Paralegal in Sevenoaks

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals and over 600 staff based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

The team you will join:

Our Social Housing teams sits within our wider Real Estate Division and advises registered providers, local authorities, housebuilders and public sector bodies on the full lifecycle of affordable housing. The team is recognised nationally for its depth of expertise and its market leading presence across the Eastern Region, London and the South East. The Social Housing team provides a fully integrated service covering affordable housing development, regeneration and acquisitions, housing management and litigation, asset and leasehold management, shared ownership and Right to Buy. Clients receive seamless support across planning, construction, employment, corporate, funding and public sector work, enabling the team to handle complex and high value projects efficiently and commercially. With over 50 dedicated fee earners, including specialist partners and legal directors, the team acts for more than 100 registered provider clients and 30 local authorities, as well as many of the UK’s leading housebuilders. The team is known for handling sensitive and high-risk matters, including disrepair, building safety, anti-social behaviour and fire safety issues, alongside large-scale development and regeneration schemes. The Social Housing team is highly regarded for its practical advice, strong client relationships and commitment to thought leadership, training and sector engagement.

The work you will be doing:

• Assist with managing a caseload of Disrepair cases on behalf of our Housing Association and Local Authority clients.
• Assist with managing a caseload of county court possession claims and injunction applications.
• Assist with managing a caseload of Leasehold Management disputes in the First Tier Tribunal.
• Researching specific legal topics when requested and carrying out title investigations.
• Draft and amend documents with speed and accuracy.
• Format, paginate, number and present documents in Birketts LLP house style.
• Proof read all work, checking for spelling and grammar.
• Proactively work with the fee earners to ensure relevant documentation is produced to meet clients’ expectations and deadlines.
• Undertake fee earning under supervision.
• Ensuring compliance with file management.
• General team administration.
• Proactively support other members of the team and to provide cover as and when necessary.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

What we are looking for:

• Law degree or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrable interest in and/or knowledge of relevant law and legal procedure.
• Ability to undertake legal work requiring technical and procedural understanding.
• Competence in accurately recording time and understanding chargeable work.
• Strong legal research and investigative skills.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to analyse information and present findings clearly and precisely.
• Strong attention to detail to produce work documentation which is consistently of a high standard.
• Professional integrity and a commitment to providing excellent client service.
• To be competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation.

Hybrid Working:

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. This role attracts a split of 60% office days and 40% working from home days per week. We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.

As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of benefits:

• Long Service holiday award - 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service.
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed).
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme.
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share).
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance.
• Paid CSR Day.
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave.
• Subsidised gym membership.
• Electric car scheme.
• Dress for your Day Policy.

Inclusivity and Culture:

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth. Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.

If you require this advert in an accessible format, please visit https://diversityjobsgroup.com/company/birketts/

Artificial Intelligence (AI):

At Birketts, we recognise the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession and recruitment. We welcome innovation and understand that candidates may use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we expect all applicants to use AI responsibly and ethically. Your application should reflect your own voice, experiences, and insights. AI may assist in structuring or refining your responses, but it must not replace your personal input. Do not use AI to misrepresent your qualifications, experiences, or skills. Any form of exaggeration or fabrication may result in rejection from the process. If you have used AI tools to assist with your application, be prepared to discuss how and why you used them during the interview process. Do not submit content generated by AI tools that may include personal or sensitive data not intended for public disclosure. AI-generated content should be reviewed and edited by you to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with the role and our firm’s values. We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices. The use of AI should enhance, not compromise, your application. We encourage candidates to demonstrate critical thinking, commercial awareness, and a genuine interest in our firm. If you have any questions about our expectations or the use of AI in your application, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team via talent@birketts.co.uk