Paralegal - Up to 6 month FTC

If you are seeking a new, challenging role with a modern, forward-thinking law firm, then this could be the role for you. You will be given early responsibilities, with the opportunity to manage your own caseload (and fee-earn alongside the experts) and the chance to get involved in some really exciting and complex transactions for the duration of the 6 month contract. Accountabilities

• Good working knowledge of debt recovery and enforcement in the County Court.
• Manage an active caseload with the aim of providing efficient and effective debt recovery advice.
• Deal with incoming post and ensure systems are updated and operated correctly.
• Liaise directly with other Teams within the firm, clients, debtors, the Court and external third parties.
• Drafting Letters of Claim pursuant to the Practice Direction - Pre-Action Conduct and Protocols and the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims.
• Negotiating settlements, instalments and monitoring payment plans.
• Preparing Claim Forms.
• Requesting Judgment in Default.
• Advising clients on enforcement options and progressing enforcement with the Court, Land Registry and through High Court Enforcement Officers.
• Assist with the preparation of client reports.
The candidate This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a dynamic and growing team dealing with high quality and varied work.


• Law degree or equivalent is welcome but not essential.
• Excellent computer/technical skills. In particular, working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of software including Outlook, Excel and Word.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to communicate with colleagues at all levels of seniority and liaise effectively with other internal departments and external contacts.
• Ability to use discretion with a positive and enthusiastic approach to team work.
• A flexible, highly motivated, proactive and 'can do' working style.
• Self-motivated, ability to use initiative and provide pro-active support the Commercial Litigation Team.
• Ability to pay attention to detail and check own work.
• Good organisational skills, able to prioritise, make decisions and work effectively within a sometimes pressurised environment.
• Commitment to ongoing learning and development.
  
  Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals based in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: property, corporate services, litigation and private client advisory.
We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face. Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 5th best law firm to work at in 2024. With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 40% of our partnership. The department Birketts is recruiting for an ambitious, driven and forward thinking Paralegal on a full time 6 month basis to come and join our growing Debt Recovery Team. The role will be based from our modern office in Ipswich town centre, situated a 5 minutes' walk from the train station. The Debt Recovery Team acts for a wide range of clients, from major PLCs, through to SMEs and family owned businesses. The Debt Recovery Team prides itself on developing relationships with its clients that assist in resolving debtor issues quickly and with minimum fuss. Many of its clients have been clients of the Debt Recovery Team for many years. Our teams are routinely ranked in the top tier by the legal directories, Legal 500 and Chambers. Indeed, Birketts has more ranked contentious lawyers than any other firm in East Anglia. Legal 500 [2025]: "Birketts solicitors demonstrate a unique strength in their exceptional responsiveness and efficiency. They exhibit a remarkable ability to promptly respond to emails and swiftly act on requests, consistently delivering favourable outcomes for their clients. Potential clients would appreciate their dedication to providing timely and effective solutions, ensuring a positive experience throughout the engagement process."

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth. Alongside a flexible and inclusive work environment, we offer the following core benefits: Contract benefits:
• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Paid CSR Day
• Subsidised gym membership
• Agile/Hybrid Working Policy
• Dress for your Day Policy