Legal Practitioner - Apprentice (CEL)

The Council has a fantastic opportunity to apply for a paralegal apprenticeship programme.

You will join the Corporate & Environmental Law Team and gain a broad range of legal experience from commercial to planning & highways. You will also work towards a recognised qualification and receive a salary whilst doing so. The apprenticeship will meet the general apprenticeship standard, further details can be found here: Paralegal / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education

During the apprenticeship you will gain first-hand experience dealing with transactional legal matters, drafting documents, providing legal advice, attending client meetings, carrying out legal research, shadowing legal colleagues at Committees such as Planning & Rights of Way Committee, and learn how to be a local government lawyer.

The programme is for 27 months which includes a 24 month apprenticeship programme plus 3 months within which to do the end point assessment. You will work in an approachable, friendly and supportive team of approximately 20 staff. You will also have both an in-house workplace apprenticeship mentor and an educational mentor provided by BPP University Law School.

The apprenticeship will involve one study day a week with BPP University Law School, which is attended virtually, further details about the apprenticeship course are here: Paralegal Apprenticeship | Courses | BPP . During your apprenticeship you will collate a portfolio of experience that will be used as evidence for your final assessment together with formal assessments during the programme.

On successful completion of the apprenticeship we have two full time paralegal vacancies available in the Corporate & Environmental Law Team. The vacancies have a salary of Grade 5 £25,878 – 29,439 per annum (subject to 2023/24 pay award), job descriptions are included in the application pack.

We are looking for applicants who are passionate about a legal career in local government, who are keen to learn on the job and be paid whilst gaining experience and formal qualification. You will need to have excellent written and communication skills and be proficient in the standard Microsoft Office applications.

You will be required to have obtained (or provide indicative grades if not yet obtained) a minimum of 3 A Levels at grade C (or the equivalent of 96 UCAS points) and 5 GCSEs at grade C/ or above (or equivalent), this must include English & Maths. As this is a level 3 apprenticeship if you have a degree (or equivalent) you would not be eligible for this apprenticeship.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact emma.plumbley@nottscc.gov.uk

Tier 7a

Disabled applicants who meet the essential shortlisting requirements will be guaranteed an interview. A job share scheme is available for all full-time posts: both permanent and temporary, unless otherwise stated. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff to share this commitment and undergo appropriate checks.

Nottinghamshire County Council strives to ensure that it goes beyond the requirements of the Equalities Act and prides itself on being accredited as a Disability Confident Leader Organisation.

Therefore, the County Council encourages applications from all, irrespective of gender, marital status, disability, race, religion, belief, pregnancy and maternity status, age or sexual orientation.

If you have previously started an application form for this vacancy, please login and select “Your applications” by clicking on the dropdown at the side of your username, then select the relevant vacancy to continue with your application.