Legal Assistant

Brent Council; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A London local authority is seeking two Legal Assistants for a 12-month fixed term role within their Financial Litigation team. This position offers the opportunity to gain valuable legal experience in debt recovery matters and engagement in dispute resolution. Ideal candidates will possess good organisational skills and knowledge of civil procedure rules. The role includes remote working options.

Qualifications

• Organised and flexible individual with ability to manage a caseload of debt recovery matters.
• Good knowledge of civil procedure rules ideal.
• Willing to learn about ASC debt recovery process.

Responsibilities

• Consider and investigate matters referred to the legal team.
• Request and obtain further information from client departments.
• Take prompt action in the debt recovery process.
• Engage in dispute resolution and mediation.
• Manage a caseload of various debt recovery matters.

Skills

Organisational skills

Knowledge of civil procedure rules

Flexibility

Debt recovery knowledge

Job description

Overview

This Job posting is only open to Internal Applicants at Brent Council Salary range: £37,692 - £39,276 (pro-rata) p.a. inc. London weighting. Contract: Secondment/Fixed Term (12 months). Hours of work: 36 hours per week. Location: Civic centre and other locations from time to time. Remote working 2 days a week (3 days office attendance required).

Team and Role

x2 Legal Assistants in the Financial Litigation team. Brent is a tremendously vibrant London borough where the iconic arch of Wembley Stadium dominates the skyline. Spanning both inner and outer London, it is a borough of huge contrasts in terms of its economic, environmental, ethnic and social make up. Brent's diversity is evident to all who visit our borough and our long history of ethnic and cultural diversity has created a place that is truly unique and valued by those who live and work here. The council is pursuing a far-reaching transformation agenda that better meets the needs of our community so it is an exciting time to join us. The Post, In our Financial Litigation Team we are looking to recruit for two Legal Assistants on a 12 months fixed term contract. This will be a great experience for someone seeking to gain valuable experience to enhance an opportunity to pursue a career in the legal profession.

Responsibilities

• To consider and investigate matters referred to the legal team and allocated to the caseworker.
• Request and obtain further information and documentation from our various client departments, acknowledge referrals and advise on the merit of the case.
• To take prompt action in the debt recovery process.
• Engage in dispute resolution and explore alternative methods of settlement such as mediation.
• Instruct Counsel and costs draftsman when necessary.
• Manage a caseload of Adult social care, community infrastructure levy, council tax arrears, housing benefit overpayment, and general, sundry debt recovery matters on the Council's legal electronic case management system.

The Person / Qualifications

The Legal Assistant should be an organised, flexible individual with aptitude and the ability to quickly pick up a wide range of debt recovery cases. They will report to the Senior Lawyers in the team. The Legal Assistant will manage a caseload of debt recovery matters working with a wide range of client departments within the council. This often requires instigation of county court proceedings against debtors, so good knowledge of civil procedure rules will be ideal. Some knowledge of ASC debt recovery process will be of advantage but not essential as training in this area will be provided.