My most recent role within a Solicitors practice was as a Credit Control Administrator which involved:-
About Me
- Responsible for the management and chasing of the Employment, Residential Conveyancing, Care (Family Law), Family Legal Aid and Crime Credit control reports.
- Allocation of funds received into our client account.
- Allocation of funds received from the Legal Aid Agency for Care (Family), Family Legal Aid and Crime matters.
- Payments of counsel’s fee and any other disbursements (i.e., Psychologist, Independent Social Workers etc.) via BACS or Faster Payment.
- Creating and sending of Invoices for 7 departments within the firm.
- Posting and managing accruals for future billing.
- Processing claims on the Legal Aid Portal for Care, Family and Crime (both disbursements and costs).
- Dealing with and responding to enquiries from clients regarding billing queries.
- Drafting cost letters for upcoming Court hearings.
- Audio Typing for the Family Department/Care Department as and when required.
- Processing card payments using WorldPay.
Before this I worked in the Criminal Defence Department as a Legal Administrator and did the following tasks:-
- Billing for the department, both legal aid and private.
- Submitting CDS6 claims on the Legal Aid Portal for all Legal Aid bills raised.
- Submitting Legal Aid Applications on behalf of clients.
- Managing and claiming for expenses for the department (mostly travel expenses for Police station and Court representation).
- Audio typing – using Big Hand software.
- Weekly reports on the department’s bad debt.
- Speaking to clients, Police Officers and other professionals on the phone and in person if visiting the office.
- Liaising with the Courts and Chambers.
- Managing and maintaining the departments diary for Court hearings, Voluntary Police Station interviews, duty slots, client appointments etc.
- Creating contracts for privately funded cases, sending these out to clients, tracking for payment and requesting the initial details of the prosecution case (IDPC) from the Crown Prosecution Service.
- Managing the secure email portal (CJSM) and uploading of IDPC, evidence, further disclosure etc.
- Chasing the Custody Suites for updates on clients who have been bailed and recording as appropriate.
- Opening new matters on the case management system, along with any updates required ie, new contacts, addresses etc.
- Posting of time recording (WIP).
- Ledger analysis.
- Creating billing and file summary processes.
My role before this was as a Legal Cashier and my responsibilities were as follows:-
- Purchase ledger
- Payroll (using sage)
- Bank reconciliations for both the client and office account.
- Petty cash
- Processing and payment of expense claims.
- Created a daily forecast which was updated everyday.
- Posting of funds received into the client account (i.e. mortgage advances, sale monies, payment of bills/disbs etc).
- Processing payments via chaps, bacs and faster payment (ie. purchase funds, estate agents fees, sale proceeds etc).
- Processing and acquiring authorisation for write-offs.
- Search fees allocation (ie. land registry fees, drainage reports etc).
- Transferring funds between client and office account.
- Fee-earner reports.
- Processing of card payments (via Worldpay).
- Month End Reporting.
Prior to this I worked as a Trainee Accountant at Singlepoint where I built queries on Microsoft Access Databases for all new connections and upgrades on handsets. I was also responsible for the daily, weekly and monthly packs which were submitted to the Directors.
My previous roles to this involved being an Accounts Clerk at Wardel Armstrong who are Engineering Consultants in Newcastle-under-Lyme, An Accounts Clerk at Grindeys Solicitors in Stoke and as an Accounts Clerk, Service Receptionist and Parts administrator at Congleton Garages in Cheshire.
Qualifications
March 2022 – Mental Health First Aid Couse – Learning Curve Group
February 2021 – Level 4 Legal Secretary Advanced Course, on a Higher Distinction – Oplex Careers
February 2021 – Complete Paralegal Course, on a Distinction – Oplex Careers
July 2011 – AAT, Intermediate – Newcastle under Lyme College
July 2010 – AAT, Foundation – Cauldon College, Stoke on Trent.
July 1996 – 9 GCSE’s – Grade A to C.
Personal
Our owner and director, Ruth Holloway, has 25 years of experience in accounting and legal work.
Ruth has an in-depth knowledge of how a business runs and their administration systems.
Ruth’s aim is to support sole traders and small to medium sized businesses both in the commercial sector and the legal sector. Her wealth of knowledge is invaluable.
Pricing – from £30.00 an hour
Contact me now for a free no obligation chat.
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