Principal Paralegal (caseholding) (Childcare)

Working on a hybrid-remote basis from of our Shefford, Bedfordshire office

Salary: £37,408 – £44,828 DOE

Contract: Permanent, Full time

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• To assist a team of Lawyers and act as a point of contact on a variety of cases, to include but not limited to, taking instructions and giving advice, carrying out research, preparing applications, drafting documents and correspondence, commissioning and instructing expert witnesses, liaising with witnesses, attending meetings and providing advice and representation in courts or tribunals.
• To manage a case load comprising a wide range of children’s social care matters, ensuring awareness of safeguarding responsibilities, compliance with statutory duties and obligations and to protect the best interests of the client organisations.
• To ensure the effective identification and awareness of risks associated with the relevant areas of legal practice.
• Develop and provide legal input into training courses, briefing notes and legal clinic/surgeries for a range of professional clients. Where required, assist Lawyers with the provision of training to clients in specialist areas of law.
• Manage the activities of the paralegal team including performance, work allocation, productivity, motivation and development, recruitment and selection and appraisals.
• Supervise other members of the team in a line management capacity. To provide overall management of the Paralegal teams complex and politically sensitive case load to ensure the provision of high quality, well researched and comprehensive legal advice within the timescales required by the client.
• Contribute to the development, training or mentoring of colleagues where required.
• Demonstrate awareness and understanding of equal opportunities, other people’s behaviour and their physical, social and welfare needs.
• Ensure that reasonable care is taken for the health and safety of the team, including compliance with health and safety policy and procedure and to maintain good employment relations within your team.
• Provide cover and support, including in times of absence, to other Principal Paralegals and Paralegals based within the wider Children’s Social Care and Safeguarding team.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Leadership Team in building and maintaining effective working relationships with clients to ensure the delivery of a seamless and client focussed service.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Leadership Team by complying with all Legal Services’ practice management requirements including time recording, billing, Lexcel and other accreditation schemes, and compliance with all policies and procedures.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Leadership Team in developing and maintaining effective partnerships, networks and joint working arrangements to ensure the most effective provision of Legal Services to meet the needs and aspirations of clients.
• To carry out other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope and purpose of the job description as required by the Director of Pathfinder Legal Services, Heads of Service or Principal Lawyers from time to time and which are commensurate with the grade of the post.
• To buddy, train and support colleagues.

For a copy of the job description please click here.

Pathfinder Legal Benefits

• Local Government Pensions Scheme – considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates.
• Flexible working arrangements – we offer flexible hours and hybrid working which allows for remote working but we also require regular office attendance with the aim to give everyone a balanced work/life ratio.
• Family Friendly policies including excellent Maternity, Paternity and Adoption entitlements.
• An exceptional Employee Assistance Program which helps supports employees with workplace changes as well as other work, family and personal issues.
• A generous minimum annual leave entitlement of 25 days, rising on 5 and 10 years service, plus public holidays. With the option to purchase more annual leave.

To apply for this position please send your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the Person Specification to recruitment@pathfinderlegal.co.uk. When applying, please quote reference ‘CHI-123’.

Closing date for applications: 10/11/2026

Number of vacancies for the role: 1

For a copy of the full Job Description and Person Specification and details of our other vacancies, please visit our website www.pathfinderlegal.co.uk/careers.

PLEASE NOTE: we will only accept applications where a supporting covering letter showing how you meet the person specification and a CV is submitted.