Paralegal

A little bit about us: East West Rail is a nationally significant railway project which aims to deliver much-needed transport connections for the vibrant communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. Together these communities contribute around £111 billion to the national economy each year. EWR is one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects, which the government committed to delivering in full in the Autumn 2024 Budget, and again in the 2025 Spending Review as part of its ambition to unlock the potential of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor. EWR is being championed by the Government as a key driver to economic growth leading to a potential £78 billion boost to the UK economy: supporting new towns, housing, and regeneration.

Role Summary: We are looking for a Paralegal to join our growing in‑house Legal team. EWR Legal is a highly regarded, collaborative team working end‑to‑end across the full project lifecycle — from development and consenting through to delivery and operations. We’re deeply embedded in programme decision‑making, governance and risk management, partnering closely with senior leaders, delivery teams and external advisers. As our sole Paralegal, you’ll be central to keeping the function moving in a visible and trusted role. You’ll support claims, disclosure, compliance, drafting and document management, while also helping us build the tools and processes that underpin an effective in‑house legal service. You will also receive regular feedback and support from experienced in‑house lawyers. The role offers broad exposure across several areas of law and an opportunity to develop strong legal, commercial and stakeholder management skills. This is a role with genuine growth potential: as the team expands, it’s a rare opportunity to help shape an in‑house legal function while building experience across both legal practice and legal operations.

What you’ll be doing:

• Preparing first drafts using templates and precedents, and updating standard legal forms, materials and playbooks.
• Supporting the management of claims and disputes — maintaining litigation registers, organising case papers and tracking deadlines.
• Running disclosure exercises, including scoping searches, coordinating with IT, reviewing documents and maintaining clear records.
• Assisting with the legal budget: tracking spend, processing invoices, maintaining spend trackers and pulling figures for reporting.
• Supporting compliance and document management processes.
• Keeping workstreams moving by chasing actions, approvals, signatures and responses.
• Taking initiative to improve how legal support works — building processes, systems and templates that enhance efficiency.
• Providing general administrative support such as formatting, proofreading and preparing meeting papers.
• Delivering ad hoc support as required across the legal team and wider business.
• Contributing to a collaborative, high‑performing team culture aligned with EWR Co’s Ways of Working.

What you’ll bring:

• Experience in a paralegal or legal support role (in‑house or private practice). Litigation, infrastructure or major projects experience is a bonus.
• Experience of drafting or reviewing legal documents and supporting lawyers on substantive matters.
• Exceptional organisation, prioritisation and attention to detail — especially around dates, deadlines and record‑keeping.
• Discretion and sound judgement when handling confidential or sensitive information.
• Confidence using document management systems, SharePoint and MS Office.
• Clear, professional communication with lawyers and non‑lawyers alike.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑moving environment with competing demands.

Qualifications:

• A law degree or Graduate Diploma in Law is required.
• A paralegal or legal support qualification (e.g., CILEX) is an advantage.
• We welcome candidates across a range of experience levels.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience.
• Up to 12% employer pension contribution to support your future.
• 36 days annual leave.