Paralegal

Role Purpose: Shape the Future of Highways with Legal Expertise

 

Step into an exciting role with a leading complex highway business, where you will be at the heart of a dynamic in-house legal team. As a Paralegal, you’ll engage with a wide range of legal disciplines—contract, construction, environmental, land, and tort law—providing essential support to navigate the multifaceted legal challenges that arise daily across our extensive project road network.

In this role, you’ll be pivotal in addressing diverse legal issues with versatility, responsiveness, and a proactive mindset. You’ll leverage your skills in negotiation and legal drafting to offer strategic insights that drive our business forward.

In this role, you’ll handle a financial scope that varies depending on project size and may oversee direct reports, such as commercial administrators. You’ll work closely with internal contacts including the Commercial Director, Associate General Counsel, and other multi-disciplinary team members. Externally, you’ll engage with Connect Plus, National Highways, and specialist practitioners and counsel to address a broad range of legal issues.

Join us and be a crucial part of a team that influences and supports the success of major highway projects.

 

Accountabilities: 

 

• Champion Connect Plus Services Values: Embody and promote our core values in every aspect of your work, ensuring a positive and cohesive team environment.
• Commit to Zero Harm: Drive a culture of safety and responsibility, with an unwavering focus on achieving Zero Harm in all operations.
• Advance Sustainability Initiatives: Actively support and contribute to the business’s sustainability goals, ensuring our practices align with environmental and social responsibilities.
• Deliver Expert Legal and Contractual Advice: Provide timely and accurate legal guidance on a wide range of issues, addressing complex challenges as they arise.
• Conduct Comprehensive Claim Investigations: Lead investigations into claims and defenses, gathering crucial information to support our legal positions.
• Support Legal Actions Against Trespassers: Play a key role in legal proceedings, assisting in the protection of our properties against unauthorised access.
• Assist with Land and Boundary Matters: Collaborate with the land administrator to manage all land-related issues, ensuring compliance with regulations and protecting company interests.
• Monitor Legal Developments: Stay ahead of legislative changes, assessing their impact on our operations and providing strategic advice to mitigate risks.
• Draft Professional Correspondence: Prepare formal letters and communications to Connect Plus, National Highways, and third parties, ensuring clarity, precision, and professionalism in all legal documentation.

 

Who we are looking for?

 

Essential:

• A Law degree or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) with a minimum grade of 2:1.
• Demonstrated excellence in contract, land, and tort law modules.
• Strong written advocacy skills, with the ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and persuasively.
• Experience in conducting thorough legal research and analysis.
• Proficiency in negotiation, with a track record of securing mutually beneficial outcomes.

 

Desired:

• Prior experience in construction law.
• Familiarity with Highways legislation and related legal frameworks.
• Knowledge of civil procedure, with the ability to apply it effectively in a legal context.

 

Behaviours:

Customer Focus: Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers. Actively collects customer information and uses it to improve services and solutions. Manages the experience of customers to ensure positive relationships are established and maintained.

Focus on Excellence: Willing to go the extra mile to exceed expectations. Continually searches for ways to add value and take performance to the next level.

Teamwork & Collaboration: Puts aside personal agendas to work for the benefit of customers and suppliers and other stakeholders. Proactively builds knowledge through sharing knowledge, ideas, and expertise with others.

Respect: Recognise and value our customers and people by encouraging and engaging.

Trust: Be open and honest with all our customers and each other, reliable and predictable (no surprises) and approach everything we do with a ‘can-do’ attitude

 

About Us:

 

CPS represents an exciting collaboration between industry giants Balfour Beatty, AtkinsRéalis, and Egis! Together, we spearhead the operation and maintenance of none other than the M25—the bustling heartbeat of European motorways. Imagine the thrill of orchestrating over £100 million of annual investment into this vital highway infrastructure, meticulously planning and executing projects amidst the constant flow of traffic. Whether you’re already immersed in the world of Highways or eager to embark on this exhilarating journey, the M25 promises an unparalleled experience, brimming with challenges and opportunities that simply cannot be matched elsewhere!

We foster diversity and inclusivity in our workplace, actively welcoming applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds. Regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status, all are encouraged to apply. Our goal is to cultivate a supportive and respectful environment where every employee can excel. If you need accommodations during the recruitment process, please inform us.

 

Location:

 

This is a hybrid role designed to fully maximize team collaboration on the project, we therefore expect a minimum of 60% of your time to be spent at a CPS offices.

 

Note to all internal CPS employees:

 

If you are interested in applying, please submit your application through your parent company’s careers portal by entering the job title in the search bar. If your employing company is not advertising this role, please submit your CV and the role title to recruitment@connectplusm25.co.uk