There is an exciting opportunity available in our Public Law and Human Rights team working alongside a team of solicitors, mainly working within the area of Education and Court of Protection.

This is a hybrid role, working 3 days per week in our Gatwick or Brighton office.

The team works nationally and specialises in assisting privately and publicly funded clients to appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal on EHCP appeals and disability discrimination act claims. They deal with judicial review cases, school exclusions, Local Authority and school complaints, as well as safeguarding issues. The work is varied and includes work with schools and colleges. For education, the Paralegal is likely to be drafting letters before action, applications to the Tribunal, Grounds for Appeal, reviewing and summarising client documents, creating chronologies, applying for public funding, liaising with and instructing experts, taking witness statements from schools and clients.

In respect of the Court of Protection work, it is mainly focussed on working with adults and young people transitioning into adulthood from 16 years old. The team deals with Health and Welfare applications in the Court of Protection covering a range of issues including when a person is deprived of their liberty. A Court of Protection Paralegal is likely to be reviewing records and evidence, visiting clients in care homes/supported living placements, attending court, drafting documents, liaising with parties and making applications for legal aid.

Our Public Law and Human Rights department is ranked as a leader in a range of fields 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 test cases. We have a national reach, with public law teams in ten offices across the country.

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 an undergraduate degree or equivalent.
• Have some paralegal or public law experience, particularly within the above areas.
• Have excellent client care skills and a sensitive, sympathetic understanding of clients’ needs.
• Have excellent analytical and organisational skills in order 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.
• A working knowledge of legal aid systems is desirable.