£37,408 - £44,828 per annum

A fantastic opportunity to join an exciting, innovative law firm where you will be given the opportunity to learn and develop in your chosen field and excel in your career
 
Pathfinder Legal Services Ltd is a true one of a kind.  Established in 2015 as an ‘Alternative Business Structure’ (ABS) we are wholly owned by public bodies. We pride ourselves on serving our communities with resilience, enthusiasm and focus.  Working for public sector and not for profit clients is our focus.  A significant proportion of the work we carry out will be for local authorities, however, we have over recent years grown our client base to include more than one hundred organisations across the public and not-for profit sectors.  Our clients include Integrated Care Boards, Foundation Trusts, Charities and Fire Services. 
 
We have grown significantly in recent years and are rapidly expanding, with offices based in Huntingdon, Northampton and Shefford.  With over 150 members of staff, our Firm is made up of qualified legal officers, administrative support and finance officers.  We aim to develop our staff to enable them to reach their full potential and to find a career path suitable to each individual.
 
If the chance to play a part in this fast paced but increasingly interesting and challenging area of law interests you, we want to hear from you.
 
OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB: 
To provide paralegal and legal support to a team of Lawyers who provide a range of public sector and not for profit clients with a professional and innovative legal service predominantly in respect of Children’s Social Care and Safeguarding and other areas of legal practice where necessary.
 
MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES:  

• To assist a team of Lawyers and act as a point of contact on a variety of cases, to include but not limited to, taking instructions and giving advice, carrying out research, preparing applications, drafting documents and correspondence, commissioning and instructing expert witnesses, liaising with witnesses, attending meetings and providing advice and representation in courts or tribunals.
• To manage a case load comprising a wide range of children’s social care matters, ensuring awareness of safeguarding responsibilities, compliance with statutory duties and obligations and to protect the best interests of the client organisations.
• To ensure the effective identification and awareness of risks associated with the relevant areas of legal practice.
• Develop and provide legal input into training courses, briefing notes and legal clinic/surgeries for a range of professional clients.  Where required, assist Lawyers with the provision of training to clients in specialist areas of law.
• Manage the activities of the paralegal team including performance, work allocation, productivity, motivation and development, recruitment and selection and appraisals.
• Supervise other members of the team in a line management capacity.  To provide overall management of the Paralegal teams complex and politically sensitive case load to ensure the provision of high quality, well researched and comprehensive legal advice within the timescales required by the client.
• Contribute to the development, training or mentoring of colleagues where required.
• Demonstrate awareness and understanding of equal opportunities, other people’s behaviour and their physical, social and welfare needs.
• Ensure that reasonable care is taken for the health and safety of the team, including compliance with health and safety policy and procedure and to maintain good employment relations within your team.
• Provide cover and support, including in times of absence, to other Principal Paralegals and Paralegals based within the wider Children’s Social Care and Safeguarding team.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Leadership Team in building and maintaining effective working relationships with clients to ensure the delivery of a seamless and client focussed service.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Leadership Team by complying with all Legal Services’ practice management requirements including time recording, billing, Lexcel and other accreditation schemes, and compliance with all policies and procedures.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Leadership Team in developing and maintaining effective partnerships, networks and joint working arrangements to ensure the most effective provision of Legal Services to meet the needs and aspirations of clients.
• To carry out other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope and purpose of the job description as required by the Director of Pathfinder Legal Services, Heads of Service or Principal Lawyers from time to time and which are commensurate with the grade of the post.
• To buddy, train and support colleagues.

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals with initiative, a proactive approach to problem solving and a real commitment to the job. In return for this we can offer you an excellent benefits package alongside a flexible, modern working environment equipped with the technology needed to enable you to balance the pressures of a busy role.
 
Pathfinder Legal Benefits

• Local Government Pensions Scheme – considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates.
• Flexible working arrangements – we offer flexible hours and hybrid working which allows for remote working but we also require regular office attendance with the aim to give everyone a balanced work/life ratio.
• Family Friendly policies including excellent Maternity, Paternity and Adoption entitlements.
• An exceptional Employee Assistance Program which helps supports employees with workplace changes as well as other work, family and personal issues.
• Cycle To Work scheme.
• A generous minimum annual leave entitlement of 25 days, rising on 5 and 10 years service, plus public holidays. With the option to purchase more annual leave. 

To apply for this position please send your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the Person Specification using the button below. When applying, please quote reference ‘CHI-123’.

For a copy of the full Job Description and Person Specification and details of our other vacancies, please visit our website www.pathfinderlegal.co.uk/careers. 
 
Closing date: 10 November 2026 

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.