Paralegal Officer Review

As a paralegal, I am involved in developing the cases from the case builders and actioning the work required on them by the lawyers. As a result, I interact both with the lawyers and the case builders. However, one day a week, I am often at the Court and as a result, also have to work with court staff, including Judges. This means every day is different. At Court, I have to prepaer the cases and take them in to hand to the lawyer and then take minutes and update this onto our system. In the office I have to put the cases together in bundles that I then dispatch to Court, Prosecuting Advocates and Defence. It is hugely varied and interesting as a result.

I have learnt so many new skills! As part of the apprenticeship we had a two week induction that involved lots of e-learning. This was intense but highly useful, and I use my skills that I elarnt then every day. As we use a unique computer systme, this training was required, as your learning does very much start from scratch. There are also many day courses that I wish to attend, and I am in the process of booking these. These will give me qualificatiosn I will be able to use everywhere. However, I learn so much on the job every day anyway, that I feel like the old cliche 'you learn something new everyday' has never rung so true!

I love my work and the apprentice programme! As I ahve said every day is varied and new and as a result you can never get bored. The team is fantastic and so embracing of me as a young apprentice who requires guidance (although this is less and less!). I was given a great mentor who is always on hand, and is the rest of the team. It feels like quite a small netweork, even though I guess it isnt. I love that, and I feel like I know everyone. It met all my expections and then exceeded them! i really didn't know what to expect when I started, and now that I do, I can only thoroughly recommend it in all senses of the work, colleagues and environment as a whole.

I feel very valued by the civil service. I can understand that having come in as an unexperienced young girl they could have been quite dismissive of me, but in fact the opposite occured! Everyone has embraced me and I receieve support and help from everyone, especially my manager, for whom it feels nothing is too much. I am involved with all aspects, and as the team know a bit about the apprenticeship, they try and include me in more than my job role requires, including attending lawyers meetings. This feels great and I feel so lucky to be valued internally, as well as externally.

My program is very well structured. We had a long induction that gave us huge insight into not only my department but the civil service as an entirity. My training was great, although quite intense as it involved a lot of e-learning. I receive constant support from everyone, my manager, mentor and fellow colleagues. This is so helpful and I rely upon them to develop my skills in day-to-day work. I ahve 1/2 a day study leave per week which is greatly useful for me to focus on the apprenticeship side of things. Overall, the structure is fantastic and I couldn't ask for more. I get delegated specific tasks to count towards the apprentceiship and I am so greatful.

I am yet to meet with my tutor but I ahve communicated with him much over email, and he is always available to offer support and guidance. However, I do feel that this has not been as on the ball as other aspects of the apprenticeship, as evident in the fact that 4 months into the course and I am yet to meet him.

My manager is always busy, yet alwasy gives me time and encouragement. She is so generous with her time to me, and the support she gives me is second to none. My mentor also is great, and my manager has arranged a vice mentor too for when he is absent./ I believe they understand the importance of the course and are willing to accept my questions at any time of the day. Their general attitude is so giving and friendly that I am never scared to ask for help and I alwasy know I can go to them if I am confused,

I believe the salary does meet my costs just about. However, due to work I have had to leave home and move to London, which I love but it is extortionately expensive. Despite this, I do feel in comparison to average salary my pay is reflective. They are also good at paying me the extra travel costs that are incurred when I ahve to travel to Court. the location is very easy to get to (I am based in Pimlico) and public transport makes the over all daily costs and travel costs better. There is not a canteen here, but on the plus side it measn ym daily/social costs in term of food and drink is cheaper as I bring my own!

I am not too sure about this- certainly I have not heard of many. i know there is a zumba class, but I think this is it. There is a civil service membership that does allow you to get involved in many activites, sporting events etc, but I do not wish to pay the membership fee, and as a result I do not hear a lot. Having said this, I did apply for the |Civil service carol service in Westmintser Abby which was amazing, as I got a ticket, and loved it!

Yes

There are so many reasons, not least the stability it gives you, how renouned it is, and the benefits they give their employees. there are so many other directions you can choose to go in, and so many opportunities to deveolp your work.

The application process is very hard and long. I had a back up plan too as it takes about 6 monhts if I remmeber correctly, and so few people get the places that I thought it was not sensible to pretend for 6 months as if I had the job when in the last stage I could have been rejected. The inteveriews were intense, so make sure you have plenty of experience to get you through. I would like to have been told how tough the application process was, but also to ahve faith. I would say previosu expereince is vital, so make sure you ahve plenty of that to carry you through the tough process!