Job Description

Paralegal (Education Team)

Permanent

Grade 4 - 34,434 - 41,771

Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review

Working 36.5 hours per week

A brilliant opportunity to join a dynamic, progressive legal service where you will be given the opportunity to work on some incredible projects and cases, while learning and developing as a leading local government lawyer.


Birmingham City Council's legal service is unique and one of the largest in-house local authority legal teams. The City Council is on its journey of resetting, reshaping and restarting and everyone within legal services is essential to the Council's success and achieving beneficial outcomes for our citizens. You could be part of this.


Legal Services covers all areas of work that the Council undertakes, from employment to property, from social care to contracts. The variety of work that our team undertakes is wide and at the highest level. The work is challenging and rewarding in equal measure. Based in Victoria Square in the City Centre, you will have excellent transport links, access to Courts and tribunals, partner organisations and all the benefits that working in the wonderful City of Birmingham brings.


Birmingham City Council is committed to achieving excellence, putting our citizens first, acting courageously and being true to our word. If this resonates with you, then we want to hear from you.


Due to a redesign of the service, we have a Paralegal vacancy available.


The Education legal Team advise on a broad range of Education Legal matters including question relating to School Organisation, Elective Home Education, Special Educational Needs, School Improvement, School and Governor Support, Education Transport, Admissions, Exclusions and Alternative Provision. The Team also deals with claims for Judicial Review brought against the City Council in respect of education matters and appeals in the Upper Tribunal relating to SEND matters. Your case load would consist of a range of matters to support the team to provide the above advice, including significant involvement in the School Admissions Appeals and Exclusion Review Services.


As a paralegal you will be proactive and innovative and be able to show good attention to detail. Able to conduct legal research, interpret legislation and summarise key points in a clear, client friendly manner. You will have a commitment to exceptional legal support.


Key responsibilities:


Provide paralegal and legal support to the Education lawyers and clients. undertaking case work on own cases and co-working with colleagues. Represent the City Council in legal proceedings and meetings as appropriate, including clerking School Admission Appeals and Exclusion Independent Review Panels. Carrying out legal research, preparing applications, and drafting documents and correspondence. Liaising with Council officers and to communicate both orally and in writing with outside bodies including Solicitors, Counsel and Court/Tribunal staff Assisting team members, lawyers and other staff members on progression of legal cases as required Ensuring that the Department's policies, procedures and practice standards are adhered to.
You will need to be educated to degree level or equivalent or have equivalent experience of working in a legal environment and be able to demonstrate an interest in the subject area. You will have experience of working in a Local Authority or a legal environment.


Benefits of working at Birmingham City Council

30 days annual leave -

Increases to 33 days after 5 years and 35 days after 10 years, plus option to purchase additional leave Access to voluntary benefits providers that support health, wellbeing and making the most of your leisure time

Family friendly policies e.g., maternity/adoption, paternity, shared parental leave, carers' leave

Health and wellbeing support networks

e.g., independent, and confidential employee assistance and counselling, occupational health, etc.

Employee communities and support groups

including Corporate Black Workers Support Group, Disability and LGBT+ Networks, Menopause Support Forum, etc. We are a disability confident employer

Membership of job-related pension scheme

, West Midlands Pension Fund or Teachers' Pensions, with generous employer contributions Access to 'My Rewards' -

over 800 individual brands providing discounts and savings

including high street stores, supermarkets, utility, and insurance providers, as well as great days out ... to name but a few! Opportunities to join great

salary sacrifice schemes

e.g., Cycle to Work, Annual Travel and Car Parking, as well as making the most of Tax and National Insurance savings (additional schemes to launch soon)

Please upload an up-to-date CV and Personal Statement via the attachments part of your application. The Personal Statement should outline how you meet the essential criteria for the role through your personal qualities, skills and experience and include your motivation for applying to the post. Note the Personal Statement should be no more than 1500 words. Unfortunately, we cannot consider any applications without a CV and Personal Statement attached

Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.


We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.


For any informal enquires please contact: Resourcing@birmingham.gov.uk


We welcome applications from people with caring responsibilities and flexible working options will be considered.


Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements , before any employment offer can be confirmed.


and Person Specification