Join a nationally recognised, sector-leading team at the heart of education. Our highly sought-after Education & Charities department is looking for a driven Paralegal to support an award-winning practice that works with more than 400 educational establishments across the independent and state sectors. We advise on the full spectrum of legal issues facing schools, trusts, colleges and universities—from employment, safeguarding and data protection to governance and strategic projects. With over 50 years of market presence, the team has built a national reputation for its deep sector knowledge and collaborative approach. Based in our largest HCR office in Cheltenham, you will work closely with multiple Partners, including the Head of Office and Head of Education, gaining exceptional exposure to high-quality matters and senior stakeholders. You will be part of a team that is genuinely embedded in the sector and committed to giving back, making leading contributions to the firm’s wider charity initiatives. This is an outstanding opportunity to accelerate your development, build specialist expertise and contribute to work that directly supports the missions of well-known educational institutions. What you will be doing You will play a key part in delivering first-class legal support across a varied, fast-paced caseload. Your work will include undertaking legal research using appropriate methods and sources and presenting concise, accurate findings to tight deadlines. You will draft legal documents using precedents and templates, and ensure that all outputs meet the firm’s risk management and GDPR standards. You will act as an adaptable legal resource for the team, providing support wherever needed, while managing diaries and deadlines to keep matters moving efficiently. Under supervision, you will handle routine legal processes and file management tasks, including opening files and assisting with billing. You will also engage actively with the Paralegal and Trainee group, represent the firm at networking events or careers fairs, and help promote the department via social media channels such as LinkedIn, X and Facebook. About You You are a proactive, client-focused self-starter with strong analytical and organisational skills and an eye for detail. You will have a legal qualification, preferably post-LPC or working towards an equivalent pathway. You are a collaborative team player who communicates clearly and professionally, both in writing and verbally. You are comfortable managing a growing workload, balancing competing priorities and using technology confidently, with accurate typing and solid IT literacy. Above all, you bring curiosity, initiative and a genuine interest in the education sector and the opportunity to make a tangible difference through your work. About Us Benefits of working with us as a Paralegal include: 28 days annual leave (plus public holidays) Annual bonus scheme up to 10% Life Assurance Scottish Widows Pension Scheme Healthcare cash-plan (providing you with financial support for private medical, dental and wellbeing) 1/3 gym membership contribution Electric vehicle scheme Happy People/Perks at Work benefits portal Cycle to Work scheme Flu vaccinations Is HCR the smart move for you? HCR suits people who love a challenge and want to work in an environment where careers thrive on the back of hard work and personal merit. Our people enjoy feeling part of something bigger than themselves, and whilst our clients drive our development, it is our people who bring their energy, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurial mindsets together to solve problems and help our clients succeed. Why HCR people love their jobs Our people tell us they enjoy working on good quality, interesting matters from a wide variety of our clients, because they get the experience they want to develop their careers. We will give you responsibility early, the mandate to make things happen and we’ll back your good ideas. Our “Passion for People” lives and breathes every day throughout the firm as our peoples’ energy and sense of fun create a warm environment in which to thrive. What career progression will HCR offer you? HCR’s growth constantly creates opportunities for people who want to go places and make a difference, your career plan can become part of our growth plan. At HCR you can expect to work with friendly, energetic, ambitious people, who love getting stuck into a client problem, and enjoy celebrating a good outcome. Our people value the sense of community provided by the individual personality of each office and the collegiate approach across all our service and sector teams. What does HCR believe, achieve and stand for? As a Times Best Law firm, among the UK Top 50, we provide the full range of services that you would expect to organisations, business leaders and individuals. However, in our mission to give everyone the opportunity to experience a different kind of legal service we take an entrepreneurial approach. We’re flexible and responsive to the needs of our clients, delivering the best outcomes for them. We have more than 800 lawyers and support staff, including more than 150 partners, and have been awarded the Law Society’s Lexcel quality mark in recognition of our compliance and client care standards. With 12 offices in England and Wales our well-established presence stretches from west to east, ensuring clients can access a full-service legal offering no matter where they’re located. We’ve expanded significantly in Birmingham, Cardiff and the Thames Valley, and our merger with Hewitsons resulted in a full service regional hub being established in the heart of the Waterside innovation area centre of Northampton. Our London and Cambridge continue to grow apace. With solid connections in the communities we work in, and a track record of delivering legal advice to businesses and individuals throughout the areas we base ourselves in, our clients continue to value our approach to providing legal advice, in the way they need, when they need it. As HCR is an equal opportunities employer, we don’t just accept differences, we celebrate them. We want to attract a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and skills to create a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and which works together to achieve the best outcome for our clients. We are privileged to be an armed forces-friendly organisation. We also want you to achieve your absolute best during the recruitment process. Please let us know of any changes we can make at any point that will help support your application. If this opportunity sounds of interest to you, please make an application and submit your CV. A note for recruitment agencies – The HCR Resourcing Team is responsible for recruitment across the firm, and where possible will use direct hiring methods. We do work with a Preferred Supplier List, and where appropriate, we will release vacancies to those agencies who we deem most appropriate to support us. Only those agencies will be invited to submit candidates via our recruitment portal. Any speculative or unsolicited CVs sent to any employee or Partner of HCR will not be considered an introduction, and no fees will be applicable. Furthermore, we retain the right to pursue these candidates without query of ownership