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July 2 2021

June '21 Paralegal of the Month: Jamie Bluff

Case Studies

Tanya Robinson

Could you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your background?

Hi! My name’s Jamie and I’ve been working with Flex for about 7 months now. I grew up in Cambridgeshire, after which I moved to Bristol to study biology at uni. From there, I decided to take the GDL at BPP University in London and received a 2022 training contract offer from Taylor Wessing during my studies. I’m currently on a gap year before my LPC (starting September) and so jumped at the opportunity to work as a paralegal via Flex.

How did you first become interested in working in law?

My first experience with law was a week I wangled at the solicitors in my local town. Even though I was only 15 (I think!), I enjoyed the work and exposure to the legal profession (even if I was sorting files for the majority of the day!). From there, I developed a deeper interest in law with a specific focus on its interaction with scientific innovation. Of course, this interaction works both ways: while IP law protects and incentivises innovation, the effects of technological advances leave the legal industry in a constant state of flux. This is how I explain my decision to study biology at university - my intention was always to follow innovation through a legal lens.

Could you tell us about your experience working through Flex Legal?

My experience with Flex has been great. I signed up to the platform last October and received an offer to work at BCLP within a week. I was relatively worried about the ease of working short roles throughout the pandemic, but the team has been great in arranging the necessary equipment to be sent to me. My experience has been so positive that I intend to continue working part-time via Flex throughout my LPC.

Where are you currently working?

I’m currently working as an in-house corporate paralegal at Domestic & General, who provide warranty plans for white goods. I assist the team in a variety of ways with the ultimate goal of launching the business in the United States.

What have you found interesting about your most recent role?

My current role is so varied! One day I’ll be drafting clauses in customer literature, the next I’ll be working frantically to arrange the signing of key board resolutions. It’s been particularly valuable to work closely with my supervisor who, as part of an in-house legal team, is required to find solutions to the myriad of different issues that might crop up. I’ve also learnt a lot about the (arduous) licensing process in the US, where each state has completely different requirements to trade. This has led to frequent video calls with colleagues across the US who have the requisite expertise to overcome any challenges we might face.

What advice would you give to those looking to get into paralegal work?

I think getting paralegal work has similar challenges to scoring a training contract. Both are ridiculously competitive and you’ll inevitably be rejected at points. It’s vital not to let this get you down - just persevere! Once you get your first piece of work, the process becomes a lot easier as you get to flesh out your CV with experience. In this respect, paralegal work is so worth it - I now feel a lot more confident for my Training Contract.

Finally, with society now steadily reopening, what are you most excited about getting back?

Music! I can’t wait for live music with friends, especially clubs and festivals - we’ve got a lot to make up for this summer! Beyond that, just looking forward to stress-free socialising with family, friends and colleagues. It’s quite crazy that I’ve worked three different jobs since lockdown and haven’t met anyone face to face!

Additional Resources:

Jamie’s LinkedIn - why not take that step further, and look at Jamie’s full professional history? We can’t wait to watch his LinkedIn become even more impressive as he continues his career journey.
Hire a Flex paralegal - has reading Jamie’s story got you wishing you had a comparably capable interim paralegal to help out your legal team? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
Apply to be a Flex paralegal - or has reading this post got you wanting a taste of the interim paralegal life? Well, you have also come to the right place! Click here to apply to Flex Legal!