9 x HEO Paralegals

FQPS Academy Ltd.; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid/Remote working

Public sector assignment

Job summary

The Home Office is seeking 9 HEO Paralegals for an 18-month contract. Roles are based in Leeds with remainder remote/work-from-home.

You will manage a team of Paralegals, oversee document review and disclosure, ensure deadlines are met, and support hearing preparation within a sensitive government inquiries context. Applicants should have a law degree at 2:1 or above (or equivalent), and demonstrate experience in legal environments, EMS usage, and leadership.

Qualifications

• Law degree 2:1 or above or equivalent qualification.
• Minimum 6 months’ experience in a legal environment (or 3 months in a law clinic).
• Experience on a public inquiry or large-scale inquiry.
• Experience using an electronic document management system (EMS).
• Strong organisational and planning skills with ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy for large volumes of documents.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for team guidance.
• Exceptional circumstances may allow equivalent high-level achievement in lieu of a 2:1 degree.

Responsibilities

• Oversee one or more document review modules and manage EO Paralegals.
• Coordinate workloads, monitor progress and ensure timely disclosure.
• Use EMS to oversee review and processing of sensitive documents.
• Quality assure outputs and maintain standards.
• Provide training and feedback to Paralegals and conduct performance reviews.
• Lead team meetings and coordinate with Information and Evidence Management.
• Support hearing preparation and coordination with solicitors and counsel.
• Handle bespoke legal/administrative tasks as priorities change.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Legal document review

Education

Law degree 2:1 or above

Tools

EMS

Job description

On behalf of The Home Office we are looking for 9 x HEO Paralegals (INSIDE IR35) for an 18 month contract based 1 day per week in Leeds remainder remote/WFH.

The first duty of Government is to protect the public. Since 1782, the Home Office has led work to keep the country safe from those who seek to do it harm; in doing so, we make a vital contribution to HM Government’s plan for a stronger, fairer, outward-looking and united Britain.

The Home Office covers three systems: Homeland Security, Public Safety and Borders, and Immigration and Citizenship. These systems work collaboratively to deliver our cross-cutting priorities, whilst providing increasingly efficient and secure services for the public. These are difficult areas that can rapidly change in the global environment we work in - this makes us one of the most exciting and stimulating government departments in which to work.

Role Overview

We are seeking experienced legal professionals to join the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs as Paralegal Review Managers, overseeing document review, disclosure and evidence management activities.

Working within the Inquiry’s Information and Evidence Management (IEM) team, you will manage a team of EO Paralegals, ensuring the accurate and timely review, redaction and disclosure of sensitive documentation. You will be responsible for allocating workloads, quality assuring outputs, monitoring progress and ensuring key disclosure deadlines are met.

You will work closely with the G7 Review Lead, the wider IEM team, solicitors and counsel to support the effective preparation and delivery of Inquiry hearings.

We are looking for organised, proactive and detail-focused individuals with strong communication and leadership skills who can manage competing priorities in a fast-paced legal environment.

Please note: The role involves exposure to sensitive and potentially distressing material relating to child sexual exploitation and abuse. Mandatory safeguarding and enhanced data protection training will be provided.

As a HEO Paralegal your main responsibilities will be:

• Oversee one or more document review modules, managing a team of EO Paralegals to support the Inquiry’s evidence and disclosure process.
• Coordinate, allocate and monitor daily workloads, ensuring document review, assessment, redaction and disclosure activities are completed accurately and within agreed deadlines.
• Use the Inquiry’s electronic document management system (EMS) to oversee the review and processing of large volumes of sensitive documentation.
• Quality assure document review outputs, ensuring accuracy, consistency and compliance with disclosure protocols and information management requirements.
• Provide regular guidance, training and constructive feedback to Paralegals to maintain high standards and support continuous development.
• Line manage a team of EO Paralegals, conducting regular performance reviews and development discussions.
• Lead regular team meetings, promoting effective communication, collaboration and the early resolution of issues.
• Work closely with the Information and Evidence Management team to coordinate priorities and ensure tasks are delivered at pace.
• Monitor progress against disclosure milestones, identify potential risks and monitor issues to the G7 Review Lead where appropriate.
• Ensure sensitive information is handled securely and in accordance with data protection requirements and Inquiry protocols.
• Collaborate with solicitors, counsel and wider legal teams to support the preparation and delivery of substantive hearings.
• Assist with hearing preparation, including the preparation of hearing bundles, where required.
• Potentially attend the hearing centre and provide support during busy hearing periods.
• Undertake bespoke legal and administrative tasks as required, adapting to changing priorities throughout the Inquiry.

Essential:

• A law degree at 2:1 or above, or another degree at 2:1 or above alongside a law conversion qualification. Overseas qualifications must be equivalent.
• A minimum of 6 months’ experience working in a legal environment, or at least 3 months’ experience in a law clinic placement.
• Previous experience working on a public inquiry or a similar large-scale inquiry or investigation.
• Experience using electronic document management systems (EMS), with details of the systems used clearly specified in the application.
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to coordinate workloads, manage competing priorities and deliver to tight deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to maintain high standards of accuracy when handling large volumes of complex documentation.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively and provide clear guidance to colleagues.
• Applicants without a 2:1 degree will only be considered in exceptional circumstances where equivalent high-level academic or professional achievement can be demonstrated.

Desirable:

• Experience leading, supervising or managing a team, ideally within a legal or document review environment.
• Previous experience managing document review, disclosure, redaction or evidence management activities.
• Experience quality assuring legal documentation or reviewing the work of other team members.
• Experience allocating workloads, monitoring performance and managing delivery against deadlines.
• Experience working with sensitive or confidential information within a legal, regulatory or investigative environment.
• Current or previous CTC or SC security clearance.
• Experience supporting legal teams with hearing preparation, including the production of hearing bundles.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident

As a Disability Confident employer, The Home Office encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent candidates. Applications from candidates who identify as having a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

As a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, The Home Office welcome applications from veterans, service leavers, reservists and military spouses or partners. Applications from eligible candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role you acknowledge the following, this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment, and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different.

Will this role count as your QWE, and who will confirm it?

Check it against the SRA’s questions in two minutes. If there is no COLP or solicitor where you work, the SRA lets a solicitor outside confirm it: an FQPS solicitor can, from £149.