Paralegal

Fixed Term Contract (18 months - 2 years)

Grade C - £35,412 - £44,075

Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review

Working 36.5 hours per week

A brilliant opportunity to join a dynamic, progressive legal service where you will be given the opportunity to work on some incredible projects and cases, while learning and developing as a leading local government professional.

This role within a newly formed Housing Conditions legal team to address the increase in Housing Disrepair claims that are being received by the Council.

Birmingham City Council's legal service is unique and one of the largest in-house local authority legal teams. The City Council is on its journey of transformation and everyone within legal services is essential to the Council's success and achieving beneficial outcomes for our citizens. We are working to reduce the amount of housing legal work that it outsourced, this newly formed team is essential to achieving this. You could be part of it.

Legal Services covers all areas of work that the Council undertakes, from employment to property, from adult social care to contracts. The variety of work that our team undertakes is wide and at the highest level. The work is challenging and rewarding in equal measure. Based in Victoria Square in the City Centre, you will have excellent transport links, access to Courts and tribunals, partner organisations and all the benefits that working in the wonderful City of Birmingham brings.

Birmingham City Council is committed to achieving excellence, putting our citizens first, acting courageously and being true to our word. If this resonates with you, then we want to hear from you.

As a paralegal you will provide paralegal and legal support to lawyers within the legal service. You will undertake case work and co-work matters with colleagues. You will have the opportunity to represent the City Council in legal proceedings and meetings.

Key responsibilities:

Attending Courts and Tribunals, including attending upon Counsel, in connection with any proceedings and to prepare reports thereon as required
Commissioning and instructing expert witnesses and external lawyers/counsel
Carrying out legal research, preparing applications, and drafting documents and correspondence
Conducting advocacy in courts and tribunals on behalf of the council
Taking instructions and giving advice

Benefits of working at Birmingham City Council:

30 days annual leave – Increases to 33 days after 5 years and 35 days after 10 years, plus option to purchase additional leave
Access to voluntary benefits providers that support health, wellbeing and making the most of your leisure time
Family friendly policies e.g., maternity/adoption, paternity, shared parental leave, carers’ leave
Health and wellbeing support networks e.g., independent, and confidential employee assistance and counselling, occupational health, etc.
Employee communities and support groups including Corporate Black Workers Support Group, Disability and LGBT+ Networks, Menopause Support Forum, etc.
We are a disability confident employer
Membership of the West Midlands Pension Fund, with generous employer contributions
Access to ‘My Rewards’ – over 800 individual brands providing discounts and savings including high street stores, supermarkets, utility, and insurance providers, as well as great days out … to name but a few!
Opportunities to join great salary sacrifice schemes e.g., Cycle to Work, Annual Travel and Car Parking, as well as making the most of Tax and National Insurance savings (additional schemes to launch soon)

Please upload your up-to-date CV via the attachments part of your application, this is required for shortlisting. Unfortunately, we cannot consider any applications without a CV attached

Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.

We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.

For any informal enquires please contact the Resourcing Team <Resourcing@birmingham.gov.uk>

Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Birmingham City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our citizens and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. You can view our Corporate Safeguarding Policy | Birmingham City Council here.

Job Description and Person Specification