Paralegal
Fixed Term, Full Time
From £31,900 to £37,530.00 Per Annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Anywhere worker
Closing Date: 19th March 2025
Please note this is a part-time role of 29.6 hours per week with a pro rata salary of £25,520.00 to £30,024.00 Per annum. This is a fixed-term contract for a period of up to 12 months (Maternity Cover).
This is a hybrid working arrangement with the expectation to attend offices in Chelmsford 2-3 days per week.
Essex Legal Services (ELS) provide high-quality, professional legal advice across the council and to increasing numbers of external clients, providing a client-facing legal service that proactively embraces change.
As a paralegal, you will prepare court bundles, fix listing appointments for hearings, and provide a professional legal service that is valued by our clients and improves their business.
Job Purpose
You will assist with the delivery of all aspects of routine legal work, including some advocacy. Work will be contentious in nature and will cover both civil litigation and personal injury claims as well as employment law matters.
You will be predominantly based within the Personal Injury section of the Dispute Resolution and Employment Law Team. You will manage a caseload of fast track and small claims track cases. This will involve analyzing evidence, drafting defenses and witness evidence, briefing counsel, and attending small claims trials.
In addition, the post may involve assisting other parts of the Dispute Resolution and Employment Law Team as appropriate.
This position will be fast-paced, and it is imperative you are confident in the following matters:
* Drafting and preparing legal documents for functions across the Council and to external customers.
* Interpreting the legal and business impact of changes in law and assessing these on the operations of Essex Legal Services, our partners, stakeholders, and client base.
* Understanding and interpreting client needs to provide them with a service they value.
* Attending Court or public inquiries in appropriate cases.
* Contributing to the development of current and future business opportunities to promote ELS.
* Developing good working relationships across the Council.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
* Educated to degree level or equivalent.
* Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
* Experience of working within a legal setting in a public service or private sector environment, providing routine legal advice is desirable although not essential.
* Proven track record of delivering excellent customer service.
* Works collaboratively with colleagues and the client base, to understand customer needs with a strong focus on delivering positive outcomes.
* Ability to develop working relationships across a large, complex organization and with internal and external partners/stakeholders and clients to maintain and develop business streams.
* Experience in either civil litigation or prosecution/enforcement cases.
If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC), should your role require a DBS check, you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorized parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.
We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behavior. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk.
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