Legal Assistant - Family Law

Job Title: Legal Assistant: Family Law
Grade: £16.71 - (rate dependent on experience)
Location: Hybrid working (Harrow Council Hub, Forward Drive, Harrow, HA3 8NT)
Employer: Pertemps Recruitment Partnership (on behalf of London Borough of Harrow)
Contract: Temporary ongoing (initial 6-month assignment with view to extend)
Working Hours: 36 hours per week

Job Overview

HB Public Law, a shared service between a number of North West London boroughs and home countries local authorities, is recruiting a proactive and detail-oriented Legal Assistant. This is a key career-graded role designed to support HB Public Law by carrying out legal work and developing, implementing, and supporting cutting-edge practice management processes.

The successful candidate will play a central role in conducting a significant caseload across the Harrow Social Care Team.

Key Responsibilities

• Caseload Management: Advise on and have conduct of legal files for civil and criminal litigation, children's and adults social care, and education matters. Maintain a significant caseload in compliance with Lexcel requirements.
• Legal Support & Research: Provide advice, undertake research, and support lawyers. Provide clear and accurate advice to clients in person, on the telephone, and in writing.
• Representation & Advocacy: Represent clients in court, tribunals, panels, and external meetings. Undertake advocacy.
• Governance & Panels: Clerk Education Exclusion Panel meetings. Provide advice to members, officers, and project teams proactively.
• Systems & Compliance: Provide administrative and systems assistance as a super user of an electronic case management system. Ensure compliance with office procedures and Lexcel & IIP standards.

Requirements

• General knowledge of English law, practice, and procedure in civil and criminal litigation and family law.
• General knowledge and understanding of public law principles as they apply to local government
• Experience of working in a legal environment; contributing positively in a team; providing written and oral legal advice and guidance to officers/clients; conducting a caseload with minimum supervision covering at least one of the following areas: civil and criminal litigation and children's and adults social care and education work.
• Must be able to manage and prioritise workload; understand and meet Lexcel standards; demonstrate excellent client care skills; conduct legal research; use fully Microsoft products & a case management system; draft legal documents, correspondence, and pleadings; and present a confident and professional demeanour.
   
• Educated to degree standard, with a qualification in law (e.g., law degree, CPE, LPC) or be studying for/obtained a recognised legal qualification, or substantial experience working in a legal environment in lieu of qualification.

About Us

For almost 60 years, Pertemps Recruitment Partnership has been the market leader in providing permanent and temporary staffing solutions and is one of the most established players within the recruitment industry. The Sunday Times has listed Pertemps as one of the Best 100 Companies to Work For for 14 years running.

We are not a big, faceless organisation-quite the opposite. We strongly believe in a personal approach to everything we do and are proud to be accredited as an Investor in People, reflected in the length of service and career progression of our employees.

The London Borough of Harrow is the 12th largest London borough and one of the most culturally diverse local authorities in the UK, making it a great place to live, work and visit. Located just 10 miles from central London and only 13 minutes from Euston via Harrow & Wealdstone station, the borough benefits from excellent transport links including the Metropolitan Line, Watford DC Line and national rail services. It is also easily accessible via the M1, M25 and A406.

The personal information we collect from you will be shared with Cifas, who will use it to prevent fraud, unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice and other seriously improper conduct. If any such activity is detected, you may be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details on how your information will be used and your data protection rights can be found by visiting www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.