Legal Aid Assistant career in family law

We are pleased to share blogs written by our staff, talking about their job role, working at the firm and career progression at Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors.

In this blog by Andrea Austin-Clarke, she talks about her journey in our form and our family law team as a career and her role.

Thank you to Andrea for sharing your career journey so far at Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors.

In her own words, Andrea said:

I began working for Crombie Wilkinson in 1993 as a receptionist and building society cashier. Although I had not previously worked in the legal sector, providing secretarial support across a range of departments gave me valuable insight into many legal processes. This experience enabled me to take on a variety of secretarial roles, culminating in my work within the family department.

In 2003, I was promoted into the firm’s first paralegal role, where I began managing my own clients and cases whilst continuing to support the other legal advisors within the department.  Attending court with Counsel also broadened my knowledge and gave me valuable insight into legal processes. 

For many years, Crombie Wilkinson has been able to offer clients access to funding for family-related legal matters through the Legal Aid Agency’s public funding scheme.

Historically, each legal adviser was responsible for completing their own funding assessments and submitting their final claims, which were prepared by external costs draftsmen. Through my paralegal work, I developed a working knowledge of the Legal Aid Agency’s procedures and regulations in these areas.  On being established that the billing process could be streamlined by placing the responsibility with one person I was asked to take on this role.

Although I initially felt out of my depth, I was given the time and space to create effective working practices and develop the role as needed. As my knowledge of the billing process grew, I was able to complete more billing work myself and reduce the amount of work that needed to be outsourced.

The billing process later changed with the introduction of online billing. The Legal Aid Agency produced a range of online training guides, which were invaluable in helping me adapt to the new digital processes.

During lockdown, internal assessment processes had to change, and I took over responsibility for the funding assessments. This role has remained with me, and I am grateful to the colleagues who now also assist with this process.

Although I work independently, I know that alongside me is a hardworking and dedicated team who strive to achieve the best outcomes for clients, often at some of the most vulnerable points in their lives.

Crombie Wilkinson has long focused on giving back to the community. Sharing the same ethos I have been happy to put myself forward for a wide range of rewarding volunteering and fundraising activities, including painting and gardening projects, attending children’s Christmas parties, rowing boats, climbing mountains and performing at the Theatre Royal.

These activities have not only been enjoyable but have also helped build friendships and create lasting memories with colleagues I may not otherwise meet during my day-to-day working life.