Paste blurb here.
DEADLINE TO APPLY: TUESDAY 7 JUNE
Main duties and responsibilities
File management
- 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.
Client relations
- 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.
Professional standards
- 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.
Other responsibilities
- 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.
Marketing: social and technical
- 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.
Management of resources
- To assist the firm in maximising income and profitability by effective time recording, billing and staff planning.
Training
- 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.
Information technology
- 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
Performance measured by
- 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.
Person specification
- 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 research skills using on-line systems.
- 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.