Paralegals

Hertfordshire County Council's Lexcel accredited Legal Team provides a full legal service across all specialisms to both the county council and other public sector bodies and are looking for Paralegals across the Commercial, Property and Childcare Litigation sectors.

The Childcare Litigation Team provides a high-quality litigation and advice service to the Director of Children's Services and the Children's Services Department. The team deal with a variety of public law proceedings under the Children Act 1989 and Adoption and Children Act 2002, as well as providing advice and support with the Public Law Outline pre-proceedings process.

The Commercial Law Team plays a key role in the development of the county council and is involved in a diverse portfolio of legal work involving key projects such as major highways procurements, housing and care provision, and IT contracts. The Team will also provide strategic advice on subsidy control and data protection. There are also several complex procurements involving the reorganisation of service delivery and the provision of training.

The Property Law Team provides legal advice and help to client departments and District Councils on various property issues, general estate management, and supports some of the Council's major infrastructure and community projects, from Highways to Adult Care, As a paralegal in the Childcare Litigation Unit, you will work with the lawyer responsible for the case to maintain court bundles, undertake routine case management tasks, draft straightforward legal documents including care order applications, gather evidence including taking statements from lay witnesses, and manage day to day tasks independently without the need for close or prescriptive supervision. The Principal Lawyer may also assign you related additional work from time to time.

As a paralegal in the Commercial Law Team, you will work with the lawyer responsible for the case to draft straightforward legal agreements and assist lawyers in the Commercial Law Team on legal/administrative matters. You will also carry out legal research with the team and co-ordinate the signing/sealing of documents. The Principal Commercial Lawyer may assign you related additional work from time to time.

As a paralegal in the Property Law Team, you will work with the lawyer responsible for the case to draft straightforward legal agreements and assist lawyers in the Property Law Team on legal/administrative matters. Supporting Lawyers with Land Registration enquiries and post completion work, and such other duties as may be assigned by the Principal Property Lawyer.

• a paralegal Apprenticeship or


• hold a Law Degree; or


• passed the Common Professional Examination/Graduate Diploma in Law; or


• passed Level 3 of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executive examinations.


• Be able to carry out day to day tasks without the need for close supervision.


• Have excellent oral and written communication skills


• Forge and maintain relationships with a wide range of professionals.


• Demonstrate the ability to work under pressure and be able to organise and prioritise your workload.


Desirable:

• Ideally you will also have completed or be in the process of completing your Legal Practice Course or equivalent.


• have experience or exposure in either Commercial, Property or Childcare Litigation


• have access to your own transport and be willing to use this for travelling around the County and further afield to different offices and Courts., We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post., You'll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations., The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.