About the team
Our Clinical Negligence team represent clients who have experienced substandard medical treatment that causes injury or an existing condition to worsen. Our expert solicitors specialise in claims relating to child and adult brain injury, cerebral palsy and birth injuries.
The Partner in this team is Emmalene Bushnell.
Overall purpose for this role
- A Paralegal within the Clinical Negligence team is expected to:
- Provide reliable and efficient litigation support primarily to your supervising fee-earner but also to assist with the work of the team.
- Undertake a wide variety of administrative tasks as set out below.
- Undertake other ad-hoc duties as required from time to time.
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, barristers, and other solicitors.
- In the absence of supervising fee-earner, ensure that urgent matters are referred to appropriate personnel.
File/Case Management
- To obtain accurate information and instructions from clients, analyse the legal and practical aspects of their claims and obtain the necessary documents/evidence to assist in providing preliminary advice on liability/quantum/costs & funding.
Telephones
- Telephone clients/other contacts as and when necessary, dealing with such calls in a courteous and efficient manner.
Client Relations
- Communicate effectively; be approachable and professional in all dealings.
Information Technology
- To utilise I.T. 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 Information Technology.
Any other tasks as might be required from time to time.
Performance Measured By
- Assisting with matters being conducted 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
- Knowledge and use of court rules and procedures.
- Efficiency in dealing with work and accuracy of work produced.
- Ability to work with initiative, maintaining a flexible and responsible approach.
- Personal development and contribution to the overall objectives of the firm.
- Good attendance and timekeeping.
Person Specification
Essential
- Legal qualifications (Degree, GDL).
- Previous paralegal or litigation experience.
- Genuine interest to work with a leading claimant law firm and passionate about providing access to justice to all.
- Excellent academic background.
- Demonstrable experience in using a variety of IT packages (MS Word, Excel, Case Management Systems, Outlook).
- 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 work in an organised and methodical manner and ability to manage own workload.
- Proven ability to work and contribute in a team environment.
Desirable
- Completion of the LPC/BVC.
- Relevant experience in clinical negligence
- Relevant experience in drafting clear and concise legal notes and correspondence.
- Experience in sorting and reviewing medical and financial records.
- Experience in interviewing clients and taking witness statements, dealing sensitively and managing difficult conversations.
About Leigh Day
We are a top 100 law firm committed 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.
Benefits
Our comprehensive benefits package includes:
- Hybrid working (typically 2-3 days from home for a full time worker)
- 29 days annual leave (excluding public holidays)
- Enhanced pension contributions
- Life assurance 4 x salary
- Healthcare cash plan
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Discounted gym membership
- Enhanced maternity & paternity pay
- Electric car scheme
