Paralegal (Childcare)

at  Pathfinder Legal Services Ltd

A fantastic opportunity to join an exciting, innovative law firm where you will be given the opportunity to learn and develop in your chosen field and excel in your career
Pathfinder Legal Services Ltd is a true one of a kind. Established in 2015 as an ‘Alternative Business Structure’ (ABS) we are wholly owned by public bodies. We pride ourselves on serving our communities with resilience, enthusiasm and focus. Working for public sector and not for profit clients is our focus. A significant proportion of the work we carry out will be for local authorities, however, we have over recent years grown our client base to include more than one hundred organisations across the public and not-for profit sectors. Our clients include Integrated Care Boards, Foundation Trusts, Charities and Fire Services.
We have grown significantly in recent years and are rapidly expanding, with offices based in Huntingdon, Northampton and Shefford. With over 165 members of staff, our Firm is made up of qualified legal officers, administrative support and finance officers. We aim to develop our staff to enable them to reach their full potential and to find a career path suitable to each individual.
If the chance to play a part in this fast paced but increasingly interesting and challenging area of law interests you, we want to hear from you.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES:

· To assist a team of Lawyers in the provision of a professional legal service to a range of public sector and not for profit clients regarding their social care functions, ensuring awareness of and compliance with legal duties within client organisations and protecting their best interests.
· To manage a case load comprising mainly of children’s social care matters and private law Children Act matters.
· To provide support to Lawyers in the preparation of cases in courts and tribunals, mainly relating to children’s social care.
· To ensure the effective identification and awareness of risks associated with the relevant areas of legal practice.
· To provide support to Lawyers and act as a point of contract on a variety of cases, to include taking instructions and giving advice, carrying out research, preparing applications, drafting documents and correspondence, commissioning and instructing expert witnesses, liaising with witnesses, attending meetings and providing advice and representation in courts or tribunals.
We are looking for enthusiastic individuals with initiative, a proactive approach to problem solving and a real commitment to the job. In return for this we can offer you an excellent benefits package alongside a flexible, modern working environment equipped with the technology needed to enable you to balance the pressures of a busy role.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

To provide paralegal and legal support to a team of Lawyers who provide a legal service to a range of public sector and not for profit clients with a professional and innovative legal service predominantly in respect of Children’s Social Care and Safeguarding and other areas of legal practice where necessary.

NUMBER OF VACANCIES FOR THE ROLE: 2

For a copy of the full Job Description and Person Specification and details of our other vacancies, please visit our website.