What did you do before becoming a Paralegal?

I studied LLB Law at the University of Essex and graduated in June 2017. Not long after graduating, I started working as a Legal Advisor and then joined Ellisons in May 2018.

Tell us about your role (department)?

We act for the Defendant in motor claims but also employer liability and public liability claims. I have mainly assisted with personal injury arising from motor claims. As a Paralegal I am assisting the Fee Earner with different aspects of the case.

What does your typical day look like?

I usually arrive in the office at about 8:30am so I have time to prepare for the day ahead. Every day is different as I’ll be doing different work for a different case. Currently I am reviewing documents such as medical records, medical reports, surveillance and DWP records and highlighting anything of importance that will help our case. I am also getting used to what a file consists of and the different procedures. I am learning something new every day! Gradually I will start to do more of a variety of tasks.

What skills do you need to become a Paralegal?

  • Organisation – you need to be organised with your paperwork, your time and your emails.
  • Communication – you will be spending a lot of your time communicating with clients, the other party’s solicitors or other professionals whether it be via letter, email or telephone. Therefore you need to ensure that you can communicate effectively.
  • You also need to be able to communicate with your colleagues. More than one person is working on a file, so you need to be able to communicate with them.
  • Prioritising – you need to be able to prioritise the work that is more urgent and where there are impeding deadlines.

Top tips/advice for someone applying to be a Paralegal?

  • You need to stand out. You may think it is difficult to make a CV and covering letter stand out, but it is possible. What have you done that everyone else hasn’t? Make sure you include your relevant experience, extracurricular activities and your interests.
  • Be confident! You need to be confident in your CV and in your interview. Ensure you ask questions in your interview and demonstrate why they should pick you. Everyone is nervous before an interview but you need to try and hide that with your confidence. Plus, my interview for Ellisons was not as scary as I thought!
  • If you’re studying at the moment and are thinking of applying to be a Paralegal when you finish, do it! Prepare for it by getting as much work experience as you can.