Paralegal - Public Law & Human Rights - #187869

We’re a national law firm with a local reach. Our legal experts are here for you. Whether it’s personal or business, we understand that everyone’s situation is different. But we’re more than just a law firm – we’re a team of people working together to help individuals and businesses navigate life’s ups and downs. Working here you’ll feel a part of our friendly and inclusive environment.

We’ll value you for who you are and what you bring. We support each other and push boundaries to achieve incredible things and make a real difference to our clients and communities.

We're always looking to support our colleagues to work in a way that works best for them and everyone else, including our clients, the business and the regulators. Please speak to a member of our Recruitment and Onboarding team for more information.

Our Team

People from every walk of life have the right to be treated fairly, our experts help clients challenge organisations. We have a wealth of experience across all fields of public law, with the knowledge and skills to make sure our clients rights are respected. We help clients who feel they’ve been discriminated against or had rights infringed by public bodies including:

• Government departments
• Local councils
• Hospitals, care homes and health trusts
• Schools and Local Education Authorities.

Our public law and human rights solicitors are regarded as some of the best in the country by legal directories Legal 500 & Chambers UK. We've previously taken cases all the way to the Supreme Court, European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights, so we're not daunted by any challenge. While we do seek to resolve cases with negotiation and mediation wherever possible, we take clients fight as far as is necessary to get the results they deserve.

This is a full-time role, working 35 hours per week. A minimum of 2 days per week in the Southampton office will be required as well as conducting visits to see clients in their placements/at hospital and court attendance.

About You

This position would suit a well-motivated individual who has a genuine interest in working within Public Law & Human Rights. The successful candidate must:

• Hold an undergraduate degree or equivalent
• Previous paralegal or public law experience, particularly within the above areas would be advantageous but not essential
• Have excellent client care skills and a sensitive, sympathetic understanding of clients’ needs
• Have excellent analytical and organisational skills in order to take a thorough approach to documenting work and managing deadlines
• Be IT literate and have strong attention to detail
• Be able to operate independently and as part of a team to deliver the best outcomes for our clients
• A working knowledge of legal aid funding is desirable but not essential

Our Benefits - What We Can Offer You

• 25 days holidays as standard plus bank holidays - You can ‘buy’ up to 35hrs of extra holiday too.
• Generous and flexible pension schemes.
• Volunteering days – Two days of volunteering every year for a cause of your choice (fully paid)
• Westfield Health membership, offering refunds on medical services alongside our Aviva Digital GP services.

We also offer a wide range of well-being initiatives to encourage positive mental health both in and out of the workplace and to make sure you’re fully supported. This includes our Flexible by Choice programme which gives our colleagues more choice over a hybrid way of working subject to role, team and client requirements.

We have been ranked in the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing for Large Organisations for 2024!

Our responsible business programmes are fundamental to who we are and our purpose. We’re committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace where our colleagues can flourish, and we have established a number of inclusion network groups across our business to support this aim.

Our commitment to Social Responsibility, community investment activity and tackling climate change is a fundamental part of who we are. It’s made up of four strands: Our People, Our Community, Our Environment and Our Pro Bono.

Additional Information

As part of the Irwin Mitchell Group’s on-boarding process all successful applicants are required to complete the group’s employment screening process. This process helps to ensure that all new employees meet our standards in relation to honesty and integrity therefore protecting the interests of the Group, colleagues, clients, partners and other stakeholders.

We carry out pre employment screening to establish your eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record and financial checks with our trusted 3rd parties.

The employment screening process will fully comply with Data Protection and other applicable laws.

Irwin Mitchell LLP is an equal opportunity employer.

Location Southampton One Dorset Street, Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom, S015 2DP