Paralegal Recruitment - Ryder Reid Legal

[Eviekennett]

Hi everyone, I'm Evie Kennett from Ryder Reid Legal.

I wanted to introduce myself and Ryder Reid to the TCLA community. For those who may not know us, Ryder Reid is a specialist legal recruitment agency and we work closely with many of the UK's leading US, international and City law firms.

I head up our Paralegal team here, and my team & I specialise in recruiting the following;

• Law graduates looking to gain a foot in the door at a corporate law firm
• Future trainees looking for 6-12 months paralegal experience before their TC or SQE commences
• Experienced paralegals seeking their next opportunity, whether that's a new practice area, greater responsibility or a change in firm

We recruit for both temporary and permanent paralegal positions across a wide range of practice areas, with a particular focus on opportunities within the US law firm market.

TCLA has a fantastic network of aspiring and future lawyers, so I'm looking forward to connecting with you all, and hopefully helping where I can.

I'm always happy to offer advice on:

• Paralegal applications
• CV and interview tips
• The current legal recruitment market
• Moving between firms or practice areas

Our service is completely free to candidates, so please feel free to get in touch if you'd like to discuss opportunities or have any questions about the paralegal market.

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evie-kennett-a246b0b4/

Looking forward to connecting and contributing to the community!

Evie

Head of Paralegal Recruitment
Ryder Reid Legal

 

[Jaysen]

Hi everyone, I'm Evie Kennett from Ryder Reid Legal.

I wanted to introduce myself and Ryder Reid to the TCLA community. For those who may not know us, Ryder Reid is a specialist legal recruitment agency and we work closely with many of the UK's leading US, international and City law firms.

I head up our Paralegal team here, and my team & I specialise in recruiting the following;

• Law graduates looking to gain a foot in the door at a corporate law firm
• Future trainees looking for 6-12 months paralegal experience before their TC or SQE commences
• Experienced paralegals seeking their next opportunity, whether that's a new practice area, greater responsibility or a change in firm

We recruit for both temporary and permanent paralegal positions across a wide range of practice areas, with a particular focus on opportunities within the US law firm market.

TCLA has a fantastic network of aspiring and future lawyers, so I'm looking forward to connecting with you all, and hopefully helping where I can.

I'm always happy to offer advice on:

• Paralegal applications
• CV and interview tips
• The current legal recruitment market
• Moving between firms or practice areas

Our service is completely free to candidates, so please feel free to get in touch if you'd like to discuss opportunities or have any questions about the paralegal market.

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evie-kennett-a246b0b4/

Looking forward to connecting and contributing to the community!

Evie

Head of Paralegal Recruitment
Ryder Reid Legal

Welcome to the forum Evie. We are glad to have you help out the TCLA community!

 

[Dipen]

Hi Evie,

Thank you for your time today on the forum.

What can I be doing in order to gain a paralegal position?

Many thanks,

 

[Winifred]

Hello Evie, thank you for your time on the forum. I have a couple of questions if you don’t mind.

1. What’s the ideal maximum number of pages for my resume- 1 or 2 pages max? For context, I am an international student, qualified in my home country with 3 years work experience.
2. Is my international work experience relevant or should I just emphasize my UK internship experience more? I am interning within the legal department of a bank, so I have garnered some good experience here.
3. What specific support does Ryder provide for applicants, specifically with international background? And how can I access these services? Thank you so much in advance

 

[Eviekennett]

Hi Evie,

Thank you for your time today on the forum.

What can I be doing in order to gain a paralegal position?

Many thanks,

Hi Dipen,

Are you active on LinkedIn? A lot of law firms hire directly on LinkedIn, and hiring managers will usually view a candidate's LinkedIn profile when reviewing applications so it's a good idea to be active on there, with all your work history/open days etc listed and a professional photo.

I'd also suggest connecting with agencies such as Ryder Reid and others, feel free to email over a copy of your CV and I can give you some more tailored advice.

 

[JM1546]

Hi Evie, thank you for your time today.

My question is: having completed the PGDL, would you recommend sitting SQE1 before applying for paralegal roles? Would it strengthen an application in a competitive market, or is the PGDL sufficient on its own?

Many thanks!

 

[janaleia]

Hi Evie and Jayden thank you for setting this up to help us!

Just wondering if looking at a CV for feedback is possible? Thank you!

 

[gttc2026]

Hi Evie, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions.

What would you say helps candidates stand out when applying for paralegal positions, especially as a recent graduate who hasn't got much legal work experience?

Best,
Madhu

 

[lucky2]

Hi Evie,

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions!

I am currently struggling to secure paralegal roles. I graduated in 2023 and so far only have brief experience from my university where I helped out at the legal advice clinic with some cases. I also completed a vacation scheme at a commercial law firm. Is this enough to secure a paralegal role? Everything seems to require a lot of experience. I worry that because I am not a recent graduate, I may not be considered a suitable candidate. For context, I am currently working in university student recruitment and studied Law at university.

I currently live in the Midlands, do you think I should consider relocating for more opportunities? Perhaps, job markets are better elsewhere?

Finally, what do you recommend including in a cover letter for a paralegal position? Also, during paralegal interviews, do firms not like when you mention that your long-term career goal is to gain experience and ultimately become a commercial lawyer?

Many thanks

 

[Eviekennett]

Hello Evie, thank you for your time on the forum. I have a couple of questions if you don’t mind.

1. What’s the ideal maximum number of pages for my resume- 1 or 2 pages max? For context, I am an international student, qualified in my home country with 3 years work experience.
2. Is my international work experience relevant or should I just emphasize my UK internship experience more? I am interning within the legal department of a bank, so I have garnered some good experience here.
3. What specific support does Ryder provide for applicants, specifically with international background? And how can I access these services? Thank you so much in advance

1. Two pages is fine, I would always recommend this rather than trying to squeeze everything in two one page and missing vital things. Also try and include hobbies and interests on there too.
2. Yes, all is relevent but I would keep your most recent UK experience at the top so it's easy for employers to see what you have been up to most recently
3. The support we provide includes:

• Advice on the legal recruitment market and the types of paralegal opportunities available
• CV guidance and application support to help ensure your experience is presented effectively to law firms
• Interview preparation, including insights into what our clients are looking for
• Market updates and notification of suitable opportunities that match your skills and experience

The best way to access our services is to send me your CV directly or connect with me on LinkedIn:

 

[Dipen]

Hi Dipen,

Are you active on LinkedIn? A lot of law firms hire directly on LinkedIn, and hiring managers will usually view a candidate's LinkedIn profile when reviewing applications so it's a good idea to be active on there, with all your work history/open days etc listed and a professional photo.

I'd also suggest connecting with agencies such as Ryder Reid and others, feel free to email over a copy of your CV and I can give you some more tailored advice.

Thank you Evie

 

[mannat]

Hi Evie, thanks so much for your time. I have been applying for permanent paralegal positions for 2+ months now, without any luck. I'm afraid my application is not being seen by recruiters due to filtering for experience or ATS scanning. Would you recommend reaching out to law firms or recruiters on LinkedIn after applying? Would also love to hear any insights you could share on this!

For reference, I have graduated from university this month and am currently in a temporary document review paralegal role.

Thanks!!

 

[sans]

Hi Evie, thank you for your time.

I’ve been applying to paralegal positions since last year without any luck on securing interviews. Do you have any advice on how to make it past that stage? I’ve tried tailoring my cv and application questions to the role and firm but still have had no luck!

 

[h123]

Hi Evie, thanks for taking the time to answer questions. I graduated with an LLB and have recently completed my LLM in Legal Practice at The University of Law. Alongside my studies, I've gained experience through a Legal Advice Centre, insight programmes with firms such as Norton Rose Fulbright and Slaughter and May, corporate internships, and administrative roles including Office Coordinator and Receptionist. I've been applying for paralegal and legal assistant positions for several months, but haven't had much success converting applications into interviews. From a recruiter's perspective, what do you think candidates with my background are most commonly missing? Are there any changes you'd recommend to my CV or application strategy that would make me more competitive for paralegal roles?