Job description
3516
We’re a national law firm with a local reach. Our philosophy is ‘Expert Hand, Human Touch’ – 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’re always looking to support our colleagues in working in a way that best works for them. Please do speak to one of our Talent Acquisition Team to find out more information about our flexible working arrangements, including working from home.
We are looking to add a Paralegal to our Public Law & Human Rights team to be based from Birmingham
Our Team
People from every walk of life have the right to be treated fairly; our experts help clients challenge organisations. We have a wealth of experience across all fields of public law, with the knowledge and skills to make sure our clients’ rights are respected. We help clients who feel they’ve been discriminated against or had rights infringed by:
- Government departments
- Local councils
- Hospitals, care homes and health trusts
- Schools and Local Education Authorities
- Any public body.
Our public law and human rights solicitors are regarded as some of the best in the country by legal directories Legal 500 & Chambers UK. We've previously taken cases all the way to the Supreme Court, so we're not daunted by any challenge. While we do seek to resolve cases with negotiation and mediation wherever possible, we take clients fight as far as is necessary to get the results they deserve.
Your Role - What you'll be doing
You will be assisting solicitors on their cases in at least one of the main areas of work undertaken by the team, namely Court of Protection (health and welfare), education and health and social care, so this is a fantastic opportunity to gain real, hands-on experience in a law firm.
You’re role will involve but is not limited to:
- Taking instructions from clients and assist with the giving of legal advice
- Achieve time recording and fee income targets to ensure profitable working.
- Attend and contribute to team/practice area meetings and comply with directions/decisions made to ensure team objectives achieved.
- Keep up to date with changes in relevant law and practice and attend appropriate training events to ensure up to date legal knowledge and best practice.
What we'll need from you
- Empathy and compassion to help guide our clients through challenging personal circumstances
- A friendly, enthusiastic and can-do approach
- Ideally, some previous Paralegal experience
We’re proud of our values, and we’re looking for people who share them:
- To be pioneering with an imaginative outlook
- To be approachable and caring
- To be tenacious in the pursuit of our objectives
- To be efficient in the provision of our services
- To work with a foundation of integrity.
If this sounds like you, we’d love to receive your application.
What we can offer you
- Flexible working options - Make work fit around your life, not the other way round
- Up to 25 days holidays as standard - You can ‘buy’ up to 35hrs of extra holiday too
- Generous and flexible pension
- 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 to work in a way that best suits you. This includes our Flexible by Choice programme which gives our colleagues more choice over how they wish to work subject to role and client requirements. We have recently been ranked in the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing for Large Organisations for 2023!
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, existing employees, clients, partners and other stakeholders.
Depending on the role you apply for we may carry out checks that will establish your eligibility to work in the UK, and criminal record check and financial checks with a credit reference agency will also be undertaken.
The employment screening process will fully comply with Data Protection and other applicable laws.
Irwin Mitchell LLP is an equal opportunity employer.