Family Paralegal (Legal Aid)

Diverse City Solutions; Watford; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

FQPS Academy Ltd. is seeking a Family Paralegal with legal aid experience to support a busy caseload of family and children matters in Watford. You will handle legal aid applications, prepare bills, and assist solicitors with casework and court documentation.

The role requires hands-on legal aid experience, strong organisation, and the ability to manage a high-volume workload with tight deadlines. Hybrid remote in Watford is available, with a focus on accurate, client-centered service.

Qualifications

• At least 1–2 years' experience as a paralegal or caseworker in family law.
• Hands-on legal aid experience, including means and merits assessments and CCMS submissions.
• Working knowledge of family procedure and main court forms.
• Strong organisation to manage a high-volume caseload and tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Legal aid administration: prepare and submit applications, amendments and extensions in CCMS.
• Gather evidence for cases and track costs limitations and the need for amendments.
• Prepare bills and claims for submission to the Legal Aid Agency and close files promptly.
• Casework support: assist solicitors on public law matters and draft court forms and statements.
• Prepare and paginate court bundles; attend client meetings and accompany counsel when needed.
• Maintain accurate case files and manage key dates, deadlines and diary entries.
• Ensure compliance with quality standards and Legal Aid Agency contract requirements.

Skills

Family law

Legal aid

Case management

Education

Paralegal qualification

Tools

CCMS

Microsoft Office

Case management systems

Job description

Our established client based in Watford are looking for a Family Paralegal with legal aid experience to support a busy caseload of a range of family and children matters. This role will suit someone who knows how legal aid works in practice.

Key responsibilities

Legal aid administration

• Prepare and submit legal aid applications, amendments and extensions through CCMS (the Legal Aid Agency's online system).
• Gather evidence for the cases.
• Track costs limitations and scope, and flag when an amendment is needed.
• Prepare bills and claims for submission to the Legal Aid Agency, and help close files promptly.

Casework support

• Support solicitors on public law matters, including care proceedings under the Public Law Outline (PLO).
• Draft court forms, statements, chronologies, letters and position statements for solicitor review.
• Prepare and paginate court bundles to the court's requirements.
• Attend client meetings and, where appropriate, accompany counsel or solicitors to court.
• Act as a point of contact for clients, local authorities, Cafcass, the court and other parties.
• Keep case files and the case management system accurate and up to date.
• Manage key dates, court deadlines and diary entries.
• Support compliance with the firm's quality standards and Legal Aid Agency contract requirements.

Essential skills and experience

• At least [1–2] years' experience as a paralegal or caseworker in family law.
• Hands‑on legal aid experience, including means and merits assessments and applications through CCMS.
• A working knowledge of family procedure and the main court forms.
• Strong organisation, with the ability to manage a high-volume caseload and tight deadlines.
• Clear, empathetic communication with vulnerable clients, including those affected by domestic abuse.
• Accurate drafting and attention to detail.
• Good IT skills, including case management systems and Microsoft Office.

Pay: £26,000.00-£34,000.00 per year

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Watford (Hertfordshire, East of England Region)

QWE

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.