Paralegal

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Police Roles

Staff Roles

Police Staff
Fixed Term Contract
Full Time
Legal
Portishead, Police Headquarters, Valley Road, Portishead- BS20 8QJ
SC 5

£27,789 - £29,874

Please note, if this is a paid role and the role is part time then the salary quoted will be pro rata based on the hours worked per annum.  
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08/10/2020, 23:55

The Legal Services Directorate of Avon and Somerset Constabulary is excited to be offering an ambitious and motivated individual who is pragmatic, solution focused and able to think on their feet an opportunity to work as a paralegal within the force.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a large, friendly and supportive team, with excellent work life balance and an opportunity to make a difference to the community in which we serve. You will have the opportunity to work in a department where billing and cost targets are a thing of the past, and where new priorities to protect the vulnerable and provide advice to the force are important.  

This role is ideal for an ambitious, self-starter who is looking to gain excellent legal experience within a well-recognised, and highly experienced and respected in-house police legal team at a time where Police forces are facing a changing and challenging landscape.

The main purpose of this role is to assist in providing a comprehensive legal service to the Chief Constable and PCC for Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

In this role, your main responsibilities will be:

-        Contributing to Investigations and draft responses to pre-action public and employers’ liability letters of claim, either through the claims portal, or in accordance with the Pre Action Protocols, under supervision.

-        Handling legal cases. This will include investigating the claim, collating documents, taking statements, preparation of Court papers and attending Courts and Tribunals with Counsel, under supervision.

-        Making applications in the Magistrates Courts in relation to uncontested matters and applications in civil or employment matters undertaken in chambers.

-        Providing day to day support, including research, to the Lawyers and Senior Lawyers.

-        Responding to general advice queries from across the Force on a wide range of issues reporting to the duty lawyer.

Skills, experience and qualifications required:

-        A Law degree or equivalent in England and Wales (or have completed the GDL) or ILEX Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice.

-        Desire to study law and achieve legal qualifications

-        Be able to demonstrate a can-do attitude, a willingness to learn and commitment to the opportunity

-        Excellent oral and written communication skills

-        Ability to manage and organise own workload effectively

-        Ability to act under pressure and respond quickly to changing and conflicting demands

-        Demonstrate good team player skills

-        Good computer literacy skills including experience of common Microsoft packages

-        Excellent legal research and analytical skills

-        Excellent negotiation skills

Vetting and safeguarding

Avon and Somerset Police are committed to safeguarding and operate safer recruitment processes, to ensure a police service that employees are proud to work for because they feel safe, valued and part of a happy and supportive work environment. All employees and volunteers therefore will be subject to background checks including vetting and references. To be eligible to apply for this role you must have a 5 year ‘checkable history’ in the UK – ideally this means that you would have been resident in the UK for the last 5 years.

Contract duration

Fixed term - 12 months

Does this sound like the role for you? Click the link below to apply.


About us

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We recognise the benefit different life experience and perspectives can bring.

We are on a journey to become the most inclusive police force in the country. 

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Important information before you commence an application (for external applicants)

You will require the following detail to complete this application form:

  • National Insurance Number
  • Identification Detail e.g. passport
  • Address information including proof 
  • Referee information
  • Full employment history including dates and any qualifications you may have attained
  •  Tattoos - you will also be requested to provide photos and describe of any visible tattoos you have

If the role requires you to drive you will also be required to upload details from your full driving licence including photos. 

Important information before you commence an application- for ALL applicants

The application system only remains active on a single page for a period of 60 minutes.

Please ensure you allow time to complete your application fully as part complete pages do not save.  

If the role has evidence questions you may wish to save these remotely and paste your answers into the boxes at time of submission. 

This vacancy is closed to applications.