Paralegal - Asbestos & Occupational Disease (5857) in Manchester

We’re a national law firm with a local reach. Our legal experts are here for you. Whether it’s personal or business, we understand that everyone’s situation is different. But we’re more than just a law firm – we’re a team of people working together to help individuals and businesses navigate life’s ups and downs. Working here you’ll feel a part of our friendly and inclusive environment. We’ll value you for who you are and what you bring. We support each other and push boundaries to achieve incredible things and make a real difference to our clients and communities.

Our Asbestos & Occupational Disease Team deals with occupational disease claims, which includes a significant number of asbestos related disease claims (mainly mesothelioma). The team handles a high proportion of litigated cases, many of which are dealt with on an expedited basis in the High Court. The Asbestos & Occupational Disease teams at Irwin Mitchell don’t just deal with compensation claims. We also work with our clients and their families to ensure all of their support needs are met. It’s a unique, bespoke approach that really makes a difference to people whose lives have been turned upside down by an occupational illness diagnosis.

Your Role and What You’ll Be Doing

You don’t always need to have a law degree to work as a Paralegal at Irwin Mitchell. In the Asbestos & Occupational Disease Team we’re keen to have you on board if you are a great team player and willing to learn quickly. You’ll be involved in supporting Solicitors with their caseload right from the beginning, so this is a fantastic opportunity to gain real, hands‑on experience in a law firm. Your role will involve but is not limited to:

• Take instructions from clients and assist with the giving of legal advice, including obtaining evidence and, where appropriate, assisting with litigation, to achieve appropriate resolutions for the clients.
• Achieve time recording and fee income targets to ensure profitable working.
• Attend and contribute to team/practice area meetings and comply with directions/decisions made to ensure team objectives are achieved.
• Keep up to date with changes in relevant law and practice and attend appropriate training events to ensure up‑to‑date legal knowledge and best practice.

About You - What We’re Looking For:

• Empathy and compassion to help guide our clients through challenging personal circumstances.
• A friendly, enthusiastic and can‑do approach.
• Ideally, some previous Paralegal experience.

We’re proud of our values, and we’re looking for people who share them:

• To be pioneering with an imaginative outlook.
• To be approachable and caring.
• To be tenacious in the pursuit of our objectives.
• To be efficient in the provision of our services.
• To work with a foundation of integrity.

If this sounds like you, we’d love to receive your application.

Our Benefits - What We Can Offer You:

• 25 days holidays as standard plus bank holidays – You can ‘buy’ up to 35hrs of extra holiday too.
• Generous and flexible pension schemes.
• Volunteering days – Two days of volunteering every year for a cause of your choice (fully paid).
• Westfield Health membership, offering refunds on medical services alongside our Aviva Digital GP services.

We also offer a wide range of well‑being initiatives to encourage positive mental health both in and out of the workplace and to make sure you’re fully supported. This includes our Flexible by Choice programme which gives our colleagues more choice over a hybrid way of working subject to role, team and client requirements. We have been ranked in the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing for Large Organisations for 2024!

Our responsible business programmes are fundamental to who we are and our purpose. We’re committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace where our colleagues can flourish, and we have established a number of inclusion network groups across our business to support this aim. Our commitment to Social Responsibility, community investment activity and tackling climate change is a fundamental part of who we are. It’s made up of four strands: Our People, Our Community, Our Environment and Our Pro Bono.

As part of the Irwin Mitchell Group’s on‑boarding process all successful applicants are required to complete the group’s employment screening process. This process helps to ensure that all new employees meet our standards in relation to honesty and integrity therefore protecting the interests of the Group, colleagues, clients, partners and other stakeholders. We carry out pre‑employment screening to establish your eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record and financial checks with our trusted 3rd parties. The employment screening process will fully comply with Data Protection and other applicable laws. Irwin Mitchell LLP is an equal opportunity employer.