Administrative Assistant / Legal Assistant - Childcare - Stoke

Smith Partnership is a leading law firm in the East Midlands and Staffordshire. A forward thinking and progressive firm employing around 200 colleagues across 5 offices who celebrating winning the Sunday Times Best Places to Work (Medium organisations) 2026.

We are a progressive and growing law, renowned for our comprehensive legal services and exceptional client care. 

We have an opportunity at our Stoke office, for an Administrative Assistant / Legal Assistant to join our Childcare team. 

The childcare team are a supportive department made up of 2 solicitors, 1 paralegal and 2 administrators (including this role).  The team works collaboratively on a varied caseload and provides compassionate, practical support to clients during sensitive and sometimes complex circumstances.  With a strong focus on teamwork and client care, the department offers a busy but rewarding environment where every member of the team plays an important role. 

Role overview:

We are looking for a motivated, compassionate, and organised administrative Assistant / Legal Assistant to join our established Childcare team. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to build a rewarding career in family law while supporting solicitors on a varied caseload of publicly funded and privately paid childcare matters.

This role would suit someone who enjoys working in a busy environment, takes pride in being well organised, and is confident handling sensitive matters with care, professionalism, and empathy.

Key responsibilities: 

• Supporting fee earners with the preparation and day-to-day management of childcare cases, including care and supervision proceedings
• Communicating with clients, Counsel, courts, experts, and other third parties in a professional and approachable manner
• Preparing files and documentation for hearings, conferences, and trial
• Managing diaries, court timetables, and important deadlines to help the team stay organised
• Keeping case management records accurate and up to date in line with firm procedures
• Assisting with Legal Aid applications, billing, and compliance requirements
• Managing childcare cases on the court portal and CCMS system
• Providing a high standard of client care while recognising the sensitive nature of childcare matters

To find out more about the role, click here.

To find out more about the department, click here.

To find out more about the office, click here.

What we are looking for:

• Previous experience in a legal or administrative support role
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise a busy workload effectively
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A high level of attention to detail and accuracy
• The ability to work calmly under pressure and meet deadlines
• A professional, empathetic, and client-focused approach
• Confidence using Microsoft Office, digital dictation, and case management systems

Benefits & perks:

• A competitive salary and benefits package.
• Hybrid working.
• A supportive and collaborative working environment.
• Opportunities for career progression and professional development.
• Access to ongoing training and development programs.
• A chance to work with a diverse and prestigious client base.

Additional information

Because of the nature of this work, you will sometimes deal with sensitive and potentially distressing situations. We are looking for someone who can approach these matters with resilience, professionalism, discretion, and empathy, while feeling supported by the wider team.

Next Steps:

If you are a driven and dedicated individual looking to advance your career within a progressive and growing law firm, we would love to hear from you. 

Please send your CV and a covering letter detailing your suitability for the role to: Recruitment@smithpartnership.co.uk by Friday 24th July 2026.

Please note that the closing date may be brought forward depending upon interest. For further details please contact the HR team on: 01332 225225. 

Privacy:

Smith Partnership is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. Please click here to read our Candidate Privacy Notice. 

Agencies:

Smith Partnership request that recruitment agencies do not speculatively submit CVs to us unless explicitly asked to do so by our HR team.

Any CVs sent to us on a speculative basis will not be recognised and we will not accept liability for any fee or commission should we subsequently employ a candidate who applied to us directly or was introduced by another agency, that may also have been submitted speculatively by an uninstructed agency.

In the event that an agency's correspondence includes a disclaimer indicating otherwise, our policy above will prevail.