About the teams:
The successful candidate will work with a Partner (Stephanie Hill) and Senior Associate (Carolin Ott) in the Human Rights department.
Carolin Ott is based in London and specialises in public law (judicial review and public inquiry work). Her team works on a wide range of judicial review challenges, including with a particular emphasis on discrimination and in the social welfare context. She acts in high-profile judicial review challenges, including involving clients abroad including in Kenya, Gaza and the DRC. She has also been working on the Covid-19 inquiry. She will provide supervision remotely and via regular attendance at the Leigh Day Manchester office / the successful candidate attending at the London office.
Stephanie Hill is based in Manchester and has a varied caseload of public and private law claims, typically funded by legal aid. Her team has a particular focus on migrants' rights, including unlawful detention and age disputes. Her team also acts for people who have been trafficked in claims against the government. Stephanie also represents bereaved families in inquests involving Article 2 (the right to life). She also has a more general judicial review practice, representing individuals and small groups in challenging a wide range of decisions of public authorities.
Overall purpose for this role
- To provide a reliable and efficient support service to two senior fee earners in respect of their busy and varied caseloads of cases within the Human Rights team (comprising a range of public and private law work including judicial reviews and unlawful detention claims), and to assist with general administration of the caseloads.
- To undertake a wide variety of paralegal and administrative tasks as set out below. You will also be required to undertake other ad-hoc duties as required from time to time.
Main duties and responsibilities
- This role involves assisting with drafting documents and correspondence; liaising with clients, Counsel, experts and other solicitors; drafting legal aid funding applications; requesting and reviewing evidence; conducting legal research; preparing PDF bundles and administrative support including the efficient billing of cases. In the absence of supervising fee-earner, ensuring that urgent matters are dealt with or referred to appropriate personnel.
- Produce accurate documents from verbal or written instructions including the use of templates and precedents.
- Undertake administrative tasks required for the smooth running of cases.
File/case management
- Thorough and accurate note taking at meetings and preparation of file notes.
- Preparing court and other documents for the approval of senior fee earners.
- Organising and preparing court and other bundles including electronic PDF bundles.
- Attend court on applications, trials etc. when requested to do so.
- Assisting with ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.
- Ensuring excellent attention to detail in all aspects of the role.
Communication
- Communicate effectively and empathetically; be approachable and professional in all dealings.
- Contact clients/other contacts as and when necessary, dealing with such calls in a courteous and efficient manner.
Filing
- Ensure electronic and paper filing kept up-to-date and copies of correspondence/ documents are kept in the file, open new files/close old files as required.
- Pay particular attention to detail and ensure accuracy.
Information technology
- To utilise IT to provide a quality, cost effective and efficient service to clients.
Training
- To keep up to date by attending in-house seminars, through research, reading and attending courses if appropriate.
- To ensure that adequate training is received to be able to gain maximum benefit from the firm's investment in IT.
- Any other tasks as might from time to time as required.
Person specification
Essential
- Genuine interest in working with a leading claimant law firm and passion about providing access to justice to all.
- Demonstrable interest and passion about human rights or public law and building a career in this field.
- Relevant legal qualifications (LLB, GDL, LPC or similar).
- Demonstrable experience in drafting legal documentation and correspondence, sorting and reviewing client records, including excellent attention to detail.
- Experience in legal and evidential research.
- Demonstrable ability to build trust and confidence with vulnerable and marginalised clients. Demonstrable experience in using a variety of IT packages (MS Word, Excel, Case Management Systems, Outlook).
- Demonstrable experience in dealing sensitively with clients and managing difficult situations and conversations.
- Proven ability to organise and prioritise a complex workload and work to tight deadlines whilst maintaining a positive attitude and high standards.
- Proven ability to work and contribute in a team environment.
- Proven ability to be self-sufficient in relation to administration and IT requirements.
- Excellent communication skills, demonstrated by ability to communicate accurately, clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing, to a variety of audiences.
Desirable
- Experience in human rights, public law (judicial reviews) and/or private law.
- Experience in conducting litigation from first instruction through to settlement/trial.
- Experience with cases funded via legal aid.
- Experience in interviewing clients and taking witness statements.