Commercial Dispute Resolution & Avoidance Paralegal
Harrison Drury is a market leading Firm of solicitors with offices across the North West servicing both business and private clients. We have been successful for a fifth time placing in the Top 100 Best Companies to work for in the UK.
We are an employer of choice because we have a culture that challenges the conventional law firm approach and focusses our energy on getting great results for our clients, while attracting and developing brilliant people.
The Commercial Litigation team are seeking to recruit a Paralegal to work within their busy team. The overall purpose of this role is to provide accurate, timely, efficient and professional support to the team as well as undertaking routine and transactional fee-earning activities. This will enable the team to ensure they operate within compliance standards and produce excellent customer Service whilst maximising the opportunity to conduct fee earning work at the right level.
The hope is that this role will develop as the successful candidate gains competency and experience in Commercial Litigation. Whilst there may be opportunities for promotion and taking on additional responsibilities for the right candidate, the role involves a combination of providing administrative support to the team, as well as completing some fee earning tasks at junior level under supervision. As the successful candidate progresses, they will have an opportunity to assist senior fee earners more on higher value and complex matters. Please be aware that the team are flexible on the location of this role with it being based at either the Preston, Lancaster or Kendal office.
The role:
- Effective administration of the files (hard copy and on SOS). This includes matter opening, drafting client care letters, matter closing, matter archiving and data updates during the course of a matter.
- Ensuring file compliance with relevant regulatory standards and the Office Manual processes.
- The ability to use the information in client files to inform the more senior Fee Earner of required action, keep the critical dates accurate and action upon them as required.
- Management of bill process and interaction with the Finance team.
- Production of case bundles in accordance with case requirements and CPR Rules.
- Production and issue of correspondence upon instruction from the Fee Earner and, where done independently, under supervision.
- Attendance at meetings when required, taking minutes when requested and updating attendance notes.
- Drafting of documents for clients upon instruction from Fee Earners and under supervision.
- Management of meetings for Fee Earners when requested (including liaison with other party, meeting room booking, car park booking and production of relevant materials / documents).
- Telephone call handling for the team.
- Liaison regarding client queries with the client and the relevant Fee Earners.
- Effective liaison with other service line teams within the Law Firm.
- Management of meetings for Fee Earners.
- Training other new junior staff members, upon request.
- Dealing with new Client enquiries on the phone or by email.
- Engage with individuals on work experience.
- Complete accurate legal research tasks for Fee Earners.
- Drafting documents including correspondence and Court documents.
- Liaise with Counsel, the Court and other third parties.
- Prepare relevant legal updates and blog articles for the website. Attend at Court, mediations and meetings and preparing detailed notes and minutes, as required.
- Develop professional relationships with Clients and third parties, such as barristers, experts, referrers, as required.
Skills and experience
- Experience of working in a Law Firm or other professional environment.
- Previous role as a Paralegal or similar in a legal service line team.
- Experience with SOS or similar legal case management systems.
- Experience of working on a central filing system.
- Dealing with members of the public / clients.
- Formal letter production, including solicitor client and inter-partes communications.
Desirable Experience
- Working towards qualification as a Chartered Legal Executive or with a view to qualifying as a Solicitor.
- Financial report production / analysis.
- Familiarity with legal documents in a contentious practice areas, ideally in relation to County Court and High Court proceedings.
- Preparation of Court forms.
- Experience of the Court’s e-filing system.
- Conducting legal research.
Required Competencies
- Intermediate / Advanced use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel. Powerpoint).
- Intermediate / Advanced use of Adobe Acrobat, including the ability to edit PDF documents and compile court bundles.
- Intermediate / Advanced use of Lexis Nexis, Westlaw and / or Practical Law.
- Strong academic record. Maths and English GCSE at grade C or above.
- Legal education to undergraduate level or equivalent.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong planning and organisational skills. Ability to prioritise and manage competing demands.
- Legal research skills.
- Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines.
- Attention to detail / accuracy.
- Ability to work within teams and individually using own initiative.
- Client focussed.
- Flexible and adaptable approach to work.
- Commercially aware.
- Self-motivated.
- Desire to learn and progress.
Apply Here
Harrison Drury is ranked by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500, two leading independent guides to the UK’s top legal firms and solicitors.
These guides highlight the solicitors who are providing the most cutting-edge and innovative advice to clients and we are ranked across our range of practice areas and people.
