Paralegal

Social Work England; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A regulatory body for social work is seeking a Paralegal to assist their legal team in managing essential tasks related to sensitive information and legal proceedings. This role offers the opportunity to develop strong legal skills while supporting a vital function. Candidates should have degree-level education, case management experience, and excellent analytical skills. The position is based in Sheffield with potential for flexible working.

Benefits

Flexible working

Contributory pension

Life insurance

Benefits portal

Qualifications

• Experience working with lawyers in legal proceedings.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks while maintaining accuracy.
• Experience of managing sensitive and confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial analysis of restricted information in documents.
• Manage sensitive information according to data protection legislation.
• Support the legal team to meet statutory timescales.

Skills

Case management experience

Analytical skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Legal research skills

Attention to detail

Ability to manage confidential information

Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

Education

Degree-level education or equivalent experience

Job description

The Role

Social Work England are the specialist regulator for social work in England, focused on enabling positive change in social work. Every day, social workers support millions of people to improve their chances in life. We are taking a new approach to regulating social workers in their vital roles. We believe in the power of collaboration and share a common goal with those we regulate – to protect the public, enable positive change and ultimately improve people’s lives.

The paralegal is a central point of contact ensuring that the work of the legal team is managed appropriately and in a timely manner, monitoring inboxes and ensuring the efficient prioritisation and allocation of tasks. The paralegal also assists in supporting the organisation in responding to litigation, acting as a primary contact for incoming correspondence from the courts and other parties, creating bundles, undertaking research and supporting training of colleagues across Social Work England.

While all team members will be encouraged to develop their skills and experience across the breadth of the legal work we cover, this paralegal post will have particular focus on restricted information and how this is handled across the organisation. It is anticipated that they, in conjunction with others, will be involved in reviewing large volumes of documentation in order to identify restricted information, assisting with making court applications for permission, liaising with Counsel’s Chambers, and ensuring that restricted information is handled lawfully.

While the role will focus on restricted information, there will also be opportunities to become involved in other projects relating to our regulatory functions and to participate in the work of the wider legal team.

What you will do

• Carry out initial analysis and identification of restricted information within documents used in our regulatory processes and propose next steps and advice to the lawyer regarding obtaining, using and further communicating restricted information within our regulatory processes.
• Review and manage large quantities of sensitive information in accordance with data protection legislation and our data management policies and procedures.
• Support the legal team to deliver against statutory timescales and meet business needs.
• Act as a triage decision maker with colleagues from the fitness to practise directorate.
• Provide consistent and high-quality customer service to internal and external stakeholders, as well as parties involved in cases, including by sending, receiving, and managing correspondence to and from Social Work England in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships throughout the organisation, using your legal knowledge to provide support.
• Assist in the conduct of legal proceedings brought by, against or in relation to Social Work England, including by drafting instructions, liaising with our external legal provider and Chambers; ensuring relevant papers and bundles are prepared as needed and in good order.
• Upload documents and correspondence to the case management system in a timely manner to help ensure complete and accurate case records.
• Draft written legal advice to various stakeholders within the organisation on a wide range of legal issues, under the supervision of a qualified lawyer.
• Research and keep up to date with developments in legal areas relevant to Social Work England.
• Support the organisation in reviewing internal policies, procedures and processes, and developing and providing training to colleagues across the organisation, under the supervision of a qualified lawyer.
• Use electronic systems to ensure accurate and reliable record-keeping, and work within Social Work England’s data protection policy.

Your skills and knowledge

• Degree-level education or equivalent relevant experience.
• Proven experience of case management, case progression and working with lawyers in legal proceedings (whether civil, criminal or family).
• Excellent analytical skills and an ability to understand legal and procedural issues, with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent organisation and time management skills (including organising own workload) and the ability to manage several tasks while maintaining a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a range of stakeholders; and the ability to draft in a clear and comprehensive manner.
• Excellent legal research skills and a willingness to further develop your understanding of the law.
• Experience of managing sensitive and confidential information and maintaining records within case management systems.
• A demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Details

• Job type: Permanent
• Working pattern: 37 hours. We offer flexible working subject to business need.
• Salary: £32,932 per year, rising to £35,285 per year after successful completion of a 6-month probationary period.
• Location: Sheffield/Hybrid Working.
• Benefits: Flexible working, contributory pension, life insurance and benefits portal.

Application

During the application process, you'll be asked to provide answers to three questions from the job description. These answers will be what your application is scored on – please answer in as much detail as possible using examples where necessary.