At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our legal team as a paralegal apprentice, handling diverse legal and administrative tasks.
- Company: Pinsent Masons is a leading law firm known for its innovative legal services and supportive culture.
- Benefits: Earn while you learn with a salary, training fees covered, and access to various development courses.
- Why this job: Gain hands-on experience in real legal projects while working alongside experienced professionals in a friendly environment.
- Qualifications: Open to candidates with the right to live and work in the UK; no prior experience required.
- Other info: Opportunities available in Birmingham and Manchester; potential for future roles within the firm.
A paralegal is a highly valued member of a legal team that has extensive knowledge of the law and legal matters, but is not a qualified lawyer. Paralegals undertake a wide variety of administrative and legal work. The work our paralegals do is a key part of how we deliver legal services and they can choose to specialise in a specific area of the law. We have developed the Paralegal Centre of Excellence, which brings together a range of paralegal skills and capabilities and provides a variety of services to both our lawyers and our clients. These include managed legal services, flexible legal provision, legal project management, legal technology consultancy and company secretarial.
As an apprentice paralegal, you will join our Vario Paralegal Centre of Excellence, working alongside experienced paralegals and lawyers on client projects. Your specific experience will depend on the practice area you join (this may include Construction & Projects, Property, Finance & Banking, Disputes, Intellectual Property, Cyber Data & Privacy, Employment, Corporate), but you will make a genuine contribution and will be continuously learning. This is a unique opportunity to gain practical experience working on real-life legal projects alongside experienced legal professionals, while also studying towards the Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship standard. In addition to covering the training fees, we will also pay you a salary, which will enable you to ‘earn while you learn’. Our 2025 Paralegal Apprenticeship opportunities are available in our Birmingham and Manchester offices. Please note, due to the funding requirements all candidates must have the right to live and work in the UK for the full duration of the apprenticeship.
What is the recruitment process?
- Registration & application form: Tell us about yourself, your academic history and your employment history where applicable. We also gather information about you to support our contextualised recruitment approach.
- Online blended assessment: The next stage of the recruitment process will involve completing our online blended assessment. This blended assessment incorporates situational judgment questions, a written case study and a short recorded video interview allowing Pinsent Masons to see how well you would perform in different scenarios.
- Assessment centre: If you pass the online blended assessment, we’ll ask you to book a place at one of our in-person assessment centres. You will complete three exercises over the day – this will include a one-to-one interview, a business simulation exercise and a case study.
- Offer: Whatever the outcome, we’ll let you know as soon as we can after the assessment centre. If you display the key attributes we are looking for and perform well throughout the assessment, we’ll send you an offer and talk you through the onboarding process.
Responsibilities
Alongside your studies, you can expect to be asked to do a wide variety of work. Some of it will be more administrative in nature, particularly in the early days of your career. Legal work will include helping to manage the documentation required in legal matters, including creating bundles of documents that will be used in court; drafting of legal documents such as contracts, settlement agreements and legal pleadings; legal research; helping to create and maintain template documents (precedents) that will be used in legal transactions; taking minutes and writing up notes for meetings or legal proceedings.
Support and development
You will be supervised by an experienced MLS (managed legal services) delivery manager and supported by your team and a dedicated early talent team. You will receive full training which will combine on-the-job learning and formal structured sessions to ensure you are fully equipped to succeed in the role. You will also have access to a wide range of courses available through our Pinsent Masons Learning and Development team, enabling you to develop your skills and build a successful career. As part of a friendly team, you will have opportunity to enjoy an active social life – this includes sports activities, charity work and meals out. You will also have the opportunity to work and network with other apprentice paralegals.
Qualification and beyond
Upon successful completion of your paralegal apprenticeship, you could have the opportunity to apply for paralegal roles at Pinsent Masons and explore a range of future progression opportunities available within our Paralegal Centre of Excellence. Alternatively, depending on role availability and individual preference, you could also apply for our solicitor apprenticeship programme. If you are successful in securing a Pinsent Masons solicitor apprenticeship role following completion of our paralegal apprenticeship, the duration of the solicitor apprenticeship would be shortened.
How to apply
To start your application, please click on apply now. Once you have registered an account, you will need to complete the following before the application closing date: Registration form, Application form, Online blended assessment. Once you have submitted all of the above, our recruitment team will review your application alongside your online blended assessment and will be in touch in due course regarding your outcome.
Paralegal Apprenticeship employer: Pinsent Masons Germany LLP
Contact Detail:
Pinsent Masons Germany LLP Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Paralegal Apprenticeship
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific areas of law that Pinsent Masons focuses on, such as Construction & Projects or Intellectual Property. This knowledge will help you tailor your responses during the online blended assessment and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice situational judgment questions and case studies relevant to legal scenarios. This will prepare you for the online blended assessment and help you think critically about how to approach real-life legal challenges.
✨Tip Number 3
During the assessment centre, showcase your teamwork skills by actively engaging with others in group exercises. Being a paralegal requires collaboration, so demonstrating your ability to work well with a team can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Network with current or former apprentices at Pinsent Masons if possible. They can provide valuable insights into the apprenticeship experience and may offer tips on how to excel during the recruitment process.
We think you need these skills to ace Paralegal Apprenticeship
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand what a paralegal does and the specific responsibilities outlined in the job description. This will help you tailor your application to highlight relevant skills and experiences.
Craft a Strong CV: Your CV should clearly outline your academic history, any relevant work experience, and skills that relate to the paralegal role. Use bullet points for clarity and ensure it is well-structured and free of errors.
Write a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the apprenticeship and explain why you are a good fit for the role. Mention specific areas of law you are interested in and how this opportunity aligns with your career goals.
Prepare for the Online Assessment: Familiarise yourself with the types of questions you might encounter in the online blended assessment. Practice situational judgment scenarios and consider how you would respond to various legal situations to demonstrate your critical thinking skills.
How to prepare for a job interview at Pinsent Masons Germany LLP
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you have a solid grasp of what a paralegal does and the specific responsibilities outlined in the job description. Familiarise yourself with the areas of law you might be working in, such as Construction, Property, or Intellectual Property.
✨Prepare for Situational Questions
Since the recruitment process includes situational judgment questions, think about how you would handle various scenarios that a paralegal might face. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Show Enthusiasm for Learning
As an apprentice, your eagerness to learn is crucial. Be prepared to discuss how you plan to balance your studies with practical work and express your excitement about gaining real-life experience in the legal field.
✨Practice Your Communication Skills
Effective communication is key in the legal profession. During your interview, ensure you articulate your thoughts clearly and confidently. Practising with a friend or mentor can help you refine your delivery.