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Litigation paralegal

Employer
Macfarlanes
Location
London (Central), London (Greater)
Salary
Competitive
Closing date
21 Jun 2019

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Vacancy Type
Legal Support, Paralegal
Contract Type
Permanent
Experience Level
Officer / Analyst / Engineer / Executive / Coordinator, Admin
Role Classification
Other Professional

Job Details

The litigation practice is seeking to recruit a paralegal to join its special projects unit (SPU) on a permanent basis.

The firm

We are a distinctive London-based law firm, focused on our clients and on delivering excellence in the international legal market.

We are large enough to advise on the most complex matters, giving you the opportunity to work for big brand clients on challenging transactions.  We are also small enough to be able to give you greater responsibility in close-knit teams.  The size of the firm and its culture means that everyone knows each other and people are approachable and supportive. 

We are a firm which relies on the quality of its people and their experience; this is what distinguishes us from our larger competitors and enhances our reputation for solving our clients' most complex legal issues.

Our focus is to foster an inclusive culture throughout the firm, from entry level to partnership.  It is about recruiting, retaining and promoting all staff in the firm fairly, and we strive to ensure that everyone has the same chance to develop and advance.  An inclusive, forward-thinking culture also enables us to provide innovative solutions to our clients.

The team

The SPU sits within the litigation department and consists of five paralegals.  The team are responsible for providing overflow support to the firm’s fee earning practice areas, although they predominantly support the litigation team.  The team cover a wide remit including; undertaking ad hoc tasks to assist fee earners, and acting as an additional resource on large and/or time sensitive matters.

The role

The individual will be required to carry out a broad range of good quality work.  Key duties will include:

  • generally assisting fee-earners in the preparation/handling of their caseloads;
  • document review, whether by way of disclosure, or the preparation of the case;
  • research;
  • assisting fee-earners prepare for trial, including preparation of trial bundles and cross-referencing witness statements and redaction of privileged material; and
  • reviewing documentary evidence and reporting on the outcome of such review.

There is an administrative element to the role.  For example paralegals may be asked to assist solicitors with the preparation of bill narratives on large matters, to collate and search for documents on the relevant platforms and databases, and carry out other tasks necessary for the progress of solicitors’ caseloads.

The candidate

Ideally the candidate will have:

  • strong academic qualifications from A -levels with a minimum 2:1 degree obtained from a well-respected institution or the GDL;
  • completed the legal practice course at a well-respected institution;
  • previous paralegal experience within a litigation team;
  • excellent written and oral communication, drafting and research skills;
  • the ability to take a self-motivated and pro-active stance, to work flexibly and independently following appropriate instruction or in a team, and to take responsibility for the work product delivered;
  • an organised, meticulous and methodical approach to work;
  • effective interpersonal skills; and
  • familiarity with standard WP (Word 2010, MS Office), database and research software and typical office IT systems general.

Please note that the job description is not exhaustive and may vary in line with changes in the team’s objectives and firm’s policy. 

Paralegal development

We have a paralegal development programme which is designed to equip our paralegals with the broad range of skills and knowledge they need to be effective in their roles.  The programme also includes sessions covering essential legal and business skills required at the start of a career in law, recognising the fact that many solicitors begin their careers as paralegals.  For the right candidate, this role could either provide an opportunity for a long-term paralegal position or potentially a stepping stone towards a training contract.

Our commitment to inclusion

At Macfarlanes we understand the importance of an inclusive culture, the continued development of which has been identified as one of our key priorities.  Our focus is to foster an inclusive culture throughout the firm, from entry level to partnership.  It is about recruiting, retaining and promoting all groups in the firm fairly, and we are continually reviewing our processes to ensure that everyone has the same chance to develop and advance.  An inclusive, forward-thinking culture also enables us to provide innovative solutions to our clients.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, bringing different perspectives and experiences, making Macfarlanes an exciting and stimulating place to work.  We seek to recruit the best candidates, regardless of gender, race or ethnicity, background, religion, physical abilities, sexual orientation or any other characteristic. 

Company

About Macfarlanes

We are a distinctive London-based law firm with a unique combination of services built and shaped around the needs of our clients. Our unrivalled blend of expertise, agility and culture means we have the flexibility to meet their most challenging demands and adapt to the changing world around us. While many of our services can be found at other firms, the mix cannot.

We find, recruit and train talented people from all backgrounds, building careers for the long term, to one day shape and lead the firm. We know each other personally which means we work together with more cohesion, and less formality. Our culture is thoughtful, challenging and supportive, and we are a place where everyone, at whatever level, can thrive. We remain focused on equal treatment in recruitment, retention and promotion.  

What this means for you

Offering a partner-led service enables our fee earners to learn and develop through working closely with a senior member of the team. Our size means that you will often be very close to the front line or in a client facing role, gaining a greater insight into the issues facing our clients. 

We expect all our fee earners to assume real responsibility, as well as to participate in client and business development activities. That means wider exposure for you and a steep learning curve.

Our matters often have a cross-border element, so our fee earners frequently liaise with global businesses and specialists in overseas jurisdictions.

The importance we place on the development of our fee earners’ legal and commercial skills has allowed us to develop the excellent reputation we have – we believe our education and training programme is second to none.

We all work together as part of a cohesive and supportive team, with the firm recognising, appreciating and rewarding the efforts of its employees.

Company info
Website
Location
20 Cursitor Street
London
EC4A 1LT
United Kingdom

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