Associate Solicitor, Personal Injury, NQ to 3 PQE
Posted 11 days ago by Leigh Day And Co
Vijay Ganapathy is looking to appoint an associate to work in his team within the Personal Injury department. His team focuses on industrial disease claims, mainly asbestos disease cases on behalf of those diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases, as well as other complex injury claims including those involving public accidents and child injury.
The ideal candidate will have previous personal injury experience; however we are open to considering applications from candidates who don't have experience in this area but can demonstrate a genuine interest. Candidates should be able to work fast under pressure due to the tight timelines associated with these types of cases, and also understand the challenges that arise from working with terminally ill clients or bereaved families.
Main duties and responsibilities- To obtain accurate information and instructions from our clients, analyse the legal and practical aspects of their claims and obtain the necessary documents/evidence.
- To advise on limitation dates and to act promptly once instructed and/or to provide preliminary advice on liability/quantum/costs & funding.
- To advise clients on the merits of their claims.
- To identify appropriate medico-legal experts to advise on liability and quantum, negotiate acceptable terms for their instruction, ensure their fees are paid promptly, prepare formal instructions and liaise with those experts and/or their secretaries during the running of the case.
- To analyse and advise on strategy, tactics, and how best to achieve the most successful outcome for each client according to the particular circumstances of their case.
- To endeavour, where appropriate, to achieve settlement pre-litigation; otherwise to conduct litigation through to trial or earlier settlement and to deal with post-trial/settlement considerations such as costs and enforcement proceedings, and to consider whether any decision should be appealed.
- To enable clients and/or their litigation friends, where a client lacks capacity, to make informed decisions based on advice on legal and other appropriate considerations e.g. costs, funding and risks of litigation.
- To ensure the timely and effective deployment of others involved in the matter e.g. expert witnesses, enquiry agents, counsel, cost draftsmen.
- To monitor all aspects of the case on behalf of the client and advise on whether subsequent developments affect views previously expressed.
- To heed the procedural timetable and time limits, to make necessary applications where required to protect the client's position.
- To comply with the Civil Procedures Rules and/or Employment Tribunal rules.
- To deal with clients in a sensitive, professional and compassionate way.
- To identify clients' objectives and to seek to further them in a manner consistent with all professional and ethical obligations.
- To work and behave in a professional manner and within the highest ethical and other standards of the profession.
- Comply with procedures set out in the office manual, professional standards and any requirement set by the Legal Services Commission or similar interested bodies e.g. Legal Expense Insurers.
- To ensure monetary transactions are dealt with efficiently and in accordance with professional rules.
- To maintain the strictest standards of client confidentiality at all times.
- To delegate appropriately and to supervise and motivate reporting staff.
- To anticipate as well as to respond to clients' needs and demands.
- Sharing of information with colleagues.
- To participate in the growth and development of the department/firm.
- To include presentation of seminars, writing articles, joining and participating in professional and other relevant organisations.
- To raise your profile through the department's marketing initiatives.
- To assist the firm in maximising income and profitability by effective time recording, billing and staff planning.
- To keep up to date with developments in law and practice.
- Individuals who need CPD hours must keep their records up to date and comply with the relevant CPD requirements.
- Wherever possible, to utilise IT to provide a quality, cost effective and efficient service to clients.
- To maintain the strictest concern for and awareness of the need for data protection at all times.
- Any other tasks as might from time to time be required
- Conducting matters on behalf of clients to their satisfaction.
- Careful file management and the keeping of detailed contemporaneous attendance notes of all work done on behalf of our clients.
- Compliance with time recording requirements and reaching financial targets.
- Efficiency in dealing with work and accuracy of work produced.
- Ability to work with initiative; maintaining a flexible and responsible approach.
- Knowledge and use of court rules and procedures.
- Personal development and contribution to the overall objectives of the firm.
- Good attendance and timekeeping.
- Ability to demonstrate a commitment to equality, access to justice and affordable legal advice of the highest quality.
- Newly qualified lawyer, with a demonstrable interest in working in the relevant area of law.
- Demonstrable knowledge in conduct of cases from initial advice through to trial.
- Experience in calculating losses in Schedule of Loss (often large and complex).
- Substantial experience in dealing sensitively with clients and experts, providing solutions and managing difficult situations and conversations.
- Solid awareness of the general legal and ethical principles and able to apply those to different situations.
- Solid experience in using a variety of IT packages (MS Word, Excel, Case Management Systems and Outlook).
- Excellent communication skills, demonstrated by ability to communicate accurately, clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
- Excellent time management skills, demonstrated by ability to organise and prioritise a complex workload and work to tight deadlines.
- Substantial experience in working and contributing in a team environment
We are a top 100 law firmcommitted to claimant-only cases, ensuring that individuals have the same access to justice as the UK Government and large corporations. We're not afraid to take on difficult and challenging cases involving medical negligence, serious personal injuries, discrimination in the workplace, defective products and human rights abuses in this country and overseas.
29 days' holiday per annum inclusive of 4 days' compulsory leave to be taken during the Christmas office closure, plus all public and bank holidays; two weeks' of working elsewhere; contributory pension scheme; life assurance (4 times annual salary); private medical insurance; interest free season ticket loan; childcare vouchers; cycle to work scheme; electric vehicle scheme. Our hybrid working policy for full-time employees is three days in the office and two at home, and we also offer free breakfast and lunch every day for those coming into to the office.
We also have annual social activities and genuinely pride ourselves on having a supportive and friendly culture.
Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusionLeigh Day is committed to the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We value the diversity of our colleagues, our clients and the third parties with whom we work. We seek to create an environment where everyone feels included and valued for their unique characteristics, skills and abilities and supported in their needs and responsibilities.
We welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. Please let us know if you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the application or recruitment process. There is an option to detail this on your application form, however, please just get in touch should you wish to discuss this prior to formally submitting an application. Please note all conversations or disclosures are treated in the strictest confidence.