Paralegal

DMH Stallard LLP; Brighton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent law firm in Brighton is seeking a detail-oriented legal support professional to join their dynamic Commercial Disputes team. The role involves providing legal assistance under supervision, supporting fee-earners, and conducting various tasks including drafting documents and managing case-related responsibilities. Ideal candidates should possess excellent communication skills and a strong commitment to client care. Benefits include generous holiday allowances, private healthcare, and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Enhanced maternity/paternity pay

Private healthcare

Life assurance

Employee assistance programme

Pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Previous legal work experience preferred but not essential.
• Excellent client care and communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal support to fee-earners within the Commercial Dispute Resolution team.
• Assist in drafting documents and reports as required.
• Participate in training to maintain up-to-date skills.

Skills

Legal work experience

Excellent client care

Communication skills

Document management skills

Research skills

Good team player

Excel skills

IT skills (Outlook, Word)

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in Law or related field

Job description

The firm

DMH Stallard provides a comprehensive range of commercial, dispute resolution and litigation, employment, cyber security and cyber-crime, corporate, intellectual property, real estate and technology, media and telecoms advice to both businesses and individuals. Our clients, our people and our professional networks are the keys to our success. With offices in London and across the region, including Brighton, Gatwick, Guildford, Horsham, and Hassocks - we’re proud to have grown to around 380 people.

Culture really matters to us. In our most recent staff survey, 99.6% of our people said DMH is a great place to work, with 90% feeling they have a strong work-life balance, and 93.9% expressing confidence in the leadership team.

We’re committed to building a genuinely inclusive and supportive workplace. Our Women in Law group meets quarterly, and we’re actively working toward gender balance at all levels. We already exceed the industry average, with 40% of our partners being women compared to the sector average at 29%.

We actively invest in learning and development at all career stages. Our mentoring programme is available to all partners, and we are preparing to launch an internal mentoring programme to support progression right up to partnership. We also recognise that work-life balance is essential to long-term success and wellbeing, and we promote hybrid working arrangements to help our people perform at their best inside and outside of work.

We’re also especially proud to achieve gold accreditation from Investors in People, which reflects our strong commitment to people development and leadership.

The Department

Job Purpose

• To operate as an effective member of the dynamic Chambers and Legal 500 ranked Commercial Disputes team, specialising in Intellectual Property and Technology disputes.
• Provide legal support, under supervision, to fee-earners within the Brighton Commercial Dispute Resolution team.
• Conduct a variety of tasks but with an expectation of 75% fee-earning support with remainder comprising general administrative tasks and support for the team.
• To achieve the targets as defined by the Group Partner & Group Leader, including achievement of Matter Related (chargeable) hours and fees.
• To work with and assist members of the team in the day‑to‑‑day running of cases.

Responsibilities And Duties

• To participate and contribute to the Brighton Commercial Dispute Resolution group to ensure an effective working environment, supporting Solicitors, Associates and Partners on more complex matters as appropriate.
• Attend relevant technical training to ensure skills and knowledge remain up-to‑date.
• To attend and contribute to regular group meetings (including marketing and business development meetings).
• Continuously develop technical expertise.
• Maintain awareness of the legal market specifically relating to Intellectual Property, Technology, and litigation and to attend client and marketing functions with other members of the team.
• Work as part of the Brighton Commercial Dispute Resolution Group, drafting documents, reports & correspondence as required by Associates & Partners.
• Attend meetings as requested by Associates & Partners with subsequent drafting of minutes.
• Attend court (not as an advocate) as requested by Associates & Partners and associated support work as required.
• Occasional secretarial/administrative duties including file opening and closing using standard procedures.
• To be responsible for ensuring achievement of own key financial targets, including fees, contribution and payment of debts and disbursements.
• Maintaining accurate data on case management systems.
• Costing and preparation of bills for fee‑earner approval.
• Monitor own performance in relation to file closures, file openings, time recording and to take appropriate action to ensure targets are met.

Knowledge, Skills And Experience Required

• Some previous legal work experience or academic knowledge preferred but not essential, ideally commercial litigation experience.
• Some working knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules.
• Excellent client care and communication skills. Document management skills essential. The ability to communicate effectively with clients, in writing, over the telephone and in meetings. The ability to take clear client instructions and communicate them to the team.
• Ability to effectively prioritise and manage client and internal deadlines so they are delivered on time.
• Ability to work well under pressure and be proactive.
• Strong research skills (legal and other).
• A strong team player, able to work well within a team and provide support to Solicitors, Associates and Partners as appropriate.
• Confident Excel skills sufficient to enable the reviewing of relevant matters.
• Competent IT skills including Outlook, Word, Digital Dictation and case manager.
• Ability to draft documentation and minutes, with necessary attention to detail.
• Strong standard of written English, grammar, punctuation and spelling with the ability to produce high quality written work with minimal corrections.
• Convey technical legal information when necessary in an effective and accessible way.
• A willingness to travel as required to our other offices, courts and client meetings (with counsel and/or members of the team as required).

Benefits

• 25 days holiday (of which 3.5 are taken during the Christmas period), plus Birthday holiday, plus Bank Holidays.
• Holiday Buying Scheme.
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity pay.
• Life Assurance.
• Private Healthcare.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Sodexo Discounts.
• Pension Scheme.
• Interest free season ticket loans.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Discounts on Legal work.