Paralegal

This role is primarily to support with legal Highways and Planning work and will include:

• Assisting with case management including completing Court forms, preparing and managing bundles of documents, witness statements and preparing instructions to counsel
• Liaising with the Court, external law firms and barristers' chambers
• Taking instructions from clients on the simpler planning and highways agreements
• Editing simpler planning and highways agreements and progressing them to completion
• Supporting the solicitors/lawyers in the team with administration tasks/entering data into our case management system
• Researching legal issues as required
• Other ad hoc work, including but not limited to minute taking
If you are interested in developing and enhancing your existing skills whilst undertaking quality and varied work in the area of highways and planning, we'd love to hear from you!

Surrey County Council is looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Paralegal to join our supportive and successful Lexcel accredited in-house Highways and Planning team, within the Legal & Democratic Services Department.,
• Law degree or equivalent (e.g. non-law degree plus CPE/GDL)
• Motivation for working for the Local Authority Legal Highways and Planning team
• Experience of working in a legal team, delivering timely, clear and effective legal advice, representation and assistance
• Keen attention to detail with the ability to work effectively and flexibly in a team and manage competing priorities to strict deadlines
• Ability to provide exemplary client care
• Ability to undertake legal research and present findings with accuracy
  
  The starting salary for this full-time, permanent position is £34,660 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week., 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays (prorated for part time staff)
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents, 1. Please set out your motivations for applying for a highways and planning role, with particular focus on what you think is important for a local highway and planning authority in administering its legal duties. (Max 200 words)
2. What qualities do you think are important to make a success of this role? (Max 200 words) 3. What is something that you have done as part of a team (in work or a personal capacity) that you are particularly proud of or has had a positive outcome for somebody else? (Max 200 words)