Lead Paralegal – Debt Recovery & Litigation

FQPS Academy Ltd.; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

DWF is seeking a highly skilled Paralegal / Lead Paralegal to join the Technical Recoveries Team in a hybrid role based in Leeds (and Newcastle). You will assist fee earners on files, support qualified professionals, and scope matters with time-critical deliverables within budget constraints and legal parameters.

The Recoveries Department operates across Leeds and Newcastle with a hybrid model (3 days per week in the office).

Qualifications

• Experience assisting fee earners on files and providing support to qualified professionals.
• Background in dispute resolution or defendant debt recovery.
• Strong strategic thinking with decisive, action-oriented decision-making.
• Proficiency in ICT and Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and legal research abilities.
• Integrity and ability to foster a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide ad hoc advice and guidance to clients and colleagues on non-referred matters.
• Brief Counsel on complex cases and prepare bundles for hearings or trials.
• Review matters at referral stage, defining scope and breaking work into tasks.
• Handle litigation tasks including drafting claims, defences, settlements, and enforcement.
• Communicate scope and progress clearly to clients throughout the matter.
• Liaise with litigants in person, legal representatives and courts.
• Take ownership of cases, ensuring timely progression using the Liberate system.
• Work with autonomy while reporting to the Specialist Manager based on matter complexity.

Skills

Dispute resolution

Debt recovery

Legal research

MS Office

Case management

Strategic thinking

Tools

Liberate

Job description

DWF is seeking a highly skilled Paralegal / Lead Paralegal to join the Technical Recoveries Team in a hybrid role based in Leeds (and Newcastle). You will assist fee earners on files, support qualified professionals, and scope matters with time-critical deliverables within budget constraints and legal parameters.

The Recoveries Department operates across Leeds and Newcastle with a hybrid model (3 days per week in the office).