing work during staffing difficulties, seeking opportunities for complex case management and legal knowledge expansion.

• Managed backlog of DSAR letters from lenders, sorting into categories and processing accordingly, including updating clients, requesting further information, and reviewing contents to assess case qualification.
• Administrative tasks such as scanning incoming post, identifying whose file it related to, placing it on the correct file and sending it to the appropriate file handler.
• If relevant, I also added key dates to the Court Key Dates calendar as well as completed N180 Directions Questionnaires for fee earners.
• During my training I became familiar with all Court post from Notice of Issue through to Notice of Trial, this gave me an oversight of the litigation process.
• These tasks gave me further knowledge of live litigation to build on the knowledge I have from degree/LPC level.
• - Developed foundational skills in file management, litigation processes, and client care, enhancing legal experience. Created training materials from detailed notes on new tasks and efficiently handled assigned work, leading to increased responsibility.
• Handled incoming client phone calls and took messages for fee earners.
• The role of Legal Administrator involved the following:

Managed purchase ledger operations, performing 3-way matching of purchase invoices, purchase orders, and goods received notes, allocating nominal ledger codes, verifying calculations, and posting entries on ERP system (Microsoft Dynamics 365).

Executed purchase ledger tasks, assessed work in progress, and liaised with major supermarkets to recover funds from incorrect debit notes.

Quietly managed high volumes of financial paperwork and receipts without errors or omissions.

Updated and maintained vendor database for efficient record keeping.

Maintained confidentiality of all financial data, fostering trust across the organisation.

• Assisted studies at degree level through work experience at Dylan Nair Solicitors, gaining valuable insights into legal practice and its relevance to future career options. Observed and assisted with legal practice, gaining essential experience for law students. Developed skills in answering client queries and completing legal documents while collaborating with a practicing personal injury lawyer, contributing insights on case strategies and interpreting relevant witness statements and legal documents.
• Carried out day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
• Quickly learned and applied new skills to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
• Successfully delivered on tasks within tight deadlines.

• One of the biggest supermarket companies in the UK with a strong service ethic and an extensive brand. Monitored stock levels and checked dates on stock to maintain product quality and availability. This role taught me speed, accuracy and how to work as part of a team to achieve the store’s needs. Also, how to communicate with my team in fast paced, high-pressure situations. Engaged with customers on the store floor, addressing queries and providing assistance. Dealt with difficult customers and handled complaints effectively. This has made me very comfortable discussing and handling issues with people. Accurately marked down prices of stock to ensure compliance with pricing strategies.
• Performed daily operational tasks to ensure smooth store functioning.
• Completed assigned tasks promptly to meet strict deadlines.
• Acquired new skills swiftly to enhance daily task performance.