Senior Paralegal ILEX in Chester

Department: Credit Solutions

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Chester

Exciting Opportunity at Judge and Priestley Solicitors LLP

Our Values

• Expert – We will invest in the continual development of our people, team and also technology to ensure that we continue to be experts in all that we do.
• Professional – We are accountable to our clients, colleagues, and all those with whom we engage to ensure that we are open, transparent and act with integrity in all that we do.
• Friendly – Whilst at all times being professional, we will ensure that we are approachable and seek to put those with whom we deal, at ease in their dealings with us.

Judge & Priestley are now recruiting for a Senior Paralegal to join our Commercial Litigation Team. We are a leading regional law firm, serving a wide range of commercial and private clients across London and the surrounding counties, from our Head Office in Bromley. Established since 1889, we’ve come a long way and today we are a modern, progressive practice, proud of our record on diversity and inclusion and reputation for training and promoting staff from within the business.

The Debt Recovery division is the biggest department at J&P. Our highly respected Debt Recovery Litigation team is ranked in the Top Tier of the Legal 200 and deals with a wide range of commercial and consumer debt recovery matters, including complex commercial disputes and insolvency issues. It has also pioneered original services and solutions for the public sector. The team take pride in working in partnership with their clients, not just as solicitors, but also as trusted commercial advisors.

Key Responsibilities

• To effectively and efficiently manage a caseload of debt collection claims, from the point of being notified that a claim is being defended to obtaining judgements/settlement, with the aim of recovering money for clients and meeting and preferably exceeding individual and team targets.

Key Task Areas

• To manage a caseload of 150-200 small claims defended debt recovery litigation matters.
• To undertake proceedings and obtain court judgements for defended claims, including:

• Reviewing and assessing for liability all cases passed across by the legal team.
• Gathering additional documentation as required, including the preparation of witness statements.
• Timely filing of the relevant papers to the court service, using standard forms and documentation.
• Instructing and briefing Counsel prior to hearings.
• Ensuring timely service of judgements to the defendant(s).
• Complying with departmental diary systems relating to key/critical dates.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE standard grade A-C in Mathematics and English (or equivalent).
• Qualifying Law Degree and Legal Practice Course (essential).
• ILEX Legal Executive Diploma Level 3 or above or similar paralegal qualification (essential).

Experience

• Previous experience of using case management systems.
• Previous experience of working in a similar role handling defended small claims (essential).
• Previous experience of handling debt collection in a paralegal role for a minimum of 2 years.
• Customer service experience.

Benefits

• Profit Share Scheme – We want all our employees to have a share in the success of the firm. This non‑contractual bonus is paid in June based on the profit from the previous financial year.
• Medicash – Once you have passed probation, you will be enrolled into our scheme which provides cashback on a range of health services. In addition, we also offer an Employee Assistance Programme and high street discounts.
• Birthday off – If your birthday falls on a working day, you can have that day off as an extra day’s leave.
• Pension – All employees are entitled to join our auto‑enrolment pension scheme. You will be enrolled in the pension after 3 months of employment dependent on age and salary.
• Death in Service Insurance – All employees will be entitled to 2 x salary. Please ensure you complete your nomination form in your new starter pack.
• Annual leave – You will receive an additional day’s holiday after every two years of service to a total maximum of 30 days.
• Legal Fees – After one year’s service, you will be entitled to a contribution towards legal fees. The rules to this can be found in the staff handbook.
• Recruitment Incentive – We offer £500 referral bonus to say thank you for introducing a job candidate that becomes employed by J&P and passes their probation.
• Season Ticket Loan – After probation, you are entitled to apply for an interest‑free advance for a season ticket to use public transport to reach your place of work.
• Cycle to Work Scheme – Allows you to make a saving of 25% - 39% on the retail price of a bike.