Paralegal

Weightmans is a Top 45 law firm with offices throughout the UK. Having been recognised as the leading legal employer at the annual Britain's Top Employers awards and achieved record rankings in Chambers UK 2017, we are immensely proud of the work we carry out for our clients and the culture we provide to our people.

Our market leading Employment, Pensions and Immigration team advises employers across the UK on all aspects of employment, pensions and immigration law. Our clients are some of the UK's largest and best known employers. We believe that the quality of our clients and strength of our relationships with our clients speaks volumes about the quality of the service we provide.

To work as part of a dedicated equal pay team, assisting with the defence of a large number of on-going equal pay claims.

There are secondment opportunities for this position including a secondment of up to six months with Whitbread Group plc.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist with preparing Tribunal responses and other Tribunal applications

• Carry out calculations in respect of potential equal pay liabilities

• Review personnel files and highlight jurisdictional issues

• Drafting witness statements and detailed job descriptions

• Liaising with job evaluation experts

• Attending conferences with counsel

• Work closely with team members in order to ensure deadlines are met

• Prepare disclosure and Tribunal bundles

• Attend meetings with clients to stake statements

• Research and keep abreast of recent case law and developments in Employment Law / Equal Pay Law

• Compile precedents and keep precedents files up to date

• Prepare training and giving presentations internally and externally

• Perform ad hoc administrative tasks including opening new files and key dates

• Complete MI procedures as and when required

• Achieve set financial and chargeable targets

• Ensure relevant deadlines, quality measures and KIPS are adhered to

• Comply with relevant policies and procedures

• Work in accordance with Weightmans’ values

This list is not intended to be exhaustive and you will be expected to perform other duties and have other responsibilities that fall within the wider remit of the role

•          Some knowledge of Employment Law and Employee Relations is essential (ACAS Code, WTR, Discrimination, Tribunal process)

•          Team player

•          Tribunal claims handling experience

•          Strong organisational skills

•          Ability to follow instructions and to complete work independently

•          Extensive experience of working effectively with others in a similar work setting and to be able to work on own initiative (prioritise key dates)

•          Excellent communication skills – telephone and written

•          Previous paralegal experience would be an advantage

•          Be confident in multi tasking and working under pressure

•          Confident handling of Microsoft Office (in particular, excel)

•          Ability to work to deadlines and targets

Please note:

• Any reference to experience or PQE in our adverts or job descriptions is to be used as a guideline only. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and with different levels of experience who can demonstrate that they fulfil the requirements of the role.

• The successful candidate appointed to this role will be subject to our standard background checking process, and any offer of employment made is conditional upon successful completion of those checks. Further details can be obtained from the Recruitment team.