Overall purpose:
A paralegal within the Asbestos team is expected to provide a reliable and efficient support service for the fee earners on the asbestos team in Liverpool and assist with general administration of caseloads.
Main duties and responsibilities:
- Assist with drafting documents, client liaison, research work, general correspondence and administrative support.
- Sort and review medical and financial records, liaise with medical professionals, financial institutions and other solicitors.
- In the absence of supervising fee-earners, ensure that urgent matters are referred to appropriate personnel.
File/case management:
- Attend court on applications, trials etc. when requested to do so.
- Thorough and accurate note taking at meetings and preparation of file notes.
- Preparing court and other documents for the approval of the fee earner(s).
- Organising and preparing court and other bundles.
- Ensure filing is kept up-to-date and copies of correspondence/ documents are kept in the file, open new files/close old files as required.
- Pay attention to detail and ensure accuracy.
Client relations:
- Communicate effectively; be approachable and professional in dealings with clients, internal and external stakeholders.
- Ensure cheques are requisitioned/paid in as instructed.
- Ensure monetary transactions are dealt with efficiently and in accordance with office procedures.
Training:
- To try and 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 Information Technology.
Person specification:
- Genuine interest to work with a leading claimant law firm and passionate about providing access to justice for all.
- Demonstrable paralegal experience in drafting legal documents; preparing client care documents.
- Demonstrable experience in sorting and producing a review of medical and financial records, liaising with medical professionals, financial institutions and other solicitors.
- Good academic background with Legal qualifications (Degree, GDL, LPC etc.).
- Demonstrable experience in using a variety of IT packages (MS Word, Excel, Case Management Systems, Outlook).
- Proven ability in meeting / interviewing clients, taking witness statements, dealing sensitively and managing difficult situations and conversations.
- Proven ability to communicate accurately, clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing with a wide range of clients and various stakeholders.
- Proven ability to organise and prioritise a complex workload and work to tight deadlines whilst maintaining a positive attitude.
- Proven ability to work and contribute in a team environment.
- Proven ability to be self-sufficient in relation to administration, typing and IT requirements.
Desirable
- Relevant paralegal experience in claimant Asbestos / Industrial Disease while not essential, will be advantageous.
- Demonstrable paralegal experience in preparing CFA documents; statements and benefits applications; requesting National Insurance histories.