Paralegal

Family Law Partners; Horsham; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Family Law Partners in Horsham is seeking a thoughtful, proactive paralegal to join the team. This hands-on role supports solicitors and clients across family law matters, balancing high-quality legal work with excellent organisation and client care.

The successful candidate will think critically, spot what is needed next, and help move matters forward. You will provide effective paralegal and case-management support to ensure efficient, confidential service and professional standards.

Qualifications

• A law degree, Graduate Diploma in Law, SQE study or a comparable legal qualification.
• Experience in a law firm or client-facing environment is helpful but not essential if potential is strong.
• Interest in family law and commitment to developing legal and practical skills.
• Excellent written English, strong digital literacy and numeracy.

Responsibilities

• Support clients in progressing their matter and assist solicitors with day-to-day progression of family law matters.
• Communicate professionally with clients, provide routine updates, respond to enquiries, and prepare attendance notes.
• Draft routine correspondence, applications and documents under supervision, check factual accuracy, and summarise findings.
• Liaise with courts, counsel and third parties; maintain complete electronic files and coordinate deadlines.
• Record time accurately and look for improvements to templates and processes.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organisation

Communication

Critical thinking

Time management

Proactiveness

Client care

Education

Law degree / Grad Dip in Law / SQE

Tools

LexisNexis

Case management systems

Microsoft 365

Job description

We are looking for a thoughtful, proactive paralegal to join our Horsham team. This is a hands-on role supporting solicitors and clients across family law matters, combining high-quality legal work with excellent organisation and client care.

The successful candidate will not simply process tasks. They will think critically, spot what is needed next and help move matters forward. They will be solutions focused, comfortable working through problems, and confident in asking good questions when the answer is not immediately clear.

Purpose of the role

To provide effective paralegal and case-management support to the legal team, helping matters progress efficiently, accurately and with consistently high standards of client care, confidentiality and professionalism.

What you will do

• Support clients in the progression of their matter.
• Support solicitors with the day-to-day progression of family law matters.
• Communicate professionally and sensitively with clients, providing routine updates and responding to enquiries within the scope of the role.
• Attend client meetings and, where appropriate, court hearings; prepare detailed, accurate attendance notes.

Draft and prepare legal work

• Draft routine correspondence, applications and necessary documents with an appropriate level of supervision, including divorce applications, financial and children act applications and first drafts of Forms E, and instructions /briefs to Counsel.
• Proofread documents carefully, check factual and numerical consistency and identify gaps or points requiring clarification.
• Undertake focused legal research using LexisNexis and other reliable reference sources, summarising findings clearly.
• Prepare well-organised hearing or counsel bundles in line with applicable requirements and deadlines.
• Liaise with courts, counsel, chambers, experts, other legal professionals and relevant third parties.
• Maintain complete, accurate and orderly electronic files.
• Arrange meetings and appointments and support the effective coordination of deadlines, documents and follow-up actions.
• Work confidently with figures, including checking financial disclosure and asset schedules for accuracy and consistency.
• Record time accurately and promptly in line with the firm’s time-recording requirements.

Improve how work gets done

• Approach issues with curiosity and sound judgement, establishing the facts before proposing a practical way forward.
• Identify risks, inconsistencies, missing information and potential delays early, escalating appropriately rather than allowing problems to drift.
• Look for sensible improvements to templates, processes and ways of working, while following agreed procedures and supervision requirements.
• Take ownership of routine problems through to resolution and communicate clearly about progress, decisions and any support needed.

What we are looking for

We are interested in potential as well as experience. As a Paralegal you will:

• Be solutions driven in mindset and judgement, with critical thinking at the heart of this
• Have exceptional attention to detail and accuracy skills
• Be highly organised and take ownership of tasks
• Have exceptional communication skills
• Treat clients with care and discretion
• Be collaborative and accept / act on constructive feedback
• Be adaptable and agile to shifting priorities
• Be confident in the use of LLMs, case management systems, Microsoft 365 and can pick up new platforms / systems quickly
• Take an interest in BD and building your own network

Experience and qualifications

• A law degree, Graduate Diploma in Law, SQE study or a comparable legal qualification.
• Previous experience in a law firm, legal clinic or client-facing professional environment is helpful but not essential for a candidate who can demonstrate strong potential.
• An interest in family law and a clear commitment to developing legal and practical skills.
• Excellent written English, strong digital literacy and a confident standard of numeracy.

Equal opportunities

Family Law Partners (UK) is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from candidates with different backgrounds and experiences and are committed to a fair and inclusive recruitment process.