Legal Assistant Jobs
Explore Legal Assistant jobs within leading law firms — from supporting fee earners to managing caseloads — and launch or advance your legal career today.
Legal Assistant Jobs in Dubai and the Middle East
If you are a legal assistant, legal secretary, executive assistant or personal assistant working in an international law firm in the Middle East, you already know what this market demands. The pace is fast, the standards are high and the best roles do not always make it to the job boards. In fact, many of them never do.
The best time to register with us is before you are actively looking. Every time a new job comes in, the first place we look is our existing network. If we already know you, we are giving you first access to roles that are not even advertised.
Why Register With Barratt Galvin
The most common mistake candidates make is waiting until they are actively looking before they reach out to a recruiter. By the time a role is advertised, the process is already well underway. At Barratt Galvin, some of our best placements happen before a role ever reaches the market. A client calls us with a brief, we go straight to our network and within days we are having conversations with candidates who are already known to us. If you are not already in that network, you may miss out on a job that is perfect for you.
Registering with us is not about applying for a specific job. It is about making sure that when the right opportunity comes up for someone with your background, you are the first person we think of. That means getting in touch now, not when you are desperate for a move, but when you are thoughtful about the next step in your career.
When we put your name forward to a firm, you are not just another applicant in a pile. You are someone we know, someone we have spoken with at length and someone we are prepared to stand behind and advocate for throughout the process. Every candidate we present is accompanied by a thorough brief that goes well beyond a CV summary. We talk about your background, your motivations and why we think you are the right person for that particular role at that particular firm.
We have been doing this for nearly two decades. Many of the candidates we work with come back to us at every stage of their career, and many of the firms we represent have worked with us for years. That long-term view shapes everything we do. We are not interested in quick placements. We are interested in the right ones.
We also genuinely care about how you land, not just where you land. If you are moving to a new firm, a new city or a new country, we will do everything we can to help you settle in well. That means practical advice, introductions to people we think you will connect with and pointers toward communities that will make the transition easier. A good placement is one where you are happy, and that matters to us beyond the day you sign your contract.
Are You the Right Fit
The legal assistants and secretaries who thrive in international law firms in the Middle East tend to share a few key qualities. Experience in a medium to large international or top-tier law firm is the foundation we build on. Without that grounding, the pace and standards of this environment can be a steep learning curve. If you have that experience and the following sounds like you, we would love to talk.
You are intelligent and genuinely curious. You pay close attention to detail but you never lose sight of the bigger picture. You are adaptable and composed under pressure. You are a team player in the truest sense, someone who pitches in, problem-solves and does not treat your job description as a ceiling. And you have experience in a medium to large international or top-tier law firm that has given you a real understanding of what this environment demands.
Strong English communication skills are essential. High executive function, a proactive approach and the ability to anticipate rather than just respond are the qualities that set exceptional candidates apart in this market. If you have worked in a demanding international firm and you are ready for your next challenge, this is the right conversation to be having.
Legal Support Roles in International Law Firms
Roles We Place
We recruit across the full range of legal support and administrative roles, including:
Legal Secretary
Executive Assistant (EA)
Personal Assistant (PA)
Legal Administrative Assistant
Legal PA
Senior Legal Secretary
Float Legal Secretary
Practice Group Coordinator
Practice Executive
Practice Assistant
Team Assistant
We place candidates across all major practice areas including Corporate Advisory, Banking and Finance, Commercial Litigation, International Arbitration, Projects and Energy, Construction and Real Estate.
Where the Roles Are
We recruit for international law firms across the Middle East, with the strongest volume of roles in:
- Dubai, including the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
- Abu Dhabi, including Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
- Riyadh
- Doha
We also place legal support professionals in Australia and London for candidates who are considering a move or returning home. If you are open to more than one market, let us know and we will keep you in mind across all of them.
Considering a Move to the Middle East
If you are based in Australia or the UK and you are thinking about a move to the Middle East, we are genuinely happy to hear from you. The international law firm market in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in particular is active and rewarding for the right candidates.
We will be honest with you from the outset: competition for relocation roles is real, and firms in the region are selective. The candidates who make successful moves tend to have solid experience in an international or top-tier law firm, strong references and a genuine commitment to building a life in the region rather than just treating it as a short-term posting. If that sounds like you, the conversation is worth having.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the process work when I register with Barratt Galvin?
The first step is a meeting with us via Microsoft Teams. Once you get in touch and share your CV, we will arrange a time to connect properly. We want to understand your experience, what you are looking for in your next role, what kind of firm culture suits you and what your timeline looks like. From there, we will brief you on any live roles that may be a match, or keep you in mind as new jobs come in. We will never put your name forward without speaking to you first.
Do you only work with candidates who already have Middle East experience?
Not exclusively, but Middle East experience is a strong advantage for most roles. Firms in the region value candidates who already understand the pace, culture and expectations of working in an international law firm in the Gulf. If you do not have regional experience but you have strong international or top-tier law firm experience elsewhere, it is absolutely worth getting in touch. We will give you an honest picture of how competitive the market is for your profile.
How long does it typically take to find a role?
It depends on a number of factors, including the roles available at any given time, your specific experience and how flexible you are on firm type or practice area. For candidates already based in the UAE with strong international firm experience, things can move quickly. We have placed people within a matter of weeks when the right role was available. For others, it is a longer process. We will always be upfront about what is realistic for your situation.
Will you tell me which firms you are approaching on my behalf?
Yes, always. We will never submit your details to a firm without your knowledge and explicit agreement. You will know exactly where your resume is going and why we think it is a good fit. This is your career and you are in control of the process.
What if I am not actively looking but open to the right opportunity?
This is actually one of the best times to be in our network. Some of the best roles we fill never make it to a job board. If you are open to hearing about the right opportunity when it comes up, register with us and let us know what that looks like for you. We will keep you in mind and reach out when something genuinely relevant crosses our desk.
Do you work with candidates looking for roles in Australia or London as well?
Yes. While our primary focus is the Middle East, we do support candidates looking for roles in Australia and London. In Australia, we place across the major legal markets including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. If you are considering your options across more than one market, let us know and we will factor that into our conversations with you.
Ready to Explore Your Next Legal Assistant Role?
Whether you are actively looking or simply keeping an eye on what is out there, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch, share your resume and let us have a conversation. We will give you an honest picture of the market, what roles might suit you and what your next move could look like.
You can upload your CV directly via the contact form on our website.
