Responsible Business and Pro Bono Paralegal

Recruiting a Paralegal on a 12 month contract to provide paralegal support to the Responsible Business Partner and Head of Pro Bono – Counsel, and Practice Assistant (PA) support to the Head of Pro Bono – Counsel. The Paralegal will have a keen interest in Responsible Business themes including social justice issues, human rights, environmental sustainability and community impact. They will be flexible, highly motivated, display outstanding attention to detail and have the ability to multitask with ease.

Responsibilities

• Providing general support to the Responsible Business Partner in building the firm’s four Responsible Business strands: Pro Bono; carbon emissions, community engagement and our clients and social value.
• Project management and organisation of Responsible Business and in particular, Pro Bono initiatives, with the supervision of the Head of Pro Bono - Counsel.
• Measuring and reporting on the impact of Responsible Business initiatives, and in particular the Pro Bono practice, using Excel, questionnaires and other means.
• Organising events and training sessions.
• Presenting the work of the Responsible Business team both internally and externally.
• Drafting, proof‑reading and formatting internal and external communications.
• Conducting legal research using a variety of online and reference sources. Researching, analysing and interpreting primary and secondary legal sources, professional journals, annual reports etc.
• Assisting in the preparation of bundles.
• Building and maintaining technical knowledge of clients and their matters and their work/requirements in general.
• Tracking the Pro Bono budget in Excel.
• Providing support to the team on cases through investigations, due‑diligence, drafting, research and analysis.
• Attending client meetings and assisting members of the team in preparation for such meetings.
• Co‑ordinating and managing multiple diaries and appointments.
• Providing general administrative support to the team.
• Respecting the duty of confidentiality.
• Drafting and proof‑reading legal documents and preparing written reports.
• Producing attendance notes, emails, letters, presentations and other documents.
• Regularly and accurately maintaining and updating correspondence and other e‑filing.
• Working under pressure to meet deadlines with a flexible attitude to working overtime when an urgent task/transaction may require.

Skills and Experience

• Strong educational background.
• Previous paralegal experience would be preferred.
• Previous PA experience would be preferred.

Person Specification

• Passion for Responsible Business themes and in particular social justice.
• Proactive team player and supportive colleague, with an enthusiastic manner, who takes a flexible, ‘can‑do’ approach to work.
• Confident in working autonomously/independently to meet deadlines.
• Meticulous and well organised.
• Adaptable and open to change, with a strong sense of responsibility.
• Possesses a highly proactive and innovative approach to problem solving.
• Ability to accurately follow complex procedures and instructions.
• High standards of attention to detail.
• Dynamic and driven individual with initiative.
• Effective verbal and written communication.
• Strong IT skills: thorough working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook.
• Previous relevant experience or a genuine interest in this area of law is desirable.

Special aspects

The hours of work for this opportunity are 9:30am - 5:30pm but we would expect the successful candidate to be committed, flexible and prepared to work beyond the normal office hours if necessary and in response to client demand. You will be expected to follow the firm’s agile working policy, which embraces home working but will require employees to spend a minimum number of days each week in the London office.

Farrer & Co is an equals opportunity employer who welcomes applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We look to employ the best candidates regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, social or economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, or any other protected characteristic.

We are keen to ensure candidates have the best interview experience possible, if you require any adjustments during the interview or application process please let the recruitment team know.

Farrer & Co conducts a pre‑employment screening which includes a Criminal History Background and Credit Check for successful candidates.