Paralegal, Human Rights - Leigh Day : Job Details

About the team:

In this role, you will be working within Emma Jones' team in our Human Rights department. You will be working alongside solicitors Anna Dews and Izzy Piper, gaining hand-on experience across a diverse caseload.

The  team specialises in a wide range of public and private law cases including human rights claims against false imprisonment, negligent treatment in hospitals, schools and social care settings, and a variety of public law challenges. The team are currently working a number of human rights act cases on behalf of people detained in mental health settings.

Key duties and responsibilities:

Overall purpose for this role

• To provide a reliable and efficient support service primarily to a supervising fee-earner within the Human Rights team and assist with general administration of caseloads.
• To undertake a wide variety of paralegal and administrative tasks as set out below. You will also be required to undertake other ad-hoc duties as required from time to time.

Main duties and responsibilities

• This role involves assisting with disclosure, drafting documents, client liaison, research work, general correspondence and administrative support. The successful candidate will be able to take client instructions, instruct experts, liaise with counsel and other solicitors and draft LAA funding applications and claims for costs.

• Sort and review medical and financial records, liaise with medical professionals, financial institutions and other solicitors.
• In the absence of supervising fee-earner, ensure that urgent matters are dealt with or referred to appropriate personnel.
• Produce accurate documents from verbal or written instructions including the use of templates and precedents.
• Proactively organise legal professionals' schedules.  This can include managing their diaries, arranging meetings, booking meeting rooms, organising parking spaces, hotel accommodation and travel arrangements.
• Conducting legal and evidential research.

File/case management

• Thorough and accurate note taking at meetings and preparation of file notes.
• Preparing court and other documents for the approval of the fee earner.
• Organising and preparing court and other bundles.
• Attending hearings

Client relations

• Communicate effectively; be approachable and professional in all dealings.
• Ensure client monies or invoices are requisitioned/paid in as instructed. To ensure monetary transactions are dealt with efficiently and in accordance with office procedures.
• Telephone clients/other contacts as and when necessary, dealing with such calls in a courteous and efficient manner.

Filing

• Ensure electronic filing kept up-to-date and copies of correspondence/ documents are kept in the file, open new files/close old files as required.
• Pay attention to detail and ensure accuracy.

Information technology

• To utilise I.T. to provide a quality, cost effective and efficient service to clients.

Training

• To try and keep up-to-date by attending in-house seminars, through research, reading and attending courses if appropriate.
• To ensure that adequate training is received to be able to gain maximum benefit from the firm's investment in Information Technology.
• Any other tasks as might from time to time be required.

Person specification

Essential

• Genuine interest to work with a leading claimant law firm and passionate about providing access to justice to all. 
• Genuine interest and passionate about human rights and building a career in this field.
• Relevant legal qualifications (LLB or GDL or LPC or LLM or MA in law or relevant field) and / or relevant experience.
• Demonstrable experience in drafting legal documentation and correspondence, sorting and reviewing financial records.
• Demonstrable interest in social campaigns, inquests, civil liberties and international/domestic conflicts.
• Experience in legal and evidential research.

• Experience in interviewing clients and taking witness statements.

• Demonstrable ability to build trust and confidence with vulnerable and marginalised client groups.
• Demonstrable experience in using a variety of IT packages (MS Word, Excel, Case Management Systems, Outlook).
• Proven ability in dealing sensitively with clients and managing difficult situations and conversations.
• Proven ability to communicate accurately, clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing with a wide range of clients and various stakeholders.
• Proven ability to organise and prioritise a complex workload and work to tight deadlines whilst maintaining a positive attitude.
• Proven ability to work and contribute in a team environment.
• Proven ability to be self-sufficient in relation to administration, typing and IT requirements.
• Excellent communication skills, demonstrated by ability to communicate accurately, clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.

Desirable

• Experience in judicial review and/or inquests is an advantage but not essential.

• Relevant experience in human rights law or previous paralegal experience is ideal.
• Experience in drafting legal aid applications via CCMS and using the firm's CFA precedents.
• Experience in billing.