Paralegal

On behalf of the Government Legal Department (GLD), we are looking for a Paralegal - Inside IR35 for a 12 month contract working on a Hybrid basis (3 days per week in London, Bristol, Manchester or Leeds office and remaining WFH)

Purpose of the role :

A GLD paralegal is someone with legal knowledge, experience and/or qualifications who undertakes legal tasks that would otherwise be carried out by a lawyer.

The role involves working to deliver GLD’s service to clients under an appropriate level of supervision including in preparing legal documents, undertaking legal research, supporting project management and promoting knowledge management . When the business need arises, the post-holder will be expected to support Business Management colleagues with their work.

The specific work tasks of the role are likely to vary depending on the Division and Team to which the post-holder is allocated, with differing levels of accountability for owning caseloads/pieces of advice/matter/bill work. The post-holder should have the interpersonal skills to work as part of a team and to interact with departmental/cross divisional colleagues, and other stakeholders. They will be able to prioritise work effectively, work to deadlines and showcase behaviours that align to GLD’s culture and values. The post-holder will typically report to a lawyer but will often support a wider team, subject to workloads and available resources.

The main duties and responsibilities of the Paralegal would be to:

- Provide high-quality legal and administrative support to lawyers, ensuring clients and stakeholders receive a professional, responsive and efficient service.
- Conduct detailed legal research into legislation, case law, policy and guidance, analysing findings to support legal advice and case strategy.
- Draft and review legal correspondence, briefing notes, witness statements, instructions to Counsel, court documents, contracts and other legal documentation.
- Manage case files and legal matters effectively, maintaining accurate records, monitoring progress and ensuring all court, tribunal and project deadlines are met.
- Support litigation, advisory, commercial and employment matters, including disclosure exercises, evidence reviews, hearings and wider legal projects.
- Prepare hearing bundles, chronologies, document indexes and evidence packs, while liaising with clients, Counsel, courts, tribunals and government departments.
- Maintain accurate case-management and knowledge systems, share relevant legal updates and contribute to the continuous improvement of team processes.

Essential:

- Legal education, professional training or relevant practical experience gained within a legal, regulatory, government or comparable professional environment.
- A strong interest in government legal work, with an understanding of the wider public-sector, policy and constitutional environment in which GLD operates.
- Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to assess complex legal information, evidence and documentation and reach well-reasoned conclusions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information clearly, accurately and appropriately for different audiences.
- Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing tasks, manage a varied workload and deliver work to demanding deadlines.
- Ability to work independently with appropriate supervision, while collaborating effectively with lawyers, clients, Counsel, colleagues and external stakeholders.
- Excellent attention to detail, sound judgement, professionalism and integrity, supported by strong digital skills and confidence using standard office and case-management systems.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident

As a Disability Confident employer, GLD encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent candidates . Applications from candidates who identify as having a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

As a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, GLD welcome applications from veterans, service leavers, reservists and military spouses or partners. Applications from eligible candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".