Risk & Compliance Paralegal

The role

This role is responsible for supporting the Risk and Compliance team across the firm, including the Director of Risk Management.  As with all law firms, Mills & Reeve LLP is regulated by the Solicitors Regulator Authority (SRA).  In November, 2019, the SRA implemented its Standards and Regulations: a principles-based regulatory scheme which focuses on high professional and ethical standards, and protecting the public.  This role is very much a key role supporting the firm with their obligations under the Standards and Regulations.

What does the role involve?

SRA

• Assist with the collation of data for the firm’s annual bulk renewal of practising certificates submission to the SRA; and
• Assist with the draft of SRA application forms that the firm may, from time to time, be required to submit to the SRA.

International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO)

ISO creates documents that provide requirements, specifications, guidelines or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose. The firm has both ISO 9001 and ISO 27001.  This role will be responsible for supporting the firm’s continued accreditation by:

• setting up and organising the practical arrangements for the quarterly ISO audits.
• completing relevant ISO documentation ahead of the audits.
• maintaining the firm’s risk management policies and ensuring these are up to date by logging any risks that are identified and updating this as required by liaising with relevant lawyers across the firm.
• undertaking relevant audits within the firm and completing relevant documentation.  This currently includes auditing file reviews and post-delivery audits.

Claims administration and insurances

• Take responsibility for the administration of any claims received that will involve liaising with the firm’s insurers, the firm’s Finance team and relevant partners about claims and then and updating relevant documentation.
• Support with the annual renewals process for a number of the firm’s insurances including cyber, PI, data protection and management liability.
• Assist the Risk & Compliance team with complaints handling. 
• This will include:
• drafting acknowledgement letters
• collating information from teams across the firm; and
• more widely supporting the Compliance Solicitor with any investigations.
• Log incidents and risks that are identified on the firm’s internal database.

Marketing

• Support the firm’s business development activities by being the first point of contact for tender queries from the Bids team.

Management review

• Support regular management reviews by collating statistics for these.  This will include liaising with the firm’s Finance team and relevant partners across the firm.

Team administration

• Support the Risk & Compliance team with all elements of administrative support as needed to include, but not limited to, diary management, scanning, photocopying and filing.

The person

This is a busy and challenging role and to be successful, your background will:

• include strong academics that will most likely be to degree level;
• include office based work experience of no less than six months; and
• probably include experience of working within a law firm or regulatory environment.

 The role requires someone who:

• is IT literate and who is familiar with MS Office;
• has good communication skills, both written and oral, and is able liaise confidently with staff and partners across the firm;
• is able to demonstrate an organised and methodical approach to their work;
• is able to meet deadlines when under pressure with multiple tasks;
• has proven research and analysis skills;
• has strong attention to detail;
• is energetic and enthusiastic; and
• is confident to talk to internal clients.

 In addition, you will need to:

•  be willing to travel to the firm’s other offices on occasion; and
• be flexible and able to work longer hours as the role demands.

 We have a firm wide Business Services career structure and a published career progression framework.  Within the firm wide career structure there are five career levels and this role will be an Assistant level.  Further information on the firm’s Business Services career structure will be made available as part of the interview process.