Our Public Law & Human rights team undertake a range of work in the areas of judicial review, civil liberties (including inquests and actions against the police), education, social care, healthcare and medical treatment, mental capacity and Court of Protection welfare disputes. Our lawyers are experts in their field.

The Newcastle team focuses predominantly on health and welfare cases before the Court of Protection involving issues of mental capacity law. The team also has experience in claims for judicial review, general health and social care advice and access to healthcare and medical treatment. Other fee earners in the team also work on civil liberties and education matters.

Our Public Law and Human Rights department is ranked as a leader in a range of fields and in both the Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 directories many of our solicitors are ranked individually.We are instructed in interesting and often high profile, cutting-edge cases. We have forged a national reputation for our work on complex and test cases. We have a national practice, with public law teams in twelve offices across the country.

We hold Legal Aid Agency contracts in public law, community care and actions against public bodies and are also instructed by privately funded individuals, professional associations and institutions including national and local charities and other voluntary organisations. We work closely with our colleagues and teams in Irwin Mitchell to provide a holistic service to our clients.

This is a hybrid role, with two days per week in our Newcastle office and regular client visits. The successful candidate will need to be able to regularly travel to client locations as required.

Our Public Law and Human Rights team in Newcastle is recruiting for a paralegal. This position would suit a well-motivated individual who has a genuine interest in working within Public Law & Human Rights.

The successful candidate must:

• Hold a Law degree or equivalent (desirable but not essential);
• Preferably, but not essentially, have some paralegal or public law work experience, particularly within the above areas (other areas of law would be advantageous but not essential);
• Have excellent client care skills and a sensitive, sympathetic understanding of clients’ needs;
• Have excellent analytical and organisational skills to take a thorough approach to documenting work;
• Be IT literate and have great attention to detail;
• Be able to operate independently and as part of a team to deliver the best outcomes for our clients;
• Have a working knowledge, or at least a basic understanding, of legal aid systems.
• Be willing to work in our Sheffield office and to travel to visit clients when required.
• Be prepared to undertake a casework focussed role in a fast-paced team, assisting the solicitor or legal executive with conduct of the case 

If you thrive on being busy and can adapt well to new challenges, then we will give you all the training and support you will need to help you succeed in this highly rewarding role.