Paralegal - Court of Protection (5842)

Irwin Mitchell; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in the UK is seeking an enthusiastic professional to support clients with disabilities in managing their financial affairs. The role involves legal advice, team collaboration, and maintaining legal knowledge. Ideal candidates will have a positive attitude, attention to detail, and familiarity with Microsoft Excel. The firm values diversity and offers extensive benefits including flexible working options, health membership, and volunteering days, reflecting its commitment to employee wellbeing.

Benefits

25 days holidays

Flexible pension schemes

Paid volunteering days

Westfield Health membership

Well-being initiatives

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Previous paralegal experience is desirable but not essential.
• Experience in a similar role is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist with legal advice and litigation support.
• Achieve time recording and fee income targets.
• Contribute to team meetings and comply with directions.
• Maintain up-to-date legal knowledge and attend training.

Skills

Enthusiasm

Attention to detail

Ability to work on your own initiative

Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel

Job description

Overview

The Court of Protection is the judicial body responsible for making decisions regarding the management of finances and other affairs for individuals who lack the mental capacity to do so themselves. As one of the UK's leading firms of solicitors, we have a dedicated and experienced team specialising in all matters relating to the Court of Protection.

We assist:

• Clients responsible for managing someone else's affairs
• Those concerned about another person's ability to manage their own affairs
• Individuals worried about their own capacity to manage their affairs

Your Role and What You'll Be Doing

If you enjoy being part of a successful, friendly, and high‑performing team, this is the role for you. You'll be a key point of contact for our clients, many of whom have life‑changing disabilities such as serious brain injuries, dementia, and mental health illnesses. You'll help these individuals manage their financial affairs and work closely with the team's Associates and Partners to ensure they have the right support at all times. This is a busy and fast‑paced role, so you'll need to work quickly and accurately while building strong relationships with your team and our clients.

Your responsibilities will include (but are not limited to):

• Taking instructions from clients and assisting with the provision of legal advice, including obtaining evidence and, where appropriate, supporting litigation to achieve appropriate resolutions
• Achieving time recording and fee income targets to ensure profitable working
• Attending and contributing to team/practice area meetings and complying with directions/decisions to achieve team objectives
• Keeping up to date with changes in relevant law and practice and attending appropriate training events to maintain legal knowledge and best practice

Values

Our responsible business programmes are fundamental to who we are and our purpose. We're committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace where our colleagues can flourish, and we have established a number of inclusion network groups across our business to support this aim.

Quality & Social Responsibility

Our commitment to social responsibility, community investment activity and tackling climate change is a fundamental part of who we are. It's made up of four strands: Our People, Our Community, Our Environment and Our Pro Bono.

Additional Information

As part of the Irwin Mitchell Group's on‑boarding process all successful applicants are required to complete the group's employment screening process. This process helps to ensure that all new employees meet our standards in relation to honesty and integrity thereby protecting the interests of the Group, colleagues, clients, partners and other stakeholders. We carry out pre‑employment screening to establish your eligibility to work in the UK, conduct criminal record and financial checks with our trusted third parties. The employment screening process will fully comply with Data Protection and other applicable laws.

Qualities and Experience

• Enthusiasm, a can‑do attitude, and willingness to contribute to the team
• Previous paralegal experience (desirable but not essential)
• Ability to work on your own initiative
• Excellent accuracy and attention to detail
• Practical experience in a similar role
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel

Our Values

• Pioneering with an imaginative outlook
• Approachable and caring
• Tenacious in the pursuit of our objectives
• Efficient in the provision of our services
• Working with a foundation of integrity

Working Environment and Culture

We're a national law firm with a local reach. Our legal experts are here for you. Whether it's personal or business, we understand that everyone's situation is different. But we're more than just a law firm – we're a team of people working together to help individuals and businesses navigate life's ups and downs. Working here you'll feel a part of our friendly and inclusive environment.

Benefits and Wellbeing

• 25 days holidays as standard plus bank holidays – you can 'buy' up to 35 hrs of extra holiday.
• Generous and flexible pension schemes.
• Volunteering days – Two days of volunteering every year for a cause of your choice (fully paid).
• Westfield Health membership, offering refunds on medical services alongside our Aviva Digital GP services.
• Wide range of well‑being initiatives to encourage positive mental health both in and out of the workplace and to make sure you're fully supported.
• Flexible by Choice programme which gives our colleagues more choice over a hybrid way of working subject to role, team and client requirements.

We have been ranked in the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing for Large Organisations for 2024!