Legal Assistant - Worcestershire, United Kingdom - Novax Recruitment

Novax Recruitment

Verified Company

Worcestershire, United Kingdom

1 week ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

Legal Assistant
Worcester
Full-time temporary contract
£12.20 per hour

Main purpose of job:

To assist in the provision of an effective and efficient legal service, providing information and advice and representation as required on legal matters, concerning the functions of the Adult & Education Team, which includes debt recovery.

Responsibilities, duties and tasks:

To carry a caseload of varied legal work in connection with the work of the Legal Division and in particular the Adults and Education Team (comprising Debt recovery) under supervision commensurate with the type of work being undertaken and to be responsiblefor the completing of all aspects of the task in accordance with good legal practice and client service specification.

To undertake amongst other things, the following specific tasks under appropriate supervision in conjunction with the solicitor handling the case:

To assist in the provision of a comprehensive debt recovery service to the County Council handling and assisting solicitor caseholder in a wide range of highly complex commercial, contractual consumer and statutory debt recovery cases on behalf of all ofthe Council's Directorates
To assist the solicitor caseholder in a wide range of Adult Social Care and Education related matters to include the checking and completion of Court of Protection Applications for Community Deprivation of Liberty Authorisations
Carry out the drafting of any necessary documents, Claim Forms, Particulars of Claim, Counterclaims or Defences, Directions Orders, costs budgets and schedules, Part 36 offers and Court of Protection Forms etc
Advise on and draft witness statements, documents for court and reports and proof read the same as appropriate.
Review and advise on the amendment of chronologies and statements prepared by the client
Liaise with expert/professional and lay witnesses, court staff, counsel and other parties to ensure the smooth running of cases and hearings.
Liaise with the client in obtaining instructions and advising on appropriate matters.
Deal with miscellaneous correspondence and queries.
Prepare Instructions to Counsel, attend Court with Counsel, as required.
Report to the client/ case holder after Court hearings.
To assist colleagues who are responsible for administrative work arising from preparation of cases ready for issue up to Settlement or Trial
To fully use and assist in the development of the case management system used at any one time.
To research legal questions arising from the work of the Council or its components or associated public bodies.
To attend Court, Tribunals and Inquiries and meetings to assist the solicitor case holder as appropriate.
To carry a caseload and represent the Council in relation to less complicated matters.

Requirements:

QUALIFICATIONS/TRAINING:

It is essential that the postholder has:

A minimum of five GCSE's at grade 'C' or above (or equivalent) including English Language.
Holds a Law Degree or equivalent or
Holds a paralegal qualification or is on the process of completing this e.g. CILEX course, Legal Practice Course or equivalent, if not already qualified.
At least 6 month's experience of court procedures and processes and knowledge and understanding of commercial, contractual, consumer and statutory debts.
Has the ability to develop and provide a comprehensive and effective debt recovery service to the Council's central debt recovery operation.
6 months experience of working with a broad range of internal and external contacts in a busy office environment.

It is desirable that the postholder has:

Current working knowledge and/or experience of local government law and structure.
Experience of local authority sundry debt collection work.
Experience of adult social care law including practice and procedure in the Court of Protection
Experience of education law.
Used a paperless digital case management system.