Sara Weeks

Address: 5 The Crescent, Manor Road, East Preston, West Sussex, BN16 1QB

Telephone: 07956301680 Email: sarawweeks@aol.co.uk

I have worked in the law for most of my career initially as a Personal Assistant and latterly as a Paralegal. I have learnt to be organised, thorough, productive and efficient. With many years experience of working in a self employed capacity I am once again offering a freelance legal support service including PA skills with typing speeds of 80 wpm to RSA III standard experienced in many disciplines of law including conveyancing, commecrcial and civil litigation, family law, criminal law, landlord and tenant, will trust and probate and personal injury. Extensive experience in drafting and producing legal documentation such as but not limited to witness statements, briefs to counsel, divorce petitions and a variety of conveyaning documentaion as well as correspondence, I also have experience of attending court to assist and attending conferences with Counsel and undertaking client interviews relating to new instructions. My maturity and adaptability to new environments is a skill learnt over many years enabling me to be productive and effective in a tempoary booking. The ability to utilise legal research skills familiarity with Oyez forms, Companies House, Practical Law and other research websites enables me to resource information readily. I am also experienced with LEXCEL procedures and legal complainces in relation to money laundering regulations as well as experience of case management systems and billing and archiving procedures. I have also been CRB checked within the last year.

I am a highly efficient and experienced Freelance Executive PA/Paralegal with the ability to be client focussed enabling the building of strong relationships with internal and external clients.   I have the ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure, dealing confidently with changing and conflicting priorities. I have typing speeds of 80 wpm and I have recently completed the Institute of Legal Executives Diploma in Law and Practice evidencing my ability and willingness to enhance my skill set.

Qualifications and Education:LEVEL 3 DIPLOMA IN LAW AND PRATICEinc. Contract, Land, Tort and , Criminal Law, Civil and Civil Litigation, Legal Research, Client Care – 2015

O LEVEL – ENGLISH LANGUAGE, ENGLISH LITERATURE, HISTORY – 1980

RSA STAGE III TYPING – 1980

CSE – OFFICE PRACTICE, MATHS, FRENCH - 1980

Keys Skills and Competencies

Ability to exercise discretion and to remain poised under pressure Ability to work on my own initiative without close supervision Organised, proactive, self motivated, efficient and flexible A strong client focus and good commercial judgment Effective, interpersonal, written and oral communication skills Excellent WP skills utilising Excel, Powerpoint, MS Word and various case management systems Research skills

Employment History:

Year: August 2014 – June 2015 Dean Wilson LLP – PA/Paralegal

I work as a PA/Paralegal in the Landlord & Tenant Department of this large Brighton based firm. I dealt with a broad range of matters typing all correspondence and documentation and diary management utilising excellent client care skills. Utilising document and case management systems to deal with a full range of property management matters including Leaseholder disputes, proceedings before the First Tier Tribunal, including assisting with drafting statements of case, witness statements, and preparing bundles, Enfranchisement matters, Right to manage acquisitions, Lease reviews, including consideration of a party’s obligations and Appointment of Manager applications with . With some conduct files under supervision.

Year: April 2011 – July 2014 George Ide LLP - PA/ParalegalI worked in this position as a Paralegal/PA to the Head of Commercial Property in a large established practice in Chichester, West Sussex and previous to this as Paralegal/PA to the Head of Litigation.

My duties included:-

First point of call for new and existing client queries and the arranging of meetings if appropriate

Drafting and amending legal documents such as Stamp Duty Land Tax Returns, AP1s, Notices and Counter Notices in lease extensions, Contracts and Notice of Transfer and Charge as well as drafting own correspondence

Within the Matrimonial Department drafting Divorce Petitions, Statements in Support of Divorce Petition, Applications for Decree Nisi/Decree Absolute, Notice of Acting, Statement with Regard to Reconciliation, Form As and the preparation of Form Es etc.

Drafting and amending legal documents such as Ground 8 Notices, Section 21 Notices, Claims for Possession, and Warrants for Possession etc.

Assisting in drafting and amending N1 Claim forms, obtaining Judgment and arranging for bailiff's execution.

Preparation of Trial Bundles

Acting as a liaison with outside firms and Counsel and attending conferences and Court

Costing files and drafting invoices and dealing with credit control of accounts

Proof reading of documents and conducting legal research

Ensuring matters are government and regulatory compliant i.e. in relation to Lexcel and Money Laundering

Reviewing and prioritising hard copy and electronic correspondence for the Head of the Departments attention or drafting own correspondence responses

Diary management, opening and closing of files for archive and drafting of Client Care Letters Dealing with all queries and matters in the absence of the Head and arranging for

referral to other fee earners where appropriate

Year: 2001 – April 2011 Self Employed - Legal PA/Paralegal

On relocating to Sussex in 2001 I worked as a freelance legal PA in all areas of law for a variety of solicitors locally and in London working in a variety of disciplines of law including conveyancing, commercial property, trust and probate, family and matrimonial law, criminal law and both commercial and property litigation. I worked successfully in this self- employed capacity full time and on many long term assignments.

Year: 1998 – 2001 Hackney Legal Services – Executive PA

In this role I was employed as Executive PA to the Head of Hackney Legal Services and as well as utilising my private sector legal experience I was also able to gain knowledge of the workings of local government dealing with the arranging of meetings, the preparation of documents and reports for meetings, taking minutes and preparing and circulating documents thereafter. I also operated an extensive file and retrieval system for information and undertook research and assisted in the preparation of reports and guidance documentation.

Year: 1994 – 1998 Self Employed -Legal PA/Paralegal Legal During this period I worked as a freelance legal PA for a variety of firms in the City of London and the West End gaining experience in specialised law such as entertainment, aviation, shipping etc. as well as gaining experience of criminal, matrimonial, conveyancing, probate, and family law. I have worked for many high profile firms during this time many referred to in the Legal 500. During this period I was kept in full time employment due to the variety of my skills and experience.

Year: 1989 – 1994 Blakes Solicitors – Legal PA

I was employed by this law firm as PA to the Senior Partner. Initially my duties were those of PA. However, after some time I was able to work in the capacity as legal assistant in that I was responsible for dealing with client files with supervision re. debt collection and post completion conveyancing matters and assisted in drafting statutory declarations, winding up petitions, claim forms in County and High Court as well as all documentation as well as gaining experience in company matters such as the setting up of companies and varying registration matters. Also, I have attended before Master in Chambers at the High Court for routine requests re extension of times etc. as well as regularly accompanying Counsel in conference and at Court. I was also responsible for the training of temporary staff and monitoring and prioritising work within the department.

Year: 1987 – 1989 Taylor Garrett, Solicitors – Legal PA

I joined Taylor Garrett in a float capacity enabling me to gain experience of all Departments within a very large City law firm. Specifically I worked in the newly established PR Department initiating advertising campaigns and other marketing strategies to enhance the firm’s profile.

Year: 1984 – 1987 West Lambeth Health Authority- - Secretary

I was employed by WHLA as secretary to Head of Planning. My duties included maintaining his diary, arranging press releases, production and distribution of documentation for care group meetings. I also undertook the training of various staff members in the use of the WP and

production of documentation in the department’s standard form including monitoring workloads and prioritising accordingly.

Hobbies and Interests: I like listening to music and I play the guitar a little. I like to read and enjoy long country walks with my dog and spending time with friends. I also like to read.

REFERENCES: Available on request