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- Tasks: Join our Child Care Teams as a Legal Assistant, supporting lawyers and making a difference in the community.
- Company: Be part of Reading Borough Council, a recognized center of excellence in child care law.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous holidays, and a supportive environment for your career growth.
- Why this job: Work on complex cases, develop your legal skills, and contribute to a vibrant community.
- Qualifications: CILEX Level 3 Certificate or equivalent, plus good GCSEs including Maths and English required.
- Other info: We are a Disability Confident Employer, committed to diversity and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 42000 £ per year.
We are currently recruiting for a Legal Assistant to join our Child Care Teams. We particularly welcome candidates who:
have previous experience of working in Child Care law and
are interested in qualifying as a CILEX
Our team is committed to providing the best possible training, leading to you having responsibility for cases. We offer a supportive working environment which is focussed on your learning and development.
Now is the perfect time to join us as we deliver our ambitions to be the best place to practice law in local government; being close to our customers, recruiting the best talent, successfully deploying legal technology and ensuring the continued growth of the business to new customers.
The Joint Legal Team is a long-standing shared legal service for all the Berkshire councils and a recognised centre of excellence for child care law, adults and education law. We are hosted by Reading Borough Council, working from our modern offices in Reading town centre close to the train station and courts.
The purpose of Legal Services is to provide the Council and its partners with the highest quality professional legal advice and representation which allows them to run their organisations well, and to serve our community. Our ambition is to be the best place to practice law in local government; being close to our customers, recruiting the best talent, successfully deploying legal technology and ensuring the continued growth of the business to new customers.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and iclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About this role
We have roles in our in our Child Care Court Teams. You’ll be working with colleagues to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable adults, children and young people in Berkshire. You’ll be working other paralegals and legal assistants to support lawyers in a small team led by an experienced Principal Lawyer.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As part of Team Reading you will play your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
In Child Care Court Teams you will have opportunities to work on a wide range of interesting and complex cases to grow your experience. Our long established Adoption and Permanence Team works closely with Adopt Thames Valley to support our clients.
You will report to a Senior Lawyer or a Principal Lawyer who will support you in your work and in your professional development. We encourage our colleagues to develop their legal skills and to move to the next level in their career and offer training arranged by our Professional Skills Lawyer.
Whatever your specialism or previous experience, you will thrive on the challenge of working in a customer focussed environment and in a team which has an ambitious agenda for the future. You will have opportunities to join in the wider work of the team outside your specialist field in helping us to reach our team objectives.
Primary legal qualification: CILEX Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice or equivalent
General education: Good general education with at least 5 GSCEs at Grade 4-9 (or equivalent) including Maths and English.
Experience of dealing with a range of legal matters and problems within a legal environment such as a solicitors’ firm, in-house legal department, law centre or citizens advice bureau.
Knowledge of child care law and the Children Act.
Good drafting skills and ability to draft both standard and non-standard legal documents using and applying knowledge of legal matters as appropriate.
Ability to assimilate information rapidly and to present it orally or in writing in a clear unambiguous and concise way. Ability to communicate effectively with customers and stakeholders
Planning and organisation and able to prioritise work effectively while working autonomously and as part of a team
A strong quality and customer focus. Evidence of self-motivation and able to work on own initiative with limited supervision. Approachable, co-operative, tactful, diplomatic as appropriate to the confidentiality required.
Experience of MSWord, Excel, Outlook and computerised case management systems., Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement – 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays – rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted, and a salary sacrifice scheme to help lower the cost of your nursery fees
Season Ticket Loan – to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
For more information on this position, please contact Eleanor Gibson, the Team Leader for Child Care, eleanor.gibson@reading.gov.uk
Closing Date: 23 February 2025
Interviews in the weeks commencing 3 and 10 March 2025
Legal Assistant employer: Reading Borough Council
Contact Detail:
Reading Borough Council Recruiting Team
eleanor.gibson@reading.gov.uk
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Legal Assistant
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the key aspects of Child Care law and the Children Act. This knowledge will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals already working in local government legal services or child care law. Engaging with them can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Highlight any relevant experience you have in dealing with vulnerable individuals or complex legal matters. This will show that you are prepared for the challenges of the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare questions about the team dynamics and training opportunities during your interview. This shows your eagerness to learn and grow within the organization.
We think you need these skills to ace Legal Assistant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to emphasize any previous experience you have in Child Care law. Mention specific cases or responsibilities that demonstrate your understanding and skills in this area.
Showcase Your Qualifications: Clearly state your qualifications, especially if you have a CILEX Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice or equivalent. This will show that you meet the educational requirements for the role.
Demonstrate Communication Skills: Since effective communication is key in this role, provide examples of how you've successfully communicated with clients or stakeholders in the past. Highlight your drafting skills and ability to present information clearly.
Express Your Motivation: In your application, convey your enthusiasm for working in a customer-focused environment and your commitment to professional development. Mention any specific goals you have for your career in law.
How to prepare for a job interview at Reading Borough Council
✨Show Your Passion for Child Care Law
Make sure to express your genuine interest in child care law during the interview. Share any relevant experiences or cases you've worked on, and explain why this area of law is important to you.
✨Demonstrate Your Teamwork Skills
Since you'll be working closely with other paralegals and legal assistants, highlight your ability to collaborate effectively. Provide examples of how you've successfully worked in a team environment in the past.
✨Prepare for Case Discussions
Be ready to discuss specific cases or legal matters you've encountered in your previous roles. This will showcase your knowledge and experience in dealing with complex legal issues, particularly in child care law.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the role, the team, and the organization's goals. This shows your enthusiasm for the position and helps you understand how you can contribute to their ambitions.
