We’re looking for a results-driven, commercially aware individual to join our busy legal aid team in Bournemouth as a Paralegal. While direct experience of housing advice or litigation would be ideal, we are more interested in your intellectual aptitude and ability to solve problems.

A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet millions of people across Britain struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change – with individuals, in communities, across society –and leading the way to a safe home. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Shelter Legal Services have an enviable national reputation for excellence in the provision of housing and community care law. In our Bournemouth offices we also provide complex advice, advocacy and representation to some of the most vulnerable families across the Dorset region.

A great chance to help us ensure we provide our clients with a full service, you’ll carry an active caseload and assist the solicitors to maintain their own active litigation caseload. This will enable homeless people, as well as those with housing and related problems, to enforce their existing rights. As well as advising clients under the legal help scheme and working on legal aid cases under the supervision of a solicitor there will be a requirement to represent clients under the court duty scheme at both Bournemouth and Weymouth Courts. Taking instructions and witness statements, drafting letters, making applications, providing court representation – you’ll do all of this. And when it comes to making sure time recording and income targets are met, again we’ll count on you to deliver.

You’ll need an intellectual aptitude and excellent critical reasoning skills, not to mention the ability to provide a good standard of professional service and client care. Proactive, results-driven and commercially aware, you enjoy collaborating as part of a team, respond quickly and positively to change and are not afraid to challenge the status quo and introduce new ideas when appropriate. What’s more, you’re a great listener – someone who, having taken the facts into account, is able to communicate their thoughts clearly both in writing and face-to-face. Proficiency using case management systems and Microsoft Office applications is also essential, with good typing skills preferred.

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave (pro rata), enhanced family friendly policies, childcare vouchers, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

Safeguarding is everyone’s business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

At Shelter, we welcome and encourage applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We are facing diverse problems, so need diverse people to tackle them.