Paralegal – Harlow District Council

Location, Harlow

Full time, Temporary – 37 Hours per Week

2-3 Month Contract

£17.25 PAYE / £22.12 Umbrella Per Hour

Closing Date: Monday 18th May 2026

Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Harlow Council to recruit a paralegal on a full-time, temporary basis.

Please note that this post requires the successful individual to be based on site a minimum of 3 days per week.

Harlow is a district of contrasts and an ideal location to both live and work. The town itself is thriving, with excellent shopping and leisure facilities for all ages. We have good road links to the M11 and M25 and excellent rail connections to London and Stansted Airport, just 35 minutes and 20 minutes away from Harlow respectively.

Purpose

To provide high-quality, timely and professional legal support to Harlow Council by managing a caseload of routine and some non-routine legal matters under supervision, supporting solicitors and lawyers across Legal Services, and contributing to the effective delivery of legal advice and representation.

Key Responsibilities

Manage a personal caseload of routine and some non-routine legal matters under supervision
Provide clear, accurate and timely legal advice to internal council clients
Draft legal documentation, correspondence, pleadings, reports and instructions
Undertake legal research and analysis
Assist lawyers with the preparation and conduct of legal cases, including court and tribunal proceedings
Attend court or tribunal hearings, with counsel or alone where appropriate
Undertake basic advocacy on behalf of the Council where required
Prepare and manage court bundles and supporting documentation
Deliver briefs and file documentation with courts and counsel
Use legal case management systems and maintain accurate records
Comply with Lexcel and other applicable practice management standards
Contribute to meeting individual and team performance targets
Escalate legal, governance or reputational risks to senior officers as appropriate
Work cooperatively with colleagues and attend team meetings and briefings
Comply with council policies including health and safety, equality, data protection and codes of conduct
Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential:

Experience working in a legal environment, ideally within local government
Knowledge of at least one local authority legal practice area
Experience drafting legal documents and correspondence
Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to explain legal issues clearly to non-legal colleagues
Good IT skills including use of case management systems

Desirable:

Experience of advocacy or support to litigation
Experience of residential/commercial property work
Understanding of local authority decision-making and governance
Familiarity with Lexcel or similar standards

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website. If you have any queries relating to this post please email Ashleigh.Drake@essex.gov.uk