Junior Paralegal in Leeds

Are you looking for a Junior Paralegal role where you can build your legal career, make a real impact, and continue to grow within a supportive and ambitious team? This is an excellent opportunity to join BW Legal in a role suited to candidates with legal experience who are ready to develop further and make a strong contribution.

At BW Legal, we are proud to be recognised as one of the UK's largest debt recovery law firms. Our Gold accreditation from Investors in People and Platinum accreditation for wellbeing reflect our commitment to creating an exceptional workplace where talented professionals can thrive, develop, and progress their careers.

We offer a competitive starting salary of £20,200 for a 30-hour working week, with opportunities to increase your earnings through additional hours and overtime. Pay progression is available based on performance, skills development, and contribution. Candidates joining with greater experience may be offered a higher salary to reflect the skills, experience, and level of competence they bring to the role.

What sets us apart?

In 2024, we were honoured to receive dual Gold awards from Investors in People for Employer of the Year and Training and Development. These achievements reflect our commitment to providing outstanding learning opportunities, strong leadership, and clear pathways for career progression. Joining BW Legal means becoming part of a business that values professional development and actively supports employees in reaching their full potential.

About the role:

As a Junior Paralegal, you will play a key role in managing a high-volume caseload across both defended and undefended matters. Working closely with experienced colleagues and supported by solicitor oversight, you will be responsible for progressing cases efficiently while delivering a high standard of legal and client service.

This role offers exposure to a broad range of litigation activities and provides an excellent platform to further develop your legal knowledge, technical expertise, and strategic case management skills. We are particularly interested in candidates who demonstrate strong commercial awareness, attention to detail, and a genuine commitment to building a long-term career within the legal profession.

What you will be doing:

• Managing professional correspondence with customers, clients, courts, and third parties via telephone, email, and written communication
• Reviewing and progressing non-contested matters that require consideration outside standard operational processes
• Conducting initial case assessments and determining the most appropriate strategy for contested matters
• Preparing for and representing clients at Small Claims Mediation appointments conducted by telephone
• Reviewing and assessing Part Admissions, as well as claims issued against clients, to ensure appropriate action is taken
• Undertaking second-line reviews of outstanding evidence requests, client queries, and case-related issues to support effective case progression
• Providing technical guidance and support to colleagues across the wider business
• Drafting and submitting Land Registry documentation, together with managing matters following charge redemption
• Reviewing cases where Defences have been struck out and assessing suitability for the entry of County Court Judgment
• Drafting compliant Letters of Claim in accordance with the Debt Pre-Action Protocol for commercial debt matters
• Working closely with solicitors and senior team members to progress cases efficiently while maintaining high standards of legal and regulatory compliance

What we're looking for:

We are seeking candidates with a minimum of 12 months' experience within a legal environment. Ideally, your experience will include responsibilities such as:

• Managing client and third-party correspondence
• Supporting litigation matters and case progression
• Drafting legal documents and correspondence
• Preparing cases for hearings, mediation, or other legal proceedings

Your experience may have been gained within a private practice law firm, an in-house legal team, or another relevant legal setting. Most importantly, you will be confident undertaking the core responsibilities of the role to a high standard.

You should also have the following skills and experience:

• A degree in Law (or equivalent), or currently studying towards one
• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths at grade C / 4 or above
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to record information accurately
• Confidence working under pressure and managing multiple priorities
• Clear and professional communication skills to keep stakeholders informed
• Excellent organisational and time management abilities
• Basic working knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules and relevant legal procedures (desirable)

• 30 hours per week
• Monday to Friday
• Working hours are 10am to 4pm (TBC)
• Opportunities for overtime during the week, paid at your standard hourly rate
• Opportunities for Saturday overtime, paid at time and a quarter

Rewarding your commitment and success

At BW Legal, we believe that when life feels balanced, work feels better. That's why we're committed to creating an environment where colleagues feel supported to be their best, both professionally and personally.

Our Balance Within wellbeing strategy offers practical support across health, development, lifestyle, and financial wellbeing, with a benefits package worth over £10,000 in your first year.

Benefits include:

Work-life balance and leave - 30-hour working week.

• 23 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• Additional paid leave on your birthday, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve when these fall on a weekday.
• Flexible holiday policy, including the ability to use, buy and sell holiday within policy limits.
• Extra holiday for length of service, with one additional day earned after your second, third and fourth year.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay.
• Business-casual dress code.

Financial and everyday rewards

• Be Here Living Our Values bonus, worth up to £828 in your first year and rising to a maximum of £4,194 by your sixth year.
• Death in service cover worth six times your annual salary.
• Income protection providing 75% of salary for up to two years if you are unable to work, subject to eligibility.
• Discounted shopping through My Staff Shop, with access to savings at thousands of UK retailers.
• Travel support, including free parking, bus discounts with First and Arriva, and secure cycle storage.
• Money4U with Leeds Credit Union, giving access to preferential savings and loan rates.
• Contributory pension scheme.
• British Gas discount through an exclusive money-saving energy tariff.
• Discounted personal legal services with Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors.

Learning and development rewards

• Learn and Earn, providing up to £720 per year for personal and professional development outside working hours.
• Learning and development allowance, giving paid time to learn during working hours.
• Professional qualification support, from apprenticeships to specialist degree-level courses.

Health and wellbeing rewards

• Free local gym membership or discounted membership at over 3,600 gyms nationwide.
• On-site prescribing GP available fortnightly.
• Virtual 24/7 prescribing GP access for you and your family.
• On-site physiotherapist support, available to colleagues at a 10% discount.
• Health cashback plan, allowing claims of up to £3,700 for eligible dental, optical, physiotherapy, prescription and wellbeing treatments.
• Discounted dentistry through reduced dental plan rates and 10% off treatments with Leeds Dental Clinic.
• Employee assistance programme with a 24/7 helpline and up to eight free counselling sessions.
• Wellbeing support from colleague ambassadors for wellbeing, learning and development, and menopause.
• Early intervention support for colleagues experiencing health issues.

Connection and engagement rewards

• Colleague events, including darts, bowling, quizzes and parties.
• Regular charity fundraising for local causes through games, raffles and other activities.

At BW Legal, you will be supported to develop your skills, build your confidence, and contribute to a team that values progress, collaboration, and great client service. Join us and be part of our continued success.

As a proud Disability Confident employer, we are committed to equal opportunities for all. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know at recruitment@bwlegal.co.uk.