Paralegal (with a view to a training contract)

Fish and Co Solicitors, Wolverhampton

Practitioners of family law and mental health law

Paralegal position available with a view to a training contract within three to six months in small niche practice in Wolverhampton specialising in mental health and family law.

Salary circa £15,000 - 16,000 plus professional/skills course fees. (LPC must have been passed.)

Previous experience as a paralegal in family and/or mental health law is beneficial but not essential.

A genuine passion and interest in these areas of law is preferred and a desire to provide assistance and representation to vulnerable members of our community and a belief in social justice. The majority of the work is legally aided and will involve a range of family law and mental health work including supporting solicitors at the practice in mental health tribunal work. It will be necessary to attend upon clients detained in Psychiatric Hospitals across the West Midlands so own transport is necessary (at least within approximately three months of the start date) but a mileage allowance is payable at 45p per mile.

Job description

• Job title: Paralegal leading to trainee solicitor
• Salary: Independently assessed
• Responsible for: No line management responsibility    
• Responsible to: Principal solicitor                   

Job purpose: To provide legal advice and assistance to clients and to provide representation to clients, subject to rights of audience and under the supervision and training of the Principal and any other nominated solicitor from time to time and to support other more senior fee earners in fee earning tasks under supervision where required subject to training and supervision provided by the Principal solicitor in accordance with the training plan.

Main duties and responsibilities

• To attend upon clients providing assistance and advice and taking instructions.
• To provide legal advice to clients.
• To attend courts and tribunals to provide representation to clients if authorised.
• To correspond with clients, solicitors and other external agencies and individuals.
• To ensure compliance with the office manual in all procedures.
• To assist with monthly returns to the LAA under the contractual scheme.
• To follow the appropriate procedures manual for each area of law.
• To carry out research where required.
• To maintain effective communication with secretarial and administrative staff.
• To ensure that files are managed in accordance with the office manual.
• To meet billing targets and chargeable time targets.
• To implement any action required following file reviews.
• To attend fee earners meetings.
• To undertake training in accordance with the Law Society CPD requirements.
• To provide any other duties reasonably required in respect of fee earning work.
• To undertake any other duties reasonably required from time to time in respect of fee earning work.

Subject to supervision and training provided by the Principal and any other nominated solicitor and in accordance with the training plan.

Skills and knowledge

• Degree qualified.
• Completed legal practice course.
• Ability to maintain professional relationships with clients.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients and professional contacts.
• Willingness to travel.

To apply

Application by letter with accompanying CV by post or e-mail:

Post: Mr DG Fish, Fish & Co. Solicitors, 96/98 Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, WV10 8PW

E-mail: [email protected]

Closing date: Wednesday 21 December 2016

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