Prison Law Paralegal

Role: Prison Law ParalegalLocation: DartfordSalary: £24,784.50 per annumWe are seeking a diligent and empathetic Prison Law Paralegal to join our growing Prison Law team, based at our Dartford office.The ideal candidate will have strong interest in Prison Law, excellent communication skills and a genuine commitment to supporting clients throughout what can be a challenging and complex legal process.As a Prison Law Paralegal, you will work closely with solicitors and other members of the team, assisting with a range of prison law matters and providing high-quality support to clients. The role will also involve a range of administrative duties, supporting the smooth running of the team and ensuring that case files and records are accurately maintained. This role provides an excellent opportunity to develop your experience within a specialist area of publicly funded legal work.Your ProfileThe ideal candidate will demonstrate:Excellent written and verbal communication skillsA genuine commitment to supporting clients, many of whom may be vulnerable or facing challenging circumstancesStrong organisational skills and the ability to manage a varied caseload effectivelyExcellent attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate and well-organised case files and recordsThe ability to communicate effectively with clients from diverse backgroundsGood administrative and IT skills, with the ability to manage routine administrative tasks accurately and efficientlyThe confidence to work independently whilst also contributing as part of a wider teamA professional, empathetic, and resilient approachThe ability to balance legal casework with the administrative requirements of the roleThe RoleWorking alongside our Prison Law Solicitors, your responsibilities will include:Assisting with management of a caseload of Prison Law mattersConducting initial consultations with clients and gathering relevant information regarding their circumstances and legal issuesUndertaking legal research and assisting solicitors with case preparetionLiaising with clients, prisons, the Probation Service, courts and other relevant organisations and professionalsPreparing correspondence, applications and other legal documentationMaintain accurate and up-to-date electronic case filesMonitoring case deadlines and ensuring that work is completed within required timescalesAssisting solicitors with the preparation of cases and evidenceAttending prisons, courts and other relevant hearings or meetings where requiredProviding regular updates to clients and ensuring that communications are handled sensitively and professionallyAssisting with the administration of legal aid matters and maintaining accurate recordsundertaking general administrative duties to support the Prison Law team, including updating records, processing documentation, maintaining schedules and assisting with the day-to-day administration of casesAssisting with the organisation and administration of meetings, appointments, prison visits and other case-related activitesEnsuring compliance with the firm's procedures, professional standards and legal aid requirementsWorking collaboratively with colleagues to ensure effective case coverage and a high standard of client serviceWhat We Are SeekingWe are looking for someone who:Has previous experience working in legal environment, ideally within Prison Law, Criminal Law or another area of publicly funded legal workHas an understanding of, or willingness to learn about, the Legal Aid Agency and publicly funded workHas excellent organisational and time-management skillsIs confident communicating with clients and professional organisationsCan work effectively under pressure and manage competing prioritiesIs comfortable undertaking both legal and administrative work as part of their roleIs able to adapt quickly and demonstrate a willingness to learnHas a genuine interest in developing a career within Prison LawPrevious Prison Law experience would be advantageous, although we will also consider candidates with relevant Criminal Law or Legal Aid experience who are looking to develop their career in this specialist area.Working With UsWe offer continuous training and support to foster your professional growth as a valued member of our dynamic and expanding team.Our offices are friendly and work entirely paperless, with significant investment in modern IT to enable you to work efficiently. Our team work on a hybrid basis, with a split of office and remote working, based on the principle that we trust our colleagues to meet their targets and deadlines.Our comprehensive benefits package includes generous annual leave allowances, providing 23 days plus bank holiday/Christmas and New Year. We regularly review and increase annual leave allowances based on service.We offer competitive salaries and bonus structures, enabling team members to share in the successes of the firm.Employee benefits with GT StewartSalary: £24,784.50 per annum23 days annual leave with additional birthday leavePension scheme with employer contributionAdministrative supportOngoing training and developmentHybrid working arrangementsColleague support for case coverageSupervision and mentorshipAnnual appraisals and salary reviewsBi-annual social eventsAdditional perks and benefitsCompetitive training packagesWe are a distinguished multi-office Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners firm, recognised for excellence across various legal domains.If you are passionate about supporting clients, have a strong interest in Prison Law and are looking to develop your legal career within a supportive and growing team, we would love to hear from you.Please submit your CV and a cover letter to our dedicated HR team via email at recruitment@gtstewart.co.uk