Paralegal Apprentice

Lanyon Bowdler; Shrewsbury; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional legal firm in Shrewsbury is seeking a dedicated Costs Administrator to manage costs documentation and support the Costs Team. Responsibilities include liaising with legal staff, maintaining assessment files, conducting legal research, and ensuring accurate record-keeping. The ideal candidate will hold GCSEs in English and Maths and A-Levels, possess strong communication and IT skills, and demonstrate attention to detail. This role offers an opportunity to work within a collaborative legal environment.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with fee earners and support staff to ensure documentation is completed correctly.
• Create and maintain Costs Assessment files in live costs matters.
• Update and maintain records of live and settled costs matters.
• Assist in preparing Schedules/Bills of Costs.
• Conduct legal research and present findings.
• Organise and administer workflow within service level expectations.

Skills

Communication skills

IT skills

Attention to detail

Organisation skills

Customer care skills

Problem solving skills

Logical

Team working

Initiative

Education

GCSE in English and Maths (grade 9-4/A-C or above)

3 x A-Levels (grade A-C)

Job description

Responsibilities

• To liaise with fee earners and support staff to ensure costs instruction sheets and supporting documentation are completed correctly and forwarded to the Senior Associate Costs Manager.
• To create and maintain Costs Assessment files in all live costs matters, ensuring all key documentation is obtained, filed and kept up to date from the point of instruction.
• To update and maintain records of all live and settled costs matters, including diarising key costs procedure dates and setting reminders in Outlook/Envision/White Board/5-year diary where applicable.
• To assist members of the Costs Team in preparing Schedules/Bills of Costs, Statements of Costs (N260), replies, settlement advice and negotiations.
• To assist in unmitigated matters, including chasing responses/offers and progressing matters toward the issue of Part 8 proceedings where appropriate.
• To balance office and client ledgers when required.
• To update matter lists and advise Legal Support Assistants when costs are finished and matters are ready to archive; assist in administering procedures to progress caseloads.
• Conduct legal research using selected sources such as legal databases and present findings in line with organisational expectations.
• Assist in applying the principles of law to stakeholder cases and in ongoing legal matters and transactions within the organisation.
• Communicate using plain English to provide clarification and explanation of the legal process and standard legal terms.
• Organise and administer workflow such as legal files, case management and accounting systems to progress work within service level expectations.
• Carry out file management activities such as preparing and collating bundles, taking and filing accurate notes, closing and reviewing files, and maintaining databases and version control.
• Use a range of digital tools and technologies to draft legal documents, conduct legal research, perform data analysis and collaborate with others.
• Apply fraud protection measures and cyber security procedures in relation to transactions, keeping up to date with approaches.
• Undertake activities to understand a stakeholder's needs and risks throughout legal transactions, assess risks and benefits of options, and make recommendations to senior team members to act in stakeholders' best interests.

Qualifications

• GCSE in English and Maths (grade 9-4/A-C or above).
• A Level in: 3 x A-Levels (grade A-C).
• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative