Paralegal - Public Law & Human Rights (4739)

We currently have a paralegal opportunity within the Public Law and Human Rights Department in our Sheffield or Leeds office to undertake casework and support on a range of public law and human rights cases.

The team undertake a range of work in the areas of judicial review, social care, healthcare and medical treatment, mental capacity, and Court of Protection welfare disputes. Our lawyers are experts in their field. The successful applicant for this role will work with a solicitor specialising in judicial review, health & social care and Court of Protection cases, as well as working with other members of the team, We're proud of our values, and we're looking for people who share them. Our values are:

• To be pioneering with an imaginative outlook.


• To be approachable and caring.


• To work with a foundation of integrity.


• To be tenacious in the pursuit of our objectives.


• To be efficient in the provision of our services., 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.


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 therefore 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, criminal record and financial checks with our trusted 3rd parties.

The employment screening process will fully comply with Data Protection and other applicable laws.

This position would suit a well-motivated individual who has a genuine interest in working within Public Law & Human Rights. The successful candidate must:

• hold an undergraduate degree or equivalent.


• have some paralegal or public law work experience, particularly within the above areas (other areas of law would be advantageous but not essential).


• have excellent client care skills and a sensitive, sympathetic understanding of clients' needs.


• have excellent analytical and organisational skills in order to take a thorough approach to documenting work;


• be IT literate and have great attention to detail.


• be able to operate independently and as part of a team to deliver the best outcomes for our clients.


• have a working knowledge, or at least a basic understanding, of legal aid systems.


• be willing to work, where necessary, in either our Sheffield or Leeds office and to travel to visit clients when required.
  
  We're a national law firm with a local reach. Our philosophy is 'we're legal and financial experts that care' - something you'll find in the way we work with our clients and how we support our teams. 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.


We'll value you for who you are and what you bring. We support each other and push boundaries to achieve incredible things and make a real difference to our clients and communities.

We're always looking to support our colleagues to work in a way that works best for them and everyone else, including our clients, the business and the regulators. Please speak to one of our Talent Acquisition team for more information.
Our Team

Our Public Law & Human rights team undertake a range of work in the areas of judicial review, civil liberties (including inquests and actions against the police), education, social care, healthcare and medical treatment, mental capacity and Court of Protection welfare disputes. Our lawyers are experts in their field.

Our Public Law and Human Rights department is ranked as a leader in a range of fields in both the Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 directories many of our solicitors are ranked individually.

We are instructed in interesting and often high profile, cutting-edge cases. We have forged a national reputation for our work on test cases. We have a national reach, with public law teams in ten offices across the country.

We hold Legal Aid Agency contracts in public law, community care and actions against the police and are also instructed by privately funded individuals, professional associations and institutions including national and local charities and other voluntary organisations. We work closely with our colleagues and teams in Irwin Mitchell to provide a holistic service to our clients.
Your Role and What You'll Be Doing


• 25 days holidays as standard plus bank holidays - You can 'buy' up to 35hrs of extra holiday too.


• 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.


We also offer a 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. This includes our 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!