Court of Protection Paralegal

Department: Wills, Probate, Tax & Trusts

Location: Derby, UK

Description

We are looking to hire a dedicated Court of Protection Paralegal to join our Wills, Probate, Tax & Trusts department.

As Court of Protection Paralegal, you will be responsible for the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), the Senior Courts Costs Office (SCCO) & the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) compliance requirements of the COP team and the provisions of technical support to team members.

This is a key role within the team which will require you to work alongside your internal client base of experienced and junior members of the team on a high volume caseload to meet hard deadlines.

Responsible for liaising with the case handler client and providing support in the administration of OPG & SCCO compliance, providing a high level of client care at all times.

The role is full time, reporting to the Head of Wills, Probate, Tax & Trusts.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform legal research.
• Assist solicitors and legal executives in Court of Protection cases, including applications for deputyship, statutory wills, health and welfare decisions and related trust matters.
• Prepare and assist with the drafting of legal documents, including court applications and financial reports.
• Assisting with the running deputyship cases.
• Assisting with cost applications.
• Assisting with matters relating to nursing or residential home funding.
• Assisting with deprivation of liberty and safeguarding matters.
• Compliance with file management procedures.
• Take on additional tasks as reasonably required by the Head of Wills, Probate, Tax & Trusts.
• Opening and setting up new cases on the firm's practice and case management system.
• Processing urgent post, filing non-urgent post, and logging correspondence onto the system.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Have a law degree (2.1 or higher) or other legal qualification.
• Preferably have previous experience assisting solicitors or legal executives in Court of Protection cases.
• Possess excellent communication skills.
• Have a sound knowledge of IT systems and processes, such as the Microsoft suite.
• Be a hard-working and highly-motivated individual with the ability to work cohesively as part of a larger team.

Benefits

What we offer?

• Competitive salary
• Bonus potential
• Career development opportunities
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Options to buy & sell 1 week's holiday
• 1 week's holiday carry over
• Extra day off for your birthday
• Staff card discount scheme for local shops
• Social days and evenings on the firm
• Staff discounts on legal services