Paralegal - Contentious Probate

Co-op Group; Bristol; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Holiday entitlement

Pension contributions

Staff discount

Early pay access

Virtual healthcare

24/7 support

Training & development

Cycle-to-work

Job summary

Co-op Legal Services is seeking a Paralegal to join the Contentious Probate team. Based in Bristol or Stratford-upon-Avon, you will support solicitors with a variety of tasks in disputes and litigation relating to estates.

This office-based role offers 37.5 hours a week, a competitive salary (£28,000–£33,000) dependent on experience, and a range of benefits. You’ll gain exposure to contentious probate and property litigation, with opportunities for development as the team grows.

Qualifications

• Experience in litigation or estate administration.
• Some knowledge of litigation through study.
• Interest in contentious probate and property litigation.
• Strong organisational and workload management abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Client-focused with ability to prioritise needs.

Responsibilities

• Contact witnesses and draft witness statements for solicitors’ approval
• Review medical records and evidence
• Prepare court bundles and draft complete court forms
• Draft letters of claim and letters of response
• Handle external enquiries and outbound calls to support potential clients
• Provide advice to colleagues in the probate team on contentious matters
• Manage your own litigation caseload following training
• Assist in estate administration cases involving disputes

Skills

Litigation experience

Estate administration knowledge

Strong communication skills

Organisational skills

Education

Litigation studies

Job description

Paralegal – Contentious Probate
£28,000 to £33,000 dependent on experience, plus great benefits (Work Level 6B)
Bristol or Stratford-Upon-Avon | Office based
Full time, 37.5 hours

We’re looking for a Paralegal to join our Contentious Probate team within Co-op Legal Services.

At Co-op Legal Services we do things differently, whether that’s continuously innovating our technology to support your delivery or our commitment to providing exceptional client experience. In this role, you’ll support solicitors with a variety of tasks within a caseload of disputes and litigation relating to estates. This is an exciting opportunity to gain exposure to contentious probate and property litigation matters. As we continue to grow, they’ll be plenty of opportunity for development.

What you’ll do

• Contact witnesses and draft witness statements for solicitors’ approval
• Review medical records and evidence
• Prepare court bundles and draft complete court forms
• Draft letters of claim and letters of response
• Deal with external enquiries and make outbound calls to support potential clients
• Provide advice to colleagues in the wider probate team on contentious matters
• Manage your own litigation caseload following training
• Assist in some estate administration cases in which there is a dispute/litigation

What you’ll bring

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

• Experience in litigation or experience of estate administration
• Some knowledge of litigation through study
• A keen interest in working in contentious probate and property litigation
• Great organisational skills, with the ability to manage your own workload
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• A client-focussed approach, with the ability to prioritise their needs

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• An annual bonus scheme (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone, and our support centre is an inclusive environment where all our colleagues can thrive.

If you have a disability, we’ll make reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process. We’re also proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme - if you’re disabled and you meet the minimum criteria for this job, we’ll guarantee you an interview.

Learn more about our recruitment process athttps://jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process

Explore our commitments to diversity, inclusion and wellbeing athttps://jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion-wellbeing

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes 15-20 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.