Legal Professional Support

The Service

This is for a legal professional support position predominantly in the Reg and Lit team on a 12-month fixed term

The Role

To provide comprehensive professional support to fee earners in the Legal Service in relation to legal case matters (for example; coordination of cases in case management system, supporting fee earners in the delivery of legal work by undertaking such tasks as are allocated, audio digital typing, electronic filing, preparing bundles and administering the Legal Helpline).  

​Additionally, to provide support to other strands of the Legal & Assurance Service when required. 

In this role you will:

• Provide professional support to legal staff to ensure the efficient running of legal matters.
• Maintain confidentiality of information acquired in the course of undertaking duties for the Service.
• Be responsible for your own continuing self-development, undertaking training as appropriate.
• Undertake digital and copy typing/word processing and the use of other computer applications.
• Provide cover during the absence of other Legal Professional Support Team members as required.
• Arrange meetings/telephone conferences and maintain fee earners’ and own diaries.
• Prepare bundles and other legal case-related documents.
• Liaise with private firms of solicitors.
• Liaise with internal clients.
• Operate the Legal Helpline redirecting enquiries appropriately as well as dealing with other telephone/email/face-to-face enquiries and message taking as required when staff are not available.
• Provide general information and respond to general queries on behalf of the teams where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate electronic files and updating of records including the case management system.
• Administer, attend and minute meetings including the transcription of sensitive, confidential audio data.
• Process incoming and outgoing mail within relevant timescales and deadlines.
• Arrange appropriate bookings of Barristers/Counsel for Court Hearings.
• Assist in the familiarisation and training of newly appointed and temporary staff, including the allocation and checking of work. 
• Maintain the resources as required. 
• Retrieve documents from and file documents in the strong room, in accordance with service procedures.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to the grading of the post as required.
• Provide professional support to teams of legal staff.
• Participate in file destruction projects in line with the Council’s data protection responsibilities and office procedures.
• Support the implementation and operation of the case management system.
• Support the implementation and delivery of workflows in the case management system.
• Work flexibly across the Legal Service to provide professional support.
• Work to support income generation across the Legal Service

This position will be subject to a criminal record disclosure check. 

Working Pattern

The position is full time with 37 hours a week Monday to Friday available. Consideration will be given to flexibility for the right candidate. Being local to the office is preferable but consideration will be given to remote working within the UK for the right candidate. 

What you’ll get in return:

Cornwall Council’s ambition is to be an employer of choice, a high performing Council and a learning organisation. We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract, motivate and reward our employees. We offer a range of flexible working options to our staff. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance. Whilst still ensuring that service needs are met.

Our core employee rewards and benefits include:

·             a competitive salary.

·             a defined benefit pension scheme, based on your career average earnings. This includes the option for extra voluntary contributions

·             a generous annual leave entitlement with the potential to purchase additional leave.

·             A national award-winning employee health and wellbeing programme

·             Employee benefits scheme giving employees access to a wide range of discounts to local and national goods and services.

 Please read the role profile for the full details of this role attached below in this advert

Additional Information:

Cornwall Council is unable to offer sponsorship or transfer existing sponsorship for this role.

The full role profile is attached here

We recommend saving a copy of this to refer to if you are invited to an interview

For more information or an informal chat about the role please contact Jonathan Dees, principal lawyer of the Reg and Lit team on Jonathan.Dees@cornwall.gov.uk 

 Application Process

Please attach a supporting statement to your application, you can add your Education & Qualifications details manually using the application form timeline or you can upload your CV.

Remember to demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points marked as ‘Application’ on the Role Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had.

Guidance on how to complete your application can be found here – The application process.

We recognise that you may choose to use AI tools when preparing your application. We ask that any information you include is an accurate reflection of your own skills, knowledge, experience and achievements. You may be asked to discuss the examples and evidence you provide during the selection process.

We may adapt our shortlisting approach where we receive a high volume of applications. Any shortlisting decisions will be based on the information provided in your application and the essential requirements of the role.

Please note that applications cannot be edited after they have been submitted, please contact careers@cornwall.gov.uk if you have any queries or require assistance with your application.

Existing employees must apply using their Cornwall Council email address through the Opportunity Marketplace on Oracle.

Cornwall Council deliver services to more than half a million local people and over five million visitors a year. Working here - Cornwall Council

We are happy to talk about flexible working options such as part-time or compressed hours. More examples of our flexible working opportunities can be found here - flexible working options.

Fairness and inclusion are at the heart of our vision for Cornwall. In order to best serve our communities, we are striving to achieve a diverse workforce that is inclusive of all backgrounds, cultures and identities; e.g., race, disability, sex, gender reassignment status, age, religion and sexual orientation. We are an equal opportunities and Disability Confident employer, and we will assess applicants on their merits.

Cornwall Council is committed to safeguarding and following safer recruitment principles to help make sure our staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children, young people and adults at risk. It’s a vital part of creating a safe and positive environment and making a commitment to keeping all service users safe from harm.