Position Overview & Specifications
The University wishes to appoint a Paralegal to its Legal Services team. The successful candidate will provide legal advice and support on a wide range of matters across the University, with the opportunity to manage their own cases.
The Legal Services Department is a dynamic group of eight lawyers, two paralegals and an administrative assistant. It supports the University with a large and diverse range of projects, collaborations and contractual activity in the UK and beyond, providing legal advice and support across the University to enable teaching, research and innovation to flourish. The successful candidate will work with colleagues across the University on matters including intellectual property, procurement, data protection, employment law and student matters, as well as drafting and negotiating a wide range of legal agreements. This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate to begin their legal career in-house. No prior legal work experience is required and full training and support will be provided.
The ideal candidate will have:
- strong academic credentials and either a UK (qualifying) law degree, a degree with GDL/CPE/SQE1 or CILEX Level 6;
- sound legal knowledge and some practical legal understanding;
- excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships;
- excellent written and oral communication skills; and
- the ability to be proactive, and to prioritise and manage their own workload and competing demands for their time.
Applications should consist of a CV and covering statement (no more than 1000 words) outlining your rationale for applying for the post and the key skills and experience you will bring to this role related to the essential and/or desirable criteria described in the person specification.
Informal contact details
Alternative informal contact details
Contact role:
Commercial Lawyer
Contact role:
Paralegal
Contact name:
Erin Murphy-Boyce
Contact name:
Megan Budge
Contact phone:
0118 378 6766
Contact phone:
0118 378 5532
Contact email:
e.murphy-boyce@reading.ac.uk
Contact email:
megan.budge@reading.ac.uk
Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants should ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement under the PBS. There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website.
The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and is a Diversity Champion for Stonewall, the leading LGBT+ rights organisation. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.