Paralegal Litigation with SQE Support - Hybrid & Bonus
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
Litigation Paralegal - Colchester - SQE Support
Opportunity to join an established firm with a superb reputation looking for a Litigation Paralegal with experience in this area of law.
You will be assisting an experienced solicitor with a caseload of contentious probate matters and develop your own caseload over time.. This position also offers the opportunity to be supported on your SQE.
Along with supported study and training, the first class firm offers a flexible environment and an exceptional benefits package including hybrid working and bonus. Benefits enhance with service and will include additional such as Private Health.
Please apply with a current CV to arrange a confidential chat.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight contentious probate experience prominently in your Personal Statement — the advert explicitly names this as the core caseload, so lead with it rather than burying it in your work history.
📊 Quantify your caseload: e.g. 'Managed a caseload of 45 active contentious probate files, drafting pleadings and correspondence independently' to demonstrate capacity and autonomy.
🎯 Mention SQE progress explicitly — whether you are enrolled, studying, or planning to sit — as the firm is offering SQE support and will prioritise candidates who show commitment to qualification.
🌐 Reference hybrid working adaptability and any remote case management tools you have used (e.g. Clio, Osprey, or equivalent) to align with the firm's flexible environment.
🤝 Include a line about working directly alongside qualified solicitors, as the advert stresses assisting an experienced solicitor — evidence of close collaborative working with fee earners will strengthen your application.
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Managed a caseload of 40 active contentious probate files, drafting pleadings, witness statements and client correspondence under supervision of a senior solicitor, reducing average file turnaround by 15%.
- •Prepared and filed court documents in compliance with Civil Procedure Rules across 25 litigation matters per quarter, achieving a 100% on-time submission rate over 12 months.
- •Supported 3 fee earners through trial preparation on 8 contested probate hearings, coordinating bundles, instructing counsel and liaising with clients, contributing to a 6 of 8 favourable outcomes.
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Letter preview — tailored to Reed
Dear Hiring Manager,
Contentious probate litigation and a clear path to SQE qualification are the two pillars I am building my legal career around — which is precisely why this Litigation Paralegal role at your Colchester firm caught my attention. The combination of hands-on caseload responsibility and structured SQE support is exactly the environment in which I know I will thrive.
My background in litigation paralegal work has equipped me with solid experience in drafting correspondence, managing court deadlines under the Civil Procedure Rules, and supporting qualified solicitors across active files. I am comfortable working autonomously on contentious matters while keeping fee earners fully informed at every stage.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›Walk me through how you would manage a contentious probate file from initial instruction through to trial preparation.
- ›What experience do you have drafting witness statements or particulars of claim in a litigation context?
- ›Which case management systems have you used, and how do you keep track of court deadlines across multiple files?
- ›How familiar are you with the Civil Procedure Rules, and can you give an example of applying them in practice?
- ›Where are you currently in your SQE journey, and how do you plan to balance study with a busy caseload?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you managed competing deadlines across multiple litigation files — how did you prioritise?
- ›Describe a situation where you identified an error or risk on a file before it became a problem. What did you do?
- ›Give an example of when you had to communicate difficult news to a client. How did you handle it?
- ›Tell me about a time you took ownership of a task beyond your usual remit. What was the outcome?
- ›Describe a situation where you disagreed with a supervising solicitor's approach. How did you handle it professionally?
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you managed competing deadlines across multiple litigation files — how did you prioritise?
Describe a situation where you identified an error or risk on a file before it became a problem. What did you do?