Skip to main content
Four smiling individuals stand outside a building with large windows; one holds a folder and documents, with greenery visible in the background.
Check your commute here

Paralegal - Contentious Probate

Bristol/ Stratford-upon-Avon
Apply
Job ID 1073076 Job category Legal Hours per week 37.5 Closing date 15-11-2026 Salary £28,000 to £33,000

Paralegal – Contentious Probate
£28,000 to £33,000 dependent on experience, plus great benefits (Work Level 6B)
Bristol or Stratford-Upon-Avon | Office based
Full time, 37.5 hours

We’re looking for a Paralegal to join our Contentious Probate team within Co-op Legal Services.

At Co-op Legal Services we do things differently, whether that’s continuously innovating our technology to support your delivery or our commitment to providing exceptional client experience. In this role, you’ll support solicitors with a variety of tasks within a caseload of disputes and litigation relating to estates. This is an exciting opportunity to gain exposure to contentious probate and property litigation matters. As we continue to grow, they’ll be plenty of opportunity for development.

What you’ll do

  • Contact witnesses and draft witness statements for solicitors’ approval
  • Review medical records and evidence
  • Prepare court bundles and draft complete court forms
  • Draft letters of claim and letters of response
  • Deal with external enquiries and make outbound calls to support potential clients
  • Provide advice to colleagues in the wider probate team on contentious matters
  • Manage your own litigation caseload following training
  • Assist in some estate administration cases in which there is a dispute/litigation

What you’ll bring

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

  • Experience in litigation or experience of estate administration
  • Some knowledge of litigation through study
  • A keen interest in working in contentious probate and property litigation
  • Great organisational skills, with the ability to manage your own workload
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • A client-focussed approach, with the ability to prioritise their needs

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

  • An annual bonus scheme (based on personal and business performance)
  • 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
  • A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
  • 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
  • Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
  • Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
  • 24/7 colleague support service
  • Training and support for your development and career progression
  • Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone, and our support centre is an inclusive environment where all our colleagues can thrive.

If you have a disability, we’ll make reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process. We’re also proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme - if you’re disabled and you meet the minimum criteria for this job, we’ll guarantee you an interview.

Learn more about our recruitment process at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process

Explore our commitments to diversity, inclusion and wellbeing at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion-wellbeing

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes 15-20 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.

Apply

Benefits

  • Coaching, training and support such as study leave, to help you develop your skills and progress your career
  • Pension with up to 10% employer contributions
  • Incentive scheme up to 10% after probation
  • 28 days holiday plus bank holidays (rising to 32 in line with service)
  • Wellbeing benefits to support your physical financial and mental health
  • Discounts on Co-op products and services

Success profile

What makes a successful member of our team? Check out the top traits we're looking for and see if you have the right mix.

  • Customer Focus
  • Connecting with others
  • Attention to detail
  • Prioritisation
  • Communication
  • Adaptability

Your career at Co-op Legal Services

You’ll find exciting and rewarding career opportunities here, as well as real work/life balance and innovative tools and technology which allow you to focus single mindedly on the needs of your clients.

We regularly recruit for qualified and non-qualified jobs and if you share our obsession with client care, we can help you build a fulfilling legal career.

Professional seated at a desk with a laptop in a modern office, wearing a lanyard, with plants and shelves in the background

Our practice areas

Our Legal Services teams are dedicated to supporting clients in their hour of need. We work hard, go the extra mile and hit targets to make sure their cases are resolved in a timely way. With that comes the satisfaction of knowing we’ve done right by our clients during life’s most difficult moments.

Our probate colleagues support bereaved families as they manage the legal and financial processes surrounding the money, property, and possessions of a person who’s died. Our probate teams are experts at what they do and are supported by innovative AI tools and case management technology.

Our wills and estate planning teams help clients make a will that’s right for their circumstances. It’s vital that in their hour of need, clients can make informed choices about their legal planning, and our wills and estate planning colleagues discuss their wishes and offer expert guidance and support.

Our trusted family law colleagues help clients navigate a wide range of important life moments including divorce, legal separation and child custody matters. We recruit for a variety of qualified and non-qualified roles, and no matter which part of the team you join, you’ll get comprehensive training and a wide range of options to develop your skill set without breaking the bank.

Our personal injury solicitors and litigation lawyers are committed to getting the best outcomes for our clients. Each year, they secure millions of pounds in compensation for people who have been injured in accidents through no fault of their own.

Our medical negligence team works tirelessly to secure compensation for those who have suffered due to medical negligence or accidents caused by healthcare professionals. Building a career as a medical negligence solicitor at Co-op Legal Services offers you the chance to make a real difference and have a visible impact on the wellbeing of your clients.

Application process

At Co-op, we’re passionate about doing great work for the communities we trade in. That means having the right people, from all walks of life and backgrounds, in our team to serve them. Take a look below how to become one of our colleagues.

illustration of a hand touching a checkmark

Applying for a job

You can apply for a job with us quickly and easily on your laptop or phone. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done before or if you have little experience — it’s all about matching our values and bringing your passion, motivation and capabilities to your new role.

illustration of a magnifying lens

CV shortlisting

If you pass the assessment your CV will be reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team. If you meet the essential criteria for the role your CV will be sent through to the hiring manager to review.

illustration of two speech bubbles

Interview

For some roles we may conduct a telephone interview call as an additional part of the process.

As part of our standard interview here at Co-op, we'll ask you to provide specific examples that demonstrate your skills in certain situations. This helps us to understand how you'd perform in the job you've applied for.

When you interview with us, we'll send you the skills-based questions beforehand, so you can be the best version of you on the day. We'll also let you know which documents to bring to your interview to prove that you're eligible to work in the UK.

For some roles there may be more than one interview

illustration of two signs pointing in opposite directions

Your decision

If you’re successful at your interview, you’ll receive a phone call from the hiring manager you met to talk about your job offer. If you accept, we’ll then send your offer online via an email. Before anything can be processed, we'll need you to accept this offer online. This will start your journey into our Co-op.

Three colleagues collaborate around a table with a laptop in a modern office setting

Help with your application

If you want to be better prepared for the application process, whether you’re applying for a job at Co-op or somewhere else, our Career Development Hub gives you free access to tools that can help.

Build your CV, practice interview techniques and psychometric tests, or take quizzes on ability, motivation, personality and resilience. It’s all designed to help you develop your skills and build your career.

Enter the Hub

Sign up to job alerts

Don't see what you’re looking for? Sign up and we'll notify you when roles become available.

Interested InPlease select a category or location option. Click “Add” to create your job alert.

  • Legal, Bristol, England, United KingdomRemove
  • Legal, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, United KingdomRemove

By signing up, I acknowledge I have read the Co-op privacy policy and I wish to receive email communications and SMS communications. I understand I can opt-out from receiving email and SMS communications at any time..

Employee smiling pointing at laptop computer