Crime Paralegal

Forbes Solicitors are looking for a Paralegal to join our award-winning Crime Team at our Preston and Blackburn offices. This is a full-time role working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

This is a great opportunity for a Paralegal to progress their current career and join a collaborative and professional team. Whilst the role will be working to the fast-pace, customer focus and high standards of a law firm, the role will also provide a sustainable work-life balance and relate to the regional area in which it is based.

The role will be responsible for delivering successful outcomes such as:

• Provide effective and efficient support to Crown Court Advisors through chargeable (legal based) work that contributes to the delivery and completion of services for clients (e.g. obtaining and reviewing evidence and statements, taking witness statements, preparing for court, collation of legal bundles).
• Ensure timely and efficient day-to-day progress of matters, prioritising work, monitoring deadlines and actions needed and keeping clients informed.
• Drafting and preparing legal documents that require further knowledge, consideration and input based on analysis and understanding of information gathered.
• Providing legal advice, under the supervision of a qualified advisor, that resolves queries and advances clients instructions and cases.
• Assessing and understanding client queries and file notes to identify actions and advice required and manage and guide the progression of a client file.
• Attend external meetings and events including but not limited to hearings, court appearances, client meetings and networking events.
• Maintain, monitor, and update the appropriate systems and documents with client and case information, data and file notes.
• Carry out and deliver accurate and up-to-date legal research.
• Write original high-quality articles and reports for internal and external publication.
• Manage regular and up-to-date communications with clients and stakeholders, answering queries, managing expectations (including costs), providing updates, and effectively chasing responses required and escalating appropriately.

Organisation
Forbes Solicitors offer the full range of legal services to individuals, commercial clients, and a number of specialist sectors where we excel nationally. We have offices across the North but our roots are firmly based in Lancashire. Our clients tell us that we stand out from other firms. We are real people who are passionate about getting the best results. Working together and listening to our clients, we provide genuine and practical advice.

We are looking for someone who displays our values; specifically someone who is authentic; exceptional and united.

Benefits
We are committed to being a supportive organisation that keeps focus on our people and therefore we offer a range of additional benefits including:

• Competitive Salary;
• 33 Days Annual Leave, including bank holidays;
• Annual Leave Purchase Scheme (Subject to T&Cs);
• A day off for your Birthday;
• Bonus Scheme;
• Ongoing Training and Development;
• Progression Opportunities;
• Health Care Benefits (Health Cash Back Plan and Mental Health Counselling Services);
• Other Employee Discounts;

Applying
If you are interested in this role specifically or just working at Forbes Solicitors, please do head to our website to learn more about us.

We will be progressing applicants to the next stage based on applications demonstrating the following knowledge, experience, and skills:

• Hold further qualifications eg CILEX qualification/Law Degree (or equivalent);
• hold the LPC/SQE (desirable but not essential);
• previous paralegal experience is desirable;
• previous experience within a Crime department is desirable;
• have a willingness to work towards the Police Station Accreditation qualification;
• have proven competence in their IT skills (Outlook, Word, and other systems experience);
• have the ability to work as part of a team;
• have excellent attention to detail and organisational skills;
• have an interest in long term development/progression in the department;
• have good communication skills, both written and verbal;
• have the ability to touch type (desirable but not essential)

Forbes is an Equal Opportunities and Disability Confident employer, accredited to Investors in People and ISO 9001 Quality Management certified. We support the principle of equal opportunities in relation to any opportunities which we might provide through the engagement of employees; the provision of services to clients; and the appointment and engagement of suppliers. We are committed, wherever practicable, to maintaining a workforce which broadly reflects the local community in which we operate.