Bevan Brittan is a leading commercial law firm. Alongside our recognised expertise in housing, local government, and health and social care, we are specialists in the construction, energy and resource management, higher education and financial services sectors.
Supported by our valued business services professionals, our award-winning and growing legal teams provide almost 2,000 organisations with commercial, corporate, property, finance, regulatory, employment and litigation (commercial and clinical negligence) legal and advisory services.
As a responsible business, we embrace four values: Relationships, Reputation, Responsible and Results. These give us a sense of purpose. They influence the decisions we make and how we work with each other. Importantly, they motivate us to deliver meaningful outcomes for our clients and the communities that we're part of.
Consistently recognised as one of The Times Best Law Firms and highly ranked across the legal directories, we are proud of our hard-earned reputation. Our 2023/24 financial results confirmed both revenue and profit growth for an eleventh consecutive year, ensuring our ability to continue investing in our people.
Looking to the future, we're targeting ambitious growth and success. And we're looking for the best people to be part of it.
Join a team of experts and progressive thinkers
Housing is one of our core markets and focus areas for growth. The Bevan Brittan Housing Management team has experienced significant growth over the last couple of years and is now one of the largest housing management practices in the country. Our track record of delivering high quality advice means that growth is set to continue, with a number of major tender wins adding to an already impressive list of clients based across the country.
We advise a considerable number of registered providers, ranging from many of the top ten largest providers in the country at one end of the spectrum to smaller, specialist providers at the other and everything in between. We assist our clients to tackle anti-social behaviour, tenancy fraud, unlawful occupation, disrepair claims, access issues and rent arrears as well as assisting them to manage changes to legislation and the consequential effects that changes in government policy have on their organisations.
Whilst the majority of our work is for housing associations, we also increasingly provide housing management services to a range of other types of organisation including local authorities, care providers, the NHS, universities, charities, and private landlords.
The role
We have an excellent opportunity for a full time Paralegal to join our team. Some litigation legal experience would be helpful but it not essential.
The role will involve supporting the Solicitors and Partners within the team with their caseload, but will also offer the opportunity to work independently on a number of varied tasks and matters in appropriate cases. The clients you will be advising will mostly be housing associations, local authorities and specialist supported accommodation providers. Full support and supervision will be provided.
The successful candidate will work very closely with our dynamic and passionate team of Housing Management lawyers to advance cases to court or to settlement. The work will be varied, challenging and interesting, as well as providing the opportunity to attend court, to see cases through from start to finish, and to get involved in advisory work as well as litigation. Examples of the types of work that the successful candidate will need to undertake are as follows:-
- Drafting notices in line with client instructions
- Drafting County Court claims including possession claims and injunction applications
- Engaging with clients and witnesses and preparing witness evidence for court
- Attending client meetings and assisting colleagues to provide advice on case strategy
- Arranging service of documents on Defendants via process servers
- Liaising with Counsel, opponents and the Courts
- Preparing trial bundle indexes and bundles
- Arranging case conferences, witness meetings and conferences with Counsel
The role will also include contact with clients to take instructions and progress cases.
What we are looking for from you
The successful candidate will have the following attributes:-
- A genuine interest in social housing and housing law
- Competent in all IT applications, including Word, Excel and Outlook
- Strong attention to detail and a clear communication style (both written and verbal)
- Good time management skills and the ability to manage and prioritise a range of tasks
- Commitment to good customer service
- Good empathy skills and the ability to deal with a range of different personality types when working with clients and witnesses
- Commitment to meeting or exceeding personal targets
- Willing to listen and learn
- Good team player with a willingness to assist colleagues
- Self-motivated, enthusiastic, committed and approachable
- Ability to remain calm and professional when under pressure
Work with approachable people
When we ask colleagues what makes Bevan Brittan a great place to work, the most popular thing they say is "the people". The overwhelming consensus is that we make time for each other. We welcome questions and support each other. Naturally, we look for new colleagues who align with our values.
Supported to be your best
Hybrid working
We operate a hybrid working model based on the needs of our clients, teams and people. Our core business hours are 9am - 5:15pm Monday to Friday, but we're open to our people working more flexibly around those times and welcome a conversation with you if you have any questions about this. We try to offer you the flexibility to work your week in a way that suits you.
Learning, development and progression
We're committed to supporting your professional and personal development needs.This means that we offer a range of tailored training courses and you will have lots of opportunity to learn from those around you. We actively encourage progression and this is reflected in our annual review and promotion processes. You will be supported by your line manager to achieve your full potential.
Wellbeing
As a Bevan Brittan employee, you'll have access to a variety of services that support your wellbeing. We've pledged our commitment to The Mindful Business Charter and lots of our people contribute to our Wellbeing Responsible Business strand, which organises an annual calendar of wellbeing events and initiatives.
Benefits
- A minimum of 25 days holiday (plus the option to buy up to an additional 5 days)
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- Generous pension scheme
- Private medical insurance through Vitality
- Biennial private health assessment through Nuffield Health
- Life assurance
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme
- Cycle to work scheme