Solicitor

Our total reward package includes a basic salary and a potential to earn rewards for excellent contribution to LeO. Stakeholder pension scheme, whereby LeO will double your contribution up to 10%. Annual Leave of 26 days per year (plus bank holidays) (pro rata for part time staff), plus you can buy or sell 4 days leave each year. Flexible hours driven by work life balance and operated between 7am and 9pm each day, this also includes hybrid working of 80% at home and 20% in the office each week. Group Income Protection if you can't work due to long term absence or injury, this protection can provide a regular income. Life assurance of 6 times your annual salary. Legal Information Service offering free advice and support with debt management, tax related matters, consumer disputes. Employee Assistance programmes. Online health, fitness, and wellbeing resources. Wellbeing champions. Investment in your career development through learning and development, talent management, coaching, mentoring and on the job experience.

Are you a paralegal or qualified solicitor with experience in civil litigation, judicial review, or debt recovery and enforcement? Do you have a strong understanding of relevant legislation, legal principles, and sound decision-making within a legal environment? Are you confident in applying the Civil Procedure Rules and managing legal processes with accuracy and attention to detail?

Within this role, you will support the Legal Manager and play an active role in providing an effective and proactive in-house legal function. You will provide legal advice to the Legal Ombudsman across all areas of contentious and non-contentious matters and across both corporate and operational service areas.

What you will be doing:

• Provide legal advice and support and respond to queries across all areas of the Legal Ombudsman, including (but not limited to) the operation of, and decision making under the Scheme Rules.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, and relevant stakeholders such as the court, chambers and other third parties.
• Conduct legal research and undertake factual investigations when necessary.
• Draft, collate and prepare correspondence and court documents in connection with court processes, especially judicial review claims and enforcement of Ombudsman decisions.
• Provide support and guidance to the Paralegal in preparation of court approved electronic and hard copy bundles for litigation which are compliant with the CPR.
• Provide litigation support to the Lawyer, for example by conducting litigation in enforcement matters and other areas commensurate with experience.
• Instruct and work with external counsel as required.
• Assist with the preparation of and delivery of training and development across all areas of the Legal Ombudsman.
• Manage your own caseload and prioritise tasks whilst keeping accurate records.
• Other tasks as required from time to time consistent with the post-holder's experience and qualifications.

About You:

• Previous experience as a paralegal or qualified solicitor, with expertise in civil litigation, judicial review, debt recovery and enforcement, or a combination of these areas.
• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation, legal principles, and effective legal decision-making.
• Sound understanding and practical application of the Civil Procedure Rules.
• Experience preparing, collating, and managing court documentation for electronic and, where required, hard copy submissions.
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail, strong analytical skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
• A collaborative team player with excellent communication skills, sound judgement, and a proactive approach to delivering high-quality legal support.

About us and why we matter:

People rely on legal services at key times in their lives - whether it's buying a home, dealing with bereavement, having issues at work, ending a marriage, or being involved in legal action. These things really matter - and that's why the Legal Ombudsman really matters. If people can't sort out a problem with a legal provider, we're here to resolve things fairly and as quickly as possible. And as we resolve individual complaints, we share learning and insight into what we've seen helping prevent the same issues arising again.

And we are Family Friendly with enhanced maternity leave and pay, paternity leave, shared parental leave, adoption leave. Money friendly with access to a discounts platform including thousands of discounts for supermarkets, eating out, leisure, holidays, theatre tickets etc. Community friendly offering Special Leave - if you're an active member of your community, you can get extra paid leave for public duties, volunteering activities and reserve forces duties. Inclusive of all communities and we encourage applications from the widest possible range of backgrounds and circumstances. A disability Confident employer, welcoming applications from disabled people. We operate the offer an interview scheme for all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

If you are successful, it's key to know all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory completion of our pre-employment checks which include: Right to work check, (applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK). Employment History references. DBS criminal record check. Fit for work questionnaire (for all) followed by a medical check (if applicable). Qualifications and/or professional membership check (if applicable).

Please note, the role of Solicitor is offered as a full-time, fixed-term contract lasting for up to 6 months to provide cover during the absence of a substantive colleague. The contract may end earlier should the substantive colleague return before the anticipated end date. Applications are welcomed by part-time employees also.