Paralegal Apprentice

Paralegals support solicitors in preparing cases for trial and progressing transactions. This involves creating and organising case files, as well as contacting clients and performing legal research. This programme offers a great grounding for a career in law. This is a superb opportunity for you to work within our International Serious Injury Team, gaining an overview as to the relevant law and the types of claims, supporting our clients and developing your skills and expertise within a supportive team.

The work will involve assisting fee earners in advising clients from inception to the final hearing including, interacting with clients, Counsel and other parties in writing and by telephone. You will also be tasked with obtaining documentation to support claims, conducting research, drafting pleadings, preparing disclosure, bundles, witness statements and instructing Counsel to conduct hearings. Your role will also involve:

• Juggling competing demands on time and ensuring deadlines are met in a fast‑paced, high‑energy environment.
• Achieving time‑recording and fee‑income targets to ensure profitable working.
• Ensuring compliance with the firm's policies and procedures.
• Attending appropriate training events as and when required.
• Establishing a small, supervised caseload to aid with the apprenticeship progression and administering procedures using the most effective channels to progress caseloads.
• Conducting legal research using selected sources such as legal databases.
• Solving legal technical problems within your remit and escalating as needed.
• Presenting findings from legal research in line with organisational expectations.
• Assisting in applying the principles of law to stakeholder cases.
• Assisting with legal matters and transactions within the organisation.
• Communicating using plain English to provide clarification and explanation of the legal process and standard legal terms.
• Organising and administering workflow such as legal files, case‑management and accounting systems to progress work within service‑level expectations.
• Carrying out file‑management activities such as preparing and collating bundles, taking and filing accurate notes, closing and reviewing files, maintaining databases and version control.
• Using a range of digital tools and technologies, e.g., to draft legal documents, conduct legal research, carry out data analysis and collaborate with others.
• Applying fraud protection measures and cyber‑security procedures in relation to transactions, keeping up to date with approaches.
• Undertaking activities to ensure a clear picture of a stakeholder's needs and risks throughout legal transactions.
• Assessing risks and benefits to the stakeholder of different options and making recommendations to senior team members to ensure that they work in the stakeholder's best interests.

As part of the Irwin Mitchell Group's on‑boarding process all successful applicants are required to complete the group's employment screening process. This process helps to ensure that all new employees meet our standards in relation to honesty and integrity therefore protecting the interests of the Group, existing employees, clients, partners and other stakeholders. The background checks made will establish your eligibility to work in the UK, and criminal record check and financial checks with a credit reference agency will also be undertaken.

The employment screening process will fully comply with Data Protection and other applicable laws.

As a Paralegal Apprentice with BPP, you will complete the Paralegal Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship. Additional learning within the apprenticeship will enable you to be awarded a Level 4 Certificate of Higher Education in Legal Services which can afford you exemptions from the first two years of the Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship.

Academic qualifications:

• GCSE – at least five, including English and Maths, grades A*‑C (or 9‑4).

Skills and attributes:

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Team working
• Written communication skills
• Proficient in IT packages
• Strong desire to work
• Friendly
• Confident
• Resilient…