JOB OVERVIEW

Reeds Solicitors has an exciting opportunity for a Paralegal/Trainee solicitor to join its highly acclaimed Family Team in Eastbourne.
We will accept applications for both Paralegal and Trainee Solicitor roles, if you wish to be considered for a training contract, please complete the Trainee Solicitor Application Form (which can be downloaded from our website: https://reeds.co.uk/careers/ ) and send it to recruitment@reeds.co.uk stating TRAINEE SOLICITOR APPLICATION in the subject bar, the deadline for applications is Friday 28th March at Midday.
Paralegals/Trainee Solicitor will assist solicitors and advocates in preparing cases ready for court including undertaking administrative duties. Please note that the training contract is subject to successfully completing your 3 month probationary period, and we will apply for that time to count.
Working hours are 9am – 5pm with one hour for lunch and salary is £24,000 per annum. Remote/Hybrid working will be available once the initial training period has passed and the candidate is able to work independently.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Must have a legal qualification such as LPC, ILEX (either completed in part or full), or be qualifying via the SQE route.
• Good communicator in both written and spoken English.
• Good understanding of client care requirements.
• Must be IT literate and be willing to learn.
• Must be proactive in seeking to assist fee earners.
• Consistent attention to detail.
• Excellent time management and organisation skills.
• Good teamwork ethics.
• Must be able to work well under pressure.
• Be proactive and able to work well without supervision.
• Must have a full UK driving license.

It is essential for at least the first 6 months to be spent on the ground, either in the office or shadow other members of the team, attend client appointments and also external local appointments, to assist with development and integration into the department. In addition, the main duties include but are not limited to:

• Ensure that the firm’s high client care standard is maintained by responding to client calls and enquiries proactively and appropriately.
• Take clients instructions, prepare statements and other legal documents under supervision.
• Draft correspondence to clients and third parties under supervision.
• Prepare cases and files for court hearings.
• Effectively manage time ensuring tight deadlines are met.
• Undertake tasks to develop and increase fee earning.
• Assist Team with any work overflow.
• Opening new files on the internal case management system.
• Diarising Court Orders on receipt.
• Undertaking any other follow up action on receipt of Court Orders as directed by fee earners.
• Listing & diarising Court hearings for fee earners & ensuring instructed Counsel is booked for same.
• Saving evidence as it is served to the relevant file on the case management system.
• Arranging professional’s meetings.
• Undertaking the preparation of Court bundles as per the fee earners index.
• Undertaking the preparation of billing bundles & liaising with the Costs Drafts Person throughout the billing process.
• Completing legal forms as instructed by fee earners.
• Submitting legal aid applications and monitoring legal aid certificate limitations.
• Answering calls received through the telephone line and dealing with queries in a professional and confidential manner, ensuring all messages are passed on accurately to the relevant fee earner.
• Any other duties as requested by any member of the management team.