Junior Paralegal

We are a top 50 law firm with 190 partners and around 1,700 staff in total.  We have 12 locations in the UK and a significant international network.  Our clients include some of the largest financial, automotive, telecoms and technology businesses in the UK.

We champion diversity and inclusion, and our mission is to attract and nurture a diverse group of people and to create an environment and culture that is genuinely inclusive, in which every member of staff feels valued for their contribution.  We have been awarded Gold status in the Law Society Diversity and Inclusion Charter in recognition of our commitment to this.  We were also the first major law firm to achieve “Gold Standard” Investors in People.

We have received numerous accolades which reflect the quality and efforts of the firm, most recently we were named National Law firm of the year at The Lawyer Awards 2019.

Our Business Advisory Division provides a complete range of litigation and debt recovery services utilising cutting edge technology and with specialists dealing with different debt types, all operating under a centralised management structure allowing us to deliver consistently excellent service. Our structure ensures we can provide a full range of volume recoveries and litigation options, whilst ensuring that we have the expertise and experience to deal with complex and technical issues arising from volume recoveries.

The main purpose of the junior paralegal role is to be competent in the technical elements necessary to provide a quality and comprehensive recoveries service with both a client and customer service focus.

In this role you will be a valued member of the team with the chance to learn and develop your skills.

We would like to appoint an enthusiastic, diligent person – a good communicator who shares our values for providing an outstanding service for our clients in a positive, collaborative working environment.

We are a values-driven business – our values are at the core of the firm and we evaluate how we behave in accordance with these values through a competency framework.

This role is considered to be at competency Level 1 in our internal framework

• To be familiar with and follow both the team's and the wider firm’s policies, procedures and processes
• To be familiar and comply with both the team's and the wider firm’s regulatory requirements
• Control and manage your workload effectively and efficiently using the relevant case management systems and IS resources and processes appropriately
• Be responsible and accountable for your workload including meeting internal and client SLA requirements
• Be aware of associated areas of law impacting the Unit's delivery of its service
• Recognise any potential issues in cases and refer these appropriately
• Attend and complete any training in a timely manner
• Attend internal and external meetings as required and assist in implementing changes to any team procedures.
• Liaise with other internal teams as appropriate
• Assist the team in achieving financial targets, other KPIs, management information and meeting budgets.
• Support the team with marketing initiatives when required and collating management information

You will need the following skills and experience:-

• IT literate with experience of using Word, Excel and the internet
• Ability to deal with difficult telephone conversations with any of the key stakeholders in the recoveries process confidently and calmly and refer if appropriate
• Good written, numeracy and oral communication skills
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to prioritise, be organised and efficient
• Flexibility with the capability to adapt to change, new practices and cope under pressure but with the ability to recognise when to seek assistance
• Able to integrate within a team and able to work on your own initiative
• Friendly and helpful approach

Performance Standard

• Act at all times in accordance with the DevelopABLE criteria
• Treat your colleagues, clients and their customers and third parties with respect
• Good timekeeping

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted.  These checks will include employment references covering the last 5 years, proof of ID, proof of address covering the last 5 years, Personnel Vetting credit search (which will only highlight insolvency or County Court Judgments - should any adverse data show on the Personnel Vetting search then any offer of employment made will be withdrawn).Terrorism Check (against data supplied by the Bank of England) and a DBS check previously known as a Criminal Records check.

Shoosmiths is a committed Equal Opportunities employer promoting equality of opportunity. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.