Trainee Solicitor Vacancy jobs

We provide Legal Services specialised in the areas of Employment Law and Housing Disrepair Law. We are a Claimant-focused Legal Services Claims Management firm based in Ipswich, Suffolk. We also undertake some defence work.

We require a confident Legal Administrator / Trainee Paralegal to provide legal administration in Housing Disrepair claims and Employment Law claims. This requires engaging with clients to take information accurately and quickly, and entering details onto the case management database system. You will be undertaking some legal administration and issuing day-to-day client update information.

This is an entry-level role paid at the apprentice National Minimum Wage, currently £8.00 per hour (about £300 per week, or approximately £15,600 per year based on 37.5 hours), paid monthly. Pay is reviewed on completion of the first 12 months, and in line with National Minimum Wage law you will move to the National Minimum Wage for your age once you are aged 19 or over and have completed the first year of the apprenticeship.

The role involves all aspects of legal claims administration and trainee paralegal work, supporting all staff in managing casework.

You will provide office and legal administration services and claims handling administration to a small but busy Legal Services firm.

Some additional hours may be required each week should the volume of work require it, paid at an additional hourly rate.

The right candidate will have excellent attention to detail and the ability to accurately record and manage tasks and information in accordance with our operational policies and processes.

Call handling - incoming and outgoing contact calls

This role will involve a high volume of incoming client enquiry calls and you will be required to contact clients also to obtain information or encourage the return of documents, information or evidence. Although not essential, some call centre or other customer service experience will be an advantage.

In addition, your role will include:

• Day-to-day basic client update correspondence produced from the database
• Data entry tasks using the Client Record system
• Organising documents accurately and efficiently in accordance with required processes
• Issuing pre-drafted claims updates to clients in line with timed processes
• Directing incoming enquiries by following processes and completing record keeping requirements
• Dealing with electronic and paper-based filing and other administrative tasks for file management
• Assisting with the office equipment, documents and scanning
• Producing, saving and issuing correspondence using our pre-prepared documents
• Using the firm database for day-to-day administration tasks
• Processing and filing general communications
• Monitoring emails to file as required
• Handling incoming and outgoing mail and logging communications and post reference numbers for file verification
• Where necessary directing calls to the appropriate colleague effectively and accurately on the appropriate system
• Contacting clients by phone to obtain information and adding responses to their file
• Sending document return reminders for documents or other information

Skills Required:

• Competency in Microsoft Office: Proficiency in Microsoft Word is essential.
• Good Written Communication: Ability to write clearly and accurately.
• Good Verbal Communication: Clear and professional communication skills, although we also expect these will be developed over time.
• Good Telephone Manner: Polite and effective telephone communication skills.
• Attention to Detail: High accuracy in recording and managing tasks and information.
• Organisational Skills: Ability to manage and organise multiple tasks efficiently.
• Basic IT Skills: Familiarity with using any previous database is advantageous.
• Collaborative working and willingness to learn and engage with colleagues' needs as part of the team.

Personal Qualities:

• Willingness to learn and self-develop
• Polite communication style even when under working pressure
• We expect that a lot of your confidence will be developed within this role as you gain experience and there are some skills and qualities that you are not expected to have from the start.
• Attitude and approach will count for a lot. You must be willing and open to self-advancement and be able to self-direct in solving problems and seeking answers
• An interest in law is obviously advantageous but not essential.

As part of this role you will also undertake legal training. For the Foundation Level 3 CILEX Apprenticeship, applicants need GCSEs (A Levels are advantageous but not essential). Applicants with a Law degree will be automatically considered for the Advanced Paralegal Apprenticeship route at Level 5 CILEX Apprenticeship. Applicants will be considered for either training route depending on the stage of education they have reached.

Working in this role, and subject to reaching required performance standards, on completion of either of these training routes, both are capable of progressing onwards to the next stages of legal training as a route to qualification.

As part of this role, you will also undertake the first stage of one of the CILEX Paralegal Apprenticeship routes set out above. This is a 12 to 18 month course (Level 3) or a 17 to 24 month course (Level 5), and forms the first part of the CILEX training programme. This qualification can develop onto the next stage of training for the right candidate, or open further career doors in the future. Further training stages enable progression onto the CILEX Advanced Paralegal course.

Qualifications Required:

• GCSEs at grades A* to C / 9-4 (or equivalent) in Maths and English

Apprenticeship summary

• Working week Monday-Friday: 9am-5.30pm
• Total hours per week: 37.5 (9am-5.30pm Monday to Friday, including a one-hour unpaid lunch break). Some additional hours will be required, paid at an additional hourly rate.

Why Join Us?

This entry-level role in the legal services environment provides the opportunity to gain valuable legal experience in this area of work, and the ability for the right candidate to gain a first-stage legal qualification and progress either within this firm to a full law qualification or to use the experience gained to move onwards in their career.

Collaborative work culture and team integration.

Development opportunities for a legal career.

If you are a motivated individual seeking a professional legal services role, we would love to hear from you.

Wages

This is an entry level role and you will start slightly above the £300 per week apprenticeship level, equivalent to £8.00 per hour and approximately £15,600 per year, based on 37.5 hours per week (paid monthly). This is the apprentice National Minimum Wage. If working some anticipated additional hours pay will be around £1,456 pm (£17,472 pa) for the initial period.

Pay is reviewed on completion of the first 12 months. In line with National Minimum Wage rules, once you are aged 19 or over and have completed the first year of the apprenticeship you will move to the National Minimum Wage for your age (currently £10.85 for ages 18-20 and £12.71 for ages 21 and over). However, should business performance permit, we expect your wage to increase above this level on completion of the first year.

Expected duration of Apprenticeship

12-18 months (Level 3 route) or 17-24 months (Level 5 route)

Possible start date

End July 2026

Apprenticeship level

Foundation Stage (Level 3) CILEX Apprenticeship - for: Beginners or those with limited legal experience.

Job Types: Full-time, Apprenticeship

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Application question(s):

• Due to the type of role, preference is given to local candidates residing in the local area of Ipswich. The office has parking and is also very close to the Westerfield train station (4 minute walk) which has routes to Felixstowe and Ipswich which then has connecting routes onwards.

Education:

• GCSE or equivalent (required)
• A levels advantageous but not essential

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 15 July 2026

Expected start date: End July 2026

Job Types: Full-time, Apprenticeship

Pay: From £1,456.00 per month

Application question(s):

• Due to the office based job type and this being a National Apprenticeship entry level wage, preference will be given to candidates who live locally in Ipswich or the close surrounding area.

Work Location: In person