Paralegal

Shoosmiths; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Shoosmiths in Edinburgh is recruiting an entry-level Paralegal for our Litigation Services department. You will support a range of clients, handling unsecured and secured debt matters and contributing to the client-centred service we provide.

The role welcomes applicants with transferableskills and offers development under supervision, with emphasis on learning and progressing through litigation and collections processes.

Qualifications

• Entry level paralegal role welcoming candidates with transferable skills.
• Strong customer service, communication and problem solving abilities.
• Experience in an office setting and handling high volumes is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage inbound and outbound calls to the FCA standard to achieve best outcomes.
• Oversee litigation and collections cycles for assigned cases.
• File management in case management system to progress files timely.
• Record customer information accurately and keep clients updated.
• Ensure compliance with client and internal SLAs.
• Manage accounts through court processes for positive client outcomes.
• Make enforcement decisions or recommendations and enforce judgments.

Skills

Customer service

Negotiation

Communication

Attention to detail

IT skills

Word/Excel

Organisational skills

Adaptability

Team player

Office experience

Tools

Word

Excel

Internet

Job description

The role
Our Litigation Services department provides a complete range of litigation and debt recovery services. Our team are specialists dealing with different debt types in both consumer and commercial. With a focus on both secured and unsecured litigation.
This role involves acting on behalf of a range of clients including leading financial services organisations to deliver a quality and comprehensive litigation and debt recovery service with a client and customer service at the centre of operations. It is a crucial role in making sure that we continue to meet of Service Level Agreements and deliver an excellent client experience.
The main purpose of this role is collecting outstanding unsecured and secured debts utilising both litigation and collection strategies, under supervision by senior staff.
This role is an entry level position and we welcome applicants from those with direct experience but also those who may not meet all the criteria but have the relevant transferable skills and are seeking new opportunities to pursue a career as a Paralegal.
If you’d like to learn more about this opportunity or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Charlotte Williams at [e-mail].
The firm
Shoosmiths is the law firm clients choose for excellent service, incisive thinking and above all for our ability to focus on what matters. From offices across the UK and Brussels, we support some of the world’s most exciting and ambitious businesses; amazing clients making an impact. We empower our people to be their authentic selves and deliver together in supportive teams committed to excellence and innovation. The first top 50 law firm to achieve ‘Platinum Standard’ Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm.
We have an outstanding benefits package to complement our competitive remuneration system. In addition to the competitive salaries, great working environment and high-quality work, we believe that all staff should be rewarded for their commitment to the continued success of the firm through a comprehensive and flexible range of benefits.
To discover more about our benefits, please visit: Benefits Package
Shoosmiths is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term conditions. The Disability Confident scheme replaced the Two Ticks Positive about Disabled People scheme. We had been accredited as a two tick employer for many years - Disability Confident broadens and develops that original commitment, and demonstrates we have adopted a proactive approach to employing disabled people and developing their abilities.
As part of our accreditation, we commit to interviewing any applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for each vacancy. In some circumstances we may only be able to interview those that best meet the essential criteria due to the volume of applications received.
Further information on the Disability Confident scheme is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to and usable by everyone. If you have a disability or long-term condition and would like to receive information in a different way, or need us to make any adjustments, changes or do anything differently during the recruitment process, please get in touch with the Talent Acquisition team on [e-mail]. We can consider your needs and requirements, and how we can assist you to apply for our roles. For example we can provide a copy of our application via email so that you can complete it using your own accessibility software.
Main Responsibilities

• To manage inbound and outbound calls to a FCA standard which ensures the best outcome for our customers are achieved. This is to include the negotiation of settlement of matters.
• To manage litigation and collections cycles of assigned cases
• File management within the case management system to ensure that our client’s cases are progressed timely and accurately.
• Ensuring that customers information is recorded accurately to our case management system and ensuring clients are kept updated on changes.
• Taking personal responsibility for compliance with all relevant client and internal Service Level Agreements.
• Taking responsibility to ensure that our clients’ accounts are successfully management through the court process to ensure a positive outcome for our clients.
• Making enforcement decisions or recommendations on behalf of our clients and enforcing court judgements.
• Remaining professional and polite at all times.
  

Skills And Experience

• Excellent customer service expertise.
• Strong negotiation, communication and problem solving skills.
• Good written, numeracy and oral communication skills.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• IT literate including sound knowledge of Word, Excel and the internet.
• Ability to prioritise, be organised and efficient.
• Flexibility with the capability to adapt to change, new practices and cope under pressure but with the ability to recognise when to seek assistance.
• Able to integrate within a team and able to work on your own initiative.
• Be pro-active and self-motivated with a positive approach.
• Previous experience in an office environment dealing with a high volume of work is desirable.
  

Desirable Skills And Experience.

• Previous experience in an office environment involving interaction with clients/customers over the phone
• Previous experience of negotiating with customers to achieve a positive outcome.
• Previous experience in the following: Collections Advisor, Debt Recovery, Recoveries Services, Customer Service, Negotiator Customer Service Administrator, Trainee Customer Care Assistant, Administration Assistant, Receptionist, Call Centre, and Customer Care Administrator.
  

Equal opportunities
Our approach to our people is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion and well-being. Our ambition is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents, and a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and has a strong sense of community between colleagues.
This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.