Salary: £22,700 to £26,000

Essex Legal Services (ELS) provide high quality, professional, legal advice across the council and to increasing numbers of external clients, providing a client facing legal service which proactively embraces change and delights the customer.

As a paralegal, you will be able to prepare court bundles and fix listing appointments for hearings and provide a professional legal service that is valued by our customers and improves their business.

Educated to degree level, with experience of working within a legal environment, the successful applicant will have the ability to build strong working relationships both with colleagues and clients and a proven track record in delivering excellent customer service.

Job Purpose
You will be responsible in assisting with the delivery of all aspects of routine legal work. Work will be contentious in nature and will cover both civil litigation and prosecutions. This position will be fast-paced and it is therefore imperative you are confident in the following matters:

• Drafting and preparing legal documents for functions across the Council and to external customers
• Interpreting the legal and business impact of changes in law and assessing these on the operations of Essex Legal Services, our partners, stakeholders and client base
• Understanding and interpreting client needs to provide them with a service they value
• Attending Court or public inquiries in appropriate cases
• Contributing to the development of current and future business opportunities to promote ELS
• Developing good working relationships across the Council.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Educated to A’ level or equivalent, with 2 years’ work experience in a legal environment
• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area
• Experience of working within a legal setting in a public service or private sector environment, providing routine legal advice
• Proven track record of delivering excellent customer service
• Works collaboratively with colleagues and the client base, to understand customer needs with a strong focus on delivering positive outcomes
• Ability to develop working relationships across a large, complex organisation and with internal and external partners/ stakeholders and clients to maintain and develop business streams
• Experience in either civil litigation or prosecution/enforcement cases.

Qualification certificates should be brought to interview.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please visit: https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. More information can be found on https://www.workingforessex.com/benefits

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.

Closing date: 22nd April 2018