Job description
Job title:Paralegal, Case Preparation and Presentation Team (CPP)
Reporting to:Senior paralegal, (CPP)
Job family: Legal
Pay level: C
Role purpose
To provide paralegal support to the full legal team case load. This to include conduct of investigations, supporting case presenters in preparation of cases for hearing before practice committees and the High Court, and case presentation before NMC practice committees.
Key accountabilities
Casework
- Manage a caseload of cases requiring investigation (full or supplementary), to include taking witness statements and gathering documentary evidence.
- Manage allocated investigation caseload effectively, efficiently and within timescales.
- Liaise in all allocated cases with the presenting lawyer and case officer and support the presenting lawyer with hearing preparation.
- Presentation before practice committees as required.
- Prepare and support others in the team to prepare High Court interim order extension applications.
- Keep informed of developments in regulatory law.
Witness management
- Support team members in dealing with complainants and witnesses in accordance with the witness care protocol.
Communication
- Provide case load information for data analysis.
- Draft standard and non standard correspondence.
- Liaise with and give direction to case officers and other members of FtP to ensure smooth and efficient transition of cases.
Standards and training
- Assist with the setting, monitoring and evaluating case work quality standards including sharing best practice.
- Participate in the delivery of in-house training
- Offer support to other members of the legal team with workload and cover during absence.
- To contribute to the development of service improvements through participation in team meetings and other groups.
Information management and resources
- Ensure that case files both manual and electronic contain all relevant review and investigation information.
- Ensure case materials are filed as per FtP standards and library practices are adhered to.
- Record and maintain all actions taken and decisions to ensure that the audit trail is clear and up to date using NMC systems.
- Communicate and escalate to senior lawyer or team leader any unusual or recurring problems arising from ‘normal’ work.
Other responsibilities [applicable to everyone]
There are a number of standard duties and responsibilities that all employees, irrespective of their role and level of seniority within the NMC, are expected to be familiar with and adhere to.
- Comply at all times with the requirements of health and safety regulations to ensure their own wellbeing and that of their colleagues.
- Promote and comply with NMC policies on diversity and equality both in the delivery of services and treatment of others.
- Ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and its amendments.
- Comply with NMC protocols on the appropriate use of telephone, email and internet facilities.
- Comply with the principles of risk management in relation to individual and corporate responsibilities.
- Comply with NMC policies and procedures as compiled on the organisation’s intranet.
- To provide excellent customer service to internal and external customers.
This job description is not exhaustive and as such the post holder is expected to be flexible. Any changes will only be made following a discussion with the post holder.
Person specification
Job title:Paralegal, Case Preparation and Presentation Team
Qualifications and experience
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- Track record of managing own caseload
- Experience of investigating; interviewing witnesses and taking witness statements
- Experience of casework: report writing and charge drafting
- Experience of casework: reviewing reports and assessing evidence
- Experience of working with a range of external partners
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- An understanding of the professional regulation framework and fitness to practise issues and an ability to acquire an in-depth knowledge of the directorate’s work and a wider awareness of relevant areas of the NMC’s activities (e.g. Registrations)
- Knowledge of the court and/or tribunal process
- Excellent time management and organisational skills with the ability to achieve results and plan and coordinate personal work and that for the team to meet agreed objectives
- Excellent oral, written and presentation skills and the ability to communicate non standard information
- An ability to provide advice as well as information to colleagues and external parties on both standard procedures and/or polices and non standard issues
- Good interviewing and interpersonal skills and the ability to develop a rapport and obtain witness confidence
- Ability to work with others across the directorate and with external parties to meet agreed objectives
- Ability to work on more complex investigation cases including misconduct and lack of competence allegations
- Ability to prepare and draft legal documents
- Ability to work to targets and tight deadlines
- Excellent IT skills
- Legal research and analytical skills
Personal qualities
- A self starter who is able to work with minimum supervision
- Highly motivated and flexible
- A commitment to and understanding of the importance of equality and diversity within the environment that the NMC operates
- A good team player
- Able to travel and work out of office hours as required
- Capacity to be calm under pressure and work flexibly to meet changing demands
- A strong commitment to high standards of service delivery and excellent customer care
- A high level of personal integrity, professionalism and confidentiality
- A commitment to personal, staff and organisational development
Page 1 of 5
Fitness to Practise1 April 2014