Paralegal

Birketts; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Long Service holiday

Private Healthcare

Profit Share & Bonus

Salary sacrifice

Life Assurance

Job summary

Birketts, a leading UK law firm, is seeking a motivated Paralegal for its Court of Protection team within the Private Client Division in Ipswich. The role offers hands-on experience alongside experienced lawyers on a range of Deputyship matters, with potential qualification pathways.

We value initiative, attention to detail, and a client-focused approach, with flexible working options discussed during the application process.

Qualifications

• Legal experience or qualifications are desirable but not essential.
• Knowledge of relevant law and legal procedure is preferred.
• Excellent spelling and punctuation are required.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain client confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Assist fee earners with Deputyship and Attorneyship admin including home visits and attending notes.
• Communicate with clients, care providers and the Office of the Public Guardian for updates.
• Arrange online payments for Deputyship/Attorneyship clients.
• Assist with Deputy Reports and prepare trial bundles.
• Complete application forms and standard correspondence for fee earner review.
• Maintain accurate time-costing and ensure proper file management.
• Act as a point of contact for clients and coordinate meetings.
• Support Court of Protection costing and billing processes.
• Prioritise deadlines and provide cover as needed.

Skills

Legal experience

Spelling & punctuation

Written & verbal communication

Discretion & integrity

IT skills (Outlook/Word/Excel)

Teamwork

Self-motivation

Attention to detail

Reliability & organisation

Working under pressure

Learning & development

Microsoft Office

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning over 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: real estate, corporate services, dispute resolution and private client.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges and opportunities they may face. Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do.

With our ambition to succeed comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our Responsible Business strategy. Birketts is a certified B Corporation™, and diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 45% of our partnership as of 1 April 2026.

The team you will join

Our Court of Protection team sits within the wider Private Client Division and specialises in all aspects of Court of Protection law, including contentious and non-contentious applications to the Court.
The team provide straightforward, practical advice and have the skills and experience to ensure that the right decisions are made. They liaise with family, friends and professionals, and handle each situation with a high level of care and sensitivity. We deal with Court of Protection matters for severely disabled clients (including those with brain injuries and birth injuries) and manage large personal injury or clinical negligence awards. They also manage the affairs of many elderly clients living with dementia and mental health issues.
The team has many years of experience in Court of Protection law and is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about our subject. They also offer a professional deputyship and attorneyship administration service where we are appointed as deputies/attorneys in more complex cases or where there is no suitable person known to the incapable party who is able or willing to act.

The work you will be doing

We are looking for a motivated and ambitious Paralegal to join our team. This role offers the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working alongside experienced lawyers on a broad range of matters, developing both your legal knowledge and practical skills in a supportive and collaborative environment.

This position would suit someone who is keen to build a long-term career in law and who is looking for a firm that is committed to developing talent from within. Within this opportunity, there may be future opportunities to pursue qualification through a trainee legal executive or solicitor apprenticeship route.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Assisting fee earners with day-to-day administration of Deputyship and Attorneyship cases to include:-
  • arranging appointments, accompanying fee earners to home visits and drafting attendance notes;
  • telephone calls to clients, care providers and organisations (including the Office of the Public Guardian and the Court of Protection) to provide general updates, check progress of applications and reporting back to fee earners;
  • arranging online payments on behalf of Deputyship or Attorneyship clients;
  • assisting with completion of annual Deputy Reports;
  • preparation of trial bundles;
  • completion of application forms, standard letters/emails for fee earner review;
• Maintaining accurate time-costing procedures
• Ensuring compliance with file management
• Acting as a point of contact for clients, ensuring clear and timely communication
• General team administration to include making appointments and arranging meetings
• Assist with Court of Protection costing and billing processes
• Working efficiently, prioritising and managing deadlines in accordance with the client matter
• To proactively support other members of the team, and to provide cover as and when necessary

What we are looking for

• Legal experience/qualifications desired but not essential
• Demonstrable interest in and/or knowledge of relevant law and legal procedure
• Excellent spelling and punctuation.
• Excellent written and verbal communications.
• Ability to use discretion / integrity and a commitment to providing excellent client service.
• Excellent IT skills, including Outlook, Word and Excel.
• Positive and enthusiastic approach to teamwork.
• Self-motivated, ability to use initiative and provide pro-active support to fee-earners.
• Ability to pay attention to detail and check own work.
• Reliable and well organised
• Ability to remain calm and work under pressure to meet strict deadlines.
• Commitment to ongoing learning and development.

Hybrid Working

Due to the nature of work required, this role is fully office based.

We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.

As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of benefits:

• Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance

As a B Corporation, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth.

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.

If you require this advert in an accessible format, please visit https://diversityjobsgroup.com/company/birketts/

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

At Birketts, we recognise the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession and recruitment. We welcome innovation and understand that candidates may use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we expect all applicants to use AI responsibly and ethically.

Our expectations regarding AI use in applications:

• Your application should reflect your own voice, experiences, and insights. AI may assist in structuring or refining your responses, but it must not replace your personal input.
• Do not use AI to misrepresent your qualifications, experiences, or skills. Any form of exaggeration or fabrication may result in rejection from the process.
• If you have used AI tools to assist with your application, be prepared to discuss how and why you used them during the interview process.
• Do not submit content generated by AI tools that may include personal or sensitive data not intended for public disclosure.
• AI-generated content should be reviewed and edited by you to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with the role and our firm’s values.

We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices. The use of AI should enhance, not compromise, your application. We encourage candidates to demonstrate critical thinking, commercial awareness, and a genuine interest in our firm.

If you have any questions about our expectations or the use of AI in your application, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team via [e-mail]