Blake Morgan is looking for a junior paralegal to work full time as part of the Business Support and Insolvency Team in the Reading office (covering the Thames Valley), working closely with the Partner who heads up the team and supporting the two associates in the team. The successful candidate will also be expected to support the wider team in Cardiff as well as the partners in London and Southampton.
The successful candidate will be working in all aspects of insolvency, both personal and corporate, including transactional, advisory and contentious insolvency. The team works for a wide range of insolvency practitioners, litigation funders, banks, lenders, investors, directors, companies and individuals and the successful candidate will be given the opportunity to work closely with all clients in an exciting area of law in which no two days are the same.
A working knowledge of the Insolvency Act 1986 and Insolvency Rules 2016 would be an advantage, and the ideal candidate will have some experience in dealing with administration appointments, security reviews, sales of businesses, winding up petitions, bankruptcy petitions, matrimonial home proceedings, transactions at undervalue, preferences and directors' loan accounts. Experience of working with LPA Receivers would also be advantageous.
Blake Morgan actively supports and encourages its employees. This is a role for the future in a firm that wholeheartedly supports the development of its colleagues and alternative routes to qualification so that previous knowledge of insolvency is not essential. The team has a proven track record of supporting colleagues through SQE and the opportunity to quality this route is open for the right candidate. Candidates without insolvency knowledge will need to demonstrate a good working knowledge of company law, property law, commercial litigation and trust law.
This is a unique opportunity for a lively, ambitious individual with a thirst to learn who is flexible, able to think on their feet and who enjoys networking to become another foundation stone in the building of the Thames Valley Business Support and Insolvency Team.
Skills / experience required
- Dedication, determination and loyalty to colleagues, clients and communities
- Collegiate and team-playing approach
- Relationship-driven and people oriented
- Approachable
- Committed to rigour around treating all clients fairly
- Focused on attributing dedication, determination and loyalty to colleagues, clients and communities
- Able to demonstrate continuous development and diversity in thinking
- Understands and complies with Information Security responsibilities commensurate with this advertised role including Data Protection and the duty of confidentiality
Blake Morgan is committed to adopting Smart Working practices, where appropriate in the context of business needs, and empowering colleagues to maximise their performance. Whilst we strive to ensure consistency of approach across the firm, there will inevitably be some differences in working practices across our business groups and business support functions. We consider each colleague's personal preferences, working styles and development needs when deciding the best arrangements to suit our clients and colleagues. A typical approach would be a blend of working in your usual office, working from another Blake Morgan office, working from a client's office and working from home. A Guide to getting the most out of Smart Working Policy is available for our colleagues. You will be a core part of the team and able to access the technology, support, training and resources you require.
Blake Morgan is one of the UK's leading full-service law firms, with offices in London, Wales, Thames Valley and the South Coast region. We provide our clients with practical and straightforward legal advice whatever their regional, national and international requirements. Our clients are commercial businesses, not-for-profit organisations, government agencies and private individuals.
Our business groups are
- Banking and Finance
- Business Support Services
- Commercial and Charities
- Commercial Litigation
- Commercial Recoveries and Travel
- Construction
- Corporate
- Employment, Pensions, Benefits & Immigration
- Private Client
- Property Services
- Regulatory
Our office locations and details of how to reach them are found here.
How to apply
Please apply on our website through our Online Portal.
Closing Date: Within two months from date of posting but please note we are continually reviewing applications so we would recommend applying sooner rather than later.
Interviews: The interview process will start as soon as suitable candidates have been identified. We will notify you in advance if you are required to carry out a drafting exercise/skills test as part of the interview process.
If you have any questions, please email Rob Brown at rob.brown@blakemorgan.co.uk or telephone on 023 8085 7441.
Your personal data will be processed in line with our applicant privacy policy which explains how we treat your data.
Please note that we are currently only accepting CVs from direct applicants.
Our culture and environment
We pride ourselves on our Personality, which is weaved into everything we do for our colleagues, clients and communities alike. We have created an environment underpinned by our ACTS framework that places high value on being:
- Astute (commercially)
- Committed
- Team playing
- Straightforward
It's part of the way we like to do things. If you wish to work amongst colleagues with these behaviours, then you will find yourself amongst likeminded individuals at Blake Morgan.
We work as one team and believe in supporting our colleagues to strengthen the firm. We act honestly and openly in all that we do. We care for our communities and encourage all our people to actively participate in our sports, social and charitable activities. We foster a mature and smart flexible working environment which is family friendly. We also offer opportunities to develop your skills and knowledge and to progress within the firm via our Blake Morgan Academy. We seek to be transparent in all of our dealings with applicants and ensure that you have all the information you need to understand our recruitment process to decide whether or not the role and our firm are right for you. If you have any questions, please email Rob Brown at rob.brown@blakemorgan.co.uk or telephone on 023 8085 7441.
Benefits
Some of the benefits of working at Blake Morgan include:
- 26 days' annual holiday and option to purchase 1 weeks' leave
- Birthday holiday
- My Time – one working week off for community, faith-based festivals, volunteering, or wellbeing activities
- Profit Share Scheme
- Performance related bonus scheme
- Private medical insurance including access to a health advice helpline
- Auto-enrolment pension scheme (5% employer pension contribution when employee contributes 3%)
- Life assurance scheme
- Critical illness cover
- Cash Plan - claim for flu jab, health screening, optical and dental plus a range of wellbeing and health services
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Professional subscriptions
- Free parking or travel season ticket loan depending on your office location
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounts at leading retailers Recruitment referral scheme
- Gifts at key lifestyle and career milestones
