Irwin Mitchell plans to remove its litigation assistant role, placing 58 staff at risk of redundancy
Irwin Mitchell has announced plans to remove its litigation assistant role in a restructuring that places 58 members of staff at risk of redundancy. The national firm confirmed that those affected were notified this week and that most are expected to be redeployed into alternative positions as part of an ongoing consultation process.
The decision forms part of a wider review of the firm’s support staff structure. While the change follows debate in the profession about the scope of authorised and unauthorised staff, the firm is understood to have made clear that the move is not linked to the Mazur judgment, which found that unauthorised employees cannot conduct litigation, even under supervision. Instead, the Gazette reports that the development of artificial intelligence tools capable of performing certain tasks has contributed to the firm’s reorganisation.
In a statement, Irwin Mitchell said it intended to “evolve” the litigation assistant role into a team personal assistant position, with some billable responsibilities transferring to paralegals. The firm also plans to increase its paralegal headcount as part of the new structure.
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According to the statement: “Following a review of legal support we’re proposing to evolve our litigation assistant role into a team PA role, moving some of the billable tasks to paralegals and planning to increase our paralegal headcount. This will improve the experience for our clients, provide clarity and consistency across roles, and provide the best legal support structure in future. We’re committed to supporting our colleagues through any change and will continue to listen and respond to feedback through the ongoing consultations with those affected.”
The announcement comes several months after Irwin Mitchell reported strong financial results for the year ending 30 April. Revenue increased by 8% to £329m, while profit before tax rose by 13% to £24.6m. During the previous financial year, the firm sold its asset management business and invested in simplifying its core legal services, a strategy aimed at strengthening operational efficiency.
The use of artificial intelligence across the legal sector has been an increasingly prominent theme. A recent PwC law firm survey, published last month, found that more than half of the top 50 firms reported improved financial and productivity performance linked to the adoption of AI tools. The survey highlighted the growing role of automated systems in administrative and process-driven work, reflecting wider changes in how firms structure support teams.
Irwin Mitchell has not suggested that AI will replace staff but has indicated that the reallocation of tasks and the reshaping of support functions are intended to improve service delivery and role clarity within the firm. The consultation process with the 58 affected staff members will continue, with the firm emphasising its commitment to supporting colleagues through the restructuring.
The proposed changes mark one of the most significant adjustments to Irwin Mitchell’s support network in recent years. With the litigation assistant role set to be phased out and duties redistributed across team PAs and paralegals, the firm aims to create what it describes as a clearer and more consistent support framework. The outcome of the consultation will determine how many staff ultimately transfer into new roles and whether redundancies will be required once the process concludes.