Paralegal - Dispute Resolution

Hertfordshire County Council; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Stevenage is seeking a Paralegal - Dispute Resolution to support litigation lawyers and manage a caseload in various litigation areas. The ideal candidate will have a law degree, experience in civil litigation, and excellent communication skills. This role offers a hybrid working environment and a chance to progress within the organization.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a legal environment is required.
• Experience in civil litigation, debt recovery, or employment law is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support litigation lawyers in various areas of council litigation.
• Manage a case load of litigation cases effectively.
• Prepare bundles for court proceedings and draft documents.

Skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Self-reliant and able to work with minimal supervision

Ability to work under pressure

Education

Law degree or equivalent

Post graduate diploma in law

Level 3 CILEX qualified

Job description

Job Title: Paralegal - Dispute Resolution

Starting Salary: £34,433 opportunity to progress to £37,280 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Hours: 37.0

Location: Stevenage/Hybrid

Contract Type: Permanent

Directorate: Resources

About The Team

With more than 100 colleagues in the team Herts Legal is one of the largest and most successful legal teams in local government and offers a complete legal service to clients across the County Council, District Councils and other public sector bodies.

Our lawyers, paralegals and support staff are crucial to the County Council's continued success. We have high standards for our services and we are pleased to be recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Law Society's Lexcel quality standard assessor.

The Dispute Resolution team sits within Herts Legal and provides a litigation service to Herts County Council and shared service clients. Dispute resolution covers all areas of council litigation including employment tribunals, contentious property matters in the first tier (residential) tribunal, housing possession and disrepair for Stevenage Borough Council, prosecutions and all aspects of civil litigation including debt recovery, commercial leases and contract disputes, judicial review, planning and licensing disputes. In addition, the team supports service departments with effective complaints handling and corresponding with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

About The Role

Supporting litigation lawyers in all areas of council litigation including civil litigation, debt recovery employment tribunals, prosecutions, housing conditions claims (for shared service partners), contentious commercial lease and contract disputes, judicial review, planning, property and licensing disputes.

Handling a case load of litigation cases in the above areas.

Playing a key role in county council complaints process liaising with local government ombudsman’s office and local government ombudsman complaints.

Liaising with support staff and preparing bundles for court proceedings, you will be asked to draft documents and witness statements and attend the County Court and Magistrates’ Court on applications and provide legal advice.

About You

Essential:

• Law degree, post graduate diploma in law, Level 3 CILEX qualified or equivalent.
• Previous experience of working in a legal environment.
• Previous experience of working in one of the following: civil litigation, debt recovery, housing, employment law.
• Self-reliant and able to carry out tasks with minimal supervision.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Able to work under pressure, to organise and prioritise workloads and comply with court deadlines.

Desirable:

• Completed legal practice course or equivalent.
• Experience one or more of the following: civil litigation, debt recovery, housing, employment tribunal claims.
• Access to own transport to use for travelling to local courts.

If you are a career paralegal or looking to qualify as a solicitor/legal executive or equivalent and have a strong commitment to local government and litigation and dispute resolution more generally this role is for you. You will gain experience in a wide range of key areas of practise and be able to run your own cases as well as supporting the progress of more complex claims.

You will be required to work at a fast pace often to tight court deadlines without compromising quality and attention to detail and, in turn, supporting the County Council’s wider aims of delivering effectively for its residents.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required).