Paralegal

FQPS Academy Ltd.; Chichester; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days' holiday

Health and wellbeing support

Competitive pension

Volunteer days

Employee discounts

Job summary

Irwin Mitchell is seeking a Paralegal in its Private Client Advisory Team to support quality legal advice and services for clients. You will handle client work assigned by your supervisor and work across two areas: protecting vulnerable adults' estates and handling estate administration for deceased individuals.

You will need to communicate clearly, manage a varied workload, and contribute to a trusted, collaborative team. Training and supervision will support your professional development.

Qualifications

• Law degree or equivalent legal knowledge gained through legal work experience.
• Clear and professional communication with clients and colleagues, both written and verbal.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage legal, financial and personal information accurately.
• Ability to organise and prioritise a varied workload and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team while using initiative under supervision.
• Competent IT skills including Microsoft Office and electronic case management systems.

Responsibilities

• LPA preparation/EPA registration and COP applications from initial instructions and advising on legal options after consultation with Supervising Team Leader.
• Draft LPA/EPA registration forms and COP applications; progress applications.
• Keep client informed according to firm procedures.
• Assist with Deputy/Attorney management matters, reconcile bank statements, prepare Deputy Reports, and meet COP/OPG deadlines.
• Arrange payment of invoices for Deputy/Attorney matters.
• Take initial client calls, record enquiries accurately, and initiate new matter openings.
• Draft letters to asset-holding institutions incl. deceased estates for probate.
• Draft/complete closure forms for assets in estates.
• Create/update schedules of assets and liabilities.
• Assist with estate administration files in a paper-lite approach, including file opening, correspondence, and data entry.
• Complete probate applications (paper and online).
• Draft documents under supervision of a qualified estate planning team member.
• Communicate with professional organisations and asset providers via letter/email and phone.
• Handle original documents such as wills, LPAs and grants of representation.
• Support the team with other tasks as required.

Skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Time management

Teamwork

IT literacy

Education

Law degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Electronic case management systems

Job description

As one of the UK’s leading law firms, we’re here for the people and businesses who rely on us at life’s important moments - made possible by our colleagues who bring the expertise, judgement and care that makes the difference.

Our colleagues bring Irwin Mitchell to life every day, so it matters that you feel valued from the very first day and are trusted with the responsibility, in the right culture, to do the best work of your careers. Everyone’s path here is different, but we share a desire to help our business make a real impact.

Where possible we will support our colleagues to work in a way that works for them, for us and most importantly our clients. Please speak to a member of our Recruitment and Onboarding team for more information.

Who We Are

As one of the UK’s leading law firms, we’re here for the people and businesses who rely on us at life's important moments - made possible by our colleagues who bring the expertise, judgement and care that makes the difference.

Our colleagues bring Irwin Mitchell to life every day, so it matters that you feel valued from the very first day and are trusted with the responsibility, in the right culture, to do the best work of your careers. Everyone’s path here is different, but we share a desire to help our business make a real impact.

Where possible we will support our colleagues to work in a way that works for them, for us and most importantly our clients. Please speak to a member of our Recruitment and Onboarding team for more information.

Our Team

Working as a Paralegal in our Private Client Advisory Team, you will assist the team in providing quality legal advice and other legal services to the firm's clients. You’ll be confident processing client work allocated to you by your supervisor. Your workload will be split between two work areas – working with vulnerable adult clients to support in the management of their financial estates on behalf of their attorneys and working on estate administration for deceased individuals.

Your Role and What You'll Be Doing

You’ll be able to work quickly and accurately whilst also always giving excellent client care. Given the nature of the role, it’s essential that you are an exceptional and confident communicator as you’ll work as part of a highly respected team to assist clients and the firm’s trust corporation to the highest of your ability.

If you are looking for the next step in your career and would like to join a friendly and well-respected team, we would love to hear from you.

The role will include:

• LPA preparation/EPA registration/COP applications - to take initial instructions from clients and to advise, after consultation with the Supervising Team Leader, on the legal action and all alternatives open to the client.
• To draft appropriate LPA/EPA registration forms/COP application forms and take forward applications.
• To keep the client informed as required by the firm's and department's set procedures.
• To assist with tasks on Deputy/Attorney management matters for the Team, to ensure work is carried out at correct level (under supervision of Supervising Team Leader) to include reconciliation of bank statements; preparation of annual Deputy Reports and to comply with all COP/OPG deadlines; complete claims for Local Authority funding or arrange CHC assessment and arrange annual benefits and financial reviews; attend at client properties to inspect, arrange valuations, etc.
• To arrange payment of invoices on Deputy/Attorney management matters for the Team.
• Taking initial calls from prospective clients, accurately recording their enquiry and liaising with qualified colleagues as to who will take on the instruction. As an extension of this task, to obtain details from the prospective client in order to initiate the new matter opening process.
• Drafting initial letters to institutions that hold assets for our clients, to include deceased persons in a Probate matter.
• Drafting/ completing closure forms relating to assets held in a deceased person’s estate.
• Creating and updating schedules of assets and liabilities.
• Assisting the team with the management of estate administration files, on a paper lite basis to include: file opening and compliance, dealing with correspondence; telephone calls; filing documentation and maintaining the digital file; facilitating financial transactions, inputting personal and financial data on the case management system and archiving files.
• Completing both paper and on-line probate applications.
• Drafting documents under the supervision of a qualified member of the estate planning team.
• Communicating with other professional organisations/ asset providers in writing (by letter and/ or email) and also on the telephone.
• Handling original documents including wills, LPAs, death certificates, grants of representation and other legal documents.
• Assisting Team with any other tasks require

About You

Essential criteria

• Law degree, or equivalent legal knowledge gained through relevant legal work experience.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with clients, colleagues and external organisations, both verbally and in writing.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to produce accurate work when managing legal, financial, and personal information.
• Ability to organise and prioritise a varied workload, meeting deadlines and following established procedures.
• Demonstrable ability to work collaboratively within a team while using initiative appropriately within agreed levels of supervision.
• Competent IT skills, including experience of using Microsoft Office applications and electronic case or document management systems.

Desirable criteria

• Experience working within Private Client, Estate Administration, or a similar legal environment.
• Knowledge of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), and estate administration processes.
• Experience working in a client-facing role, with the ability to communicate professionally and provide an excellent standard of client service.

Our Approach to Reward and Wellbeing

• 25 days' holiday as standard, rising to 28 days depending on role level, plus bank holidays and the option to purchase additional leave.
• Opportunities to share in our success through annual pay and bonus review processes for eligible colleagues.
• Health and wellbeing support, including Westfield Health and Digital GP access.
• Competitive pension arrangements to help you plan for the future.
• Two paid volunteering days every year to support causes that matter to you.
• Access to a range of colleague discounts and lifestyle benefits to support you both inside and outside of work.

We also offer a wide range of well-being initiatives to encourage positive mental health both in and out of the workplace and to make sure you’re fully supported.

In 2026, Irwin Mitchell was recognised in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work guide and was the only law firm included in the 'Very Big' organisation category

Our responsible business programmes are fundamental to who we are and our purpose. We’re committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace where our colleagues can flourish, and we have established a number of inclusion network groups across our business to support this aim.

Our commitment to Social Responsibility, community investment activity and tackling climate change is a fundamental part of who we are. It’s made up of four strands: Our People, Our Community, Our Environment and Our Pro Bono.

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.