Birnberg Peirce (London) – Crime Paralegal

Salary: dependant on skills and experience. The starting salary circa £28k pa.

Hours: Full Time (Monday to Friday) in our Camden office

Closing date for applications: Monday 16th December 2024 at 5pm

Birnberg Peirce is a long-established law firm based in London specialising in Human Rights.

We are looking for a second excellent paralegal to support the work of three very experienced solicitors. All are involved in defending complex criminal cases which extend into parallel areas of legal challenge: ECHR protections particularly the right of political protest and freedom from ill treatment; use of terrorism legislation; extradition; administrative and civil law challenges; undoing of wrongful convictions. It is essential that the applicant shares the firm’s commitment to the protection and enhancement of civil liberties.

The main responsibilities of the role will include:

• Undertaking legal research.
• Assisting with casework.
• Attending clients and taking instructions, as well as liaising with counsel,
  courts and Legal Aid Agency.
• Drafting documents, including representations, advice letters and other
  correspondence, witness statements, and instructions to experts and
  counsel.
• Preparing legal aid applications.
• General administration including preparation of court documents and
  bundles.
• File management
• First point of contact for incoming telephone enquiries.

The applicant will need to be proactive and confident in all aspects of the role and able to progress cases under the supervision of a solicitor.

The starting date would ideally be January 2025. This will be a fixed term contract.

Please send your CV, covering letter and completed E&D questionnaire which can be found on our website on the careers page to the Practice Manager, Claire Sibley, at sibleyc@birnbergpeirce.co.uk.

Person Specification

Applicants are required to demonstrate that they possess the following attributes:

Education and Qualifications – Essential

• A Law degree or GDL.

Education and Qualifications – Desirable

• LPC or equivalent.

Knowledge and Experience – Essential

• Excellent IT skills (Word, Excel and Outlook)

Knowledge and Experience – Desirable

• Experience of conducting research
• Experience of working in a similar environment and undertaking administrative tasks
• Experience of drafting including representations, witness statements, advice letters.
• Experience of time-recording and document management systems.
• Experience of civil and/or criminal legal aid procedures.
• Experience working with vulnerable people.

Skills and Abilities – Essential

• The ability to communicate with a range of individuals in a professional and personable manner.
• The ability to work sensitively and confidentially.
• Outstanding attention to detail, ensuring accuracy at all times.
• Excellent organisational, communication, and interpersonal skills. Ability to organise own work with minimal supervision.
• The ability to use their own initiative and to prioritise own work in response to deadlines.
• The successful candidate will be professional, flexible and capable of working independently.
• Excellent verbal communication skills and the ability to deal with a wide range of people.
• Excellent written communication skills and the ability to write clearly and succinctly.

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to human rights.
• Commitment to equal opportunities and the firm’s ethos.
• Willingness to undertake any necessary training for the role.
• Ability to work as part of a team and to be open-minded and cooperative.

We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace.