Paralegal (Pro Bono, Leeds)

The Pro Bono department work alongside the Injury departments to provide a free and comprehensive legal service as part of our commitment to help those with serious injury. The team provide patients and their families with free legal advice on any issues that can arise following a serious injury or illness. Those issues can include: Debt and financial issues; Critical illness/personal accident insurance; Powers of attorney/deputyship applications; Post-discharge care; Housing; and Welfare benefits.
Make sure to read the full description below, and please apply immediately if you are confident you meet all the requirements.
Standard Pro Bono Paralegal Duties:
Attends initial meetings with patients
Has day-to-day oversight of their own files
Produces correspondence
Undertakes legal research
Takes instructions from clients
Drafts witness statements for clients and witnesses in respect of welfare benefits appeals
Provides representation / advocacy for patients at welfare benefits appeal hearings
Drafts necessary forms for applications to Court for Deputyship Orders, Lasting Powers of Attorney, welfare benefits appeals, and insurance policies
General administration, including filing, supporting internal processes and supporting the team’s partners, including message taking, diary arrangements, travel planning and supporting business development activities
Contributes to department activities, such as business development initiatives (e.g., drafting articles/presentations and attendance at business development events) and internal know-how/training sessions
Undertakes other ad hoc duties as required by the team
Job Skills Required:
Essential: LPC, Bar Course or SQE1 (must have received final grade), and at least a 2:1 at undergraduate level
Excellent typing and IT skills, including good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook)
Business Development and Financial skills:
Understands client needs and displays an appropriate sense of urgency
Demonstrates general commercial awareness and vision, helps to build client relationships through pursuing own business development/marketing initiatives
Assists with and/or attends social, fund-raising or training activities
Represents the firm appropriately, develops own professional network and raises personal and firm profile
Records time effectively, achieves/exceed hours targets
Knowledge-Sharing Skills:
Makes use of the firm’s collective knowledge resources, promotes internal knowledge-sharing
Attends and contributes towards know-how or team meetings
General Skills:
Well organised, uses initiative, prioritises appropriately, applies self, shows attention to detail, manages own workload and meets deadlines
Demonstrates excellent communication and interpersonal skills (respectful, positive, articulate, professional and sympathetic)
Delivers helpful internal services with a “can do” approach, shows commercial awareness and represents the department/firm appropriately
Shares information and ideas
Accepts and follows instructions, listens, makes notes, questions appropriately, co-operates
Shows sound judgement and decision-making skills; acts within boundaries
Shows commitment, passion and enthusiasm
Is a respectful, reliable and supportive team player
Reflects the firm’s culture