Birnberg Peirce (London) – Prison Law Paralegal

Job title: Prison Law Paralegal
Location: Camden – hybrid
Salary: starting salary circa £26k pa
Contract: Fixed term
Hours: Full time

Birnberg Peirce are looking for a paralegal to support the work of our busy prison law department of two solicitors and one paralegal.

We are a long established, specialist and well-respected law firm specialising in human hights, based in London. In our prison law department we represent a large number of clients in prison, many of whom have been convicted under terrorism legislation or are otherwise subject to practices and policies that focus on ‘extremism’. This in a range of prison law related matters including Parole Board reviews (in determinate and indeterminate cases, and when clients are recalled to prison), Category A reviews, Close Supervision Centre and Separation Centre referrals, amongst others. We seek to bring public law challenges by way of judicial review to a range of prison decisions and policies. We often represent the same clients throughout their sentence and following release on licence.

The main responsibilities of the role will include:

Assisting with casework as directed
Forming relationships of trust with often vulnerable clients in the context of what is often a high volume of client calls to be managed
Taking instructions on lengthy telephone attendances and/or videolinks with clients to support the clients and the solicitor(s) in the preparation of prison law cases and judicial review claims
Assisting in the preparation of all stages of judicial review claims, developing an understanding of the CPR, Administrative Court procedures, and complex legal, tactical and evidential considerations in bringing challenges
Liaising with experts, the Legal Aid Agency, the Parole Board, departments of HM Prison and Probation Service, the courts, and counsel, as required
Undertaking legal research.
Considering reports and other case materials and drafting documents under supervision in a variety of areas including representations, applications, instructions to experts and counsel, and correspondence, in Parole Board reviews, Category A reviews, Separation Centre referrals, and for clients undergoing other significant decision making process; judicial review pre-action protocol letters; preparing witness statements with clients and submissions in judicial review proceedings; and advice letters to clients.
Preparing legal aid application setting out the details and merits of the case and applying the relevant regulatory framework, ascertaining client’s financial eligibility and obtaining relevant evidence; keeping track of cost limitations and submitting necessary applications; preparation of high cost case plans in judicial review cases; chasing decisions from the Legal Aid Agency.
General administration including preparation of court documents and electronic and hard copy bundles for judicial review hearings
File management, including opening and closing of files, preparing and overseeing the progression of bills to ensure regular cashflow.

You will often be the first point of contact for incoming telephone and written enquiries in what can often be a busy work environment. You will need to be proactive and confident in all aspects of the role and comfortable progressing cases under the supervision of a solicitor, able to work as part of a team and also, when the prison solicitors are not available, able to be self-motivated and to work under own initiative and seek appropriate support from others in the context of the collective ethos of the firm.

Person Specification

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

Education and Qualifications

Essential

High standard of general education (minimum A level or equivalent).

Desirable

A Law degree or GDL.
LPC or equivalent.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

Excellent IT skills (Word Excel and Outlook) are essential.
Experience of working in a busy office environment and undertaking administrative tasks.

Desirable

Experience of working in prison law and/or public law.
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, in custody

Skills and Abilities – Essential

The ability to communicate with a range of individuals in a professional and personable manner.
Outstanding attention to detail, ensuring accuracy at all times.
Excellent organisational, communication, and interpersonal skills. Ability to organise own work including at times when there may be minimal supervision.
The ability to use their own initiative and to prioritise own work in response to deadlines, and with the confidence to seek support from others.
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.
Numerate and confident in working with numbers.

Personal Attributes

Commitment to/interest in prison law and prisoners’ rights.
Commitment to equal opportunities and the firm’s ethos.
Willingness to undertake any necessary training for the role.
Willingness to work as part of a team and to be open-minded and cooperative.
An open, flexible and positive approach to working in a team environment.

How to apply

The starting date would be as soon as possible and ideally during December 2025.

Please send your CV and covering letter to the Practice Manager, Claire Sibley, at sibleyc@birnbergpeirce.co.uk.

Closing Date for applications is close of business Monday 1st December 2025