About the team
The team works on claims arising from road traffic collisions, incidents at work (including the military), and incidents involving occupiers' / public liability with the Partner of the team representing clients who have suffered life-changing brain injuries, amputations, spinal injuries and complex orthopaedic injuries as well as representing bereaved families in fatal accident claims.
The Partner has recently been instructed in a large group claim against sports governing bodies (football, rugby league and rugby union). The claim involves over 1000 sports players who have suffered brain injuries due to repeated concussions. The claims are well advanced and have a busy court timetable.
The Partner's profile is here David Preston. The team comprises an NQ Solicitor, a paralegal and a trainee solicitor.
Overall purpose for this role
A Paralegal within the Personal Injury Department is expected to:
- provide a reliable and efficient support service primarily to the supervising fee-earner and assist with general administration of caseloads,
- Undertake a wide variety of tasks as set out below,
- Undertake other ad-hoc duties as required from time to time.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Assist with drafting documents (e.g. letters of instruction, witness statements and attendance notes), client liaison, research, general correspondence, assist with procedures relating to costs collection and administrative support.
- Sort and review medical and financial records, liaise with medical professionals, financial institutions, and other solicitors.
- Review and analyse disclosure on large group claims.
- In the absence of supervising fee-earner, 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.
- Organising and preparing court and other bundles.
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.
- Ensure invoices are requisitioned/ paid in as instructed. To ensure monetary transactions are dealt with efficiently and in accordance with office procedures.
Filing
- Ensure electronic files are kept up-to-date and copies of correspondence/ documents are stored correctly and open new files/close old files as required.
- Pay attention to detail and ensure accuracy.
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 from time to time will be required.
Performance measured by
- Effective support of the Supervising Fee-earner.
- Good quality of written documents.
- 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
- Genuine interest to work with a leading claimant law firm and passionate about providing access to justice to all.
- Experience in sorting and reviewing medical, financial records and drafting legal documentation and correspondence.
- 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 and 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 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 Personal Injury.
- Experience in interviewing clients, taking witness statements, dealing sensitively and managing difficult situations and conversations.
- Experience of working on large group claims.
- Experience of using disclosure platforms such as Relativity.
Please be aware that this role is a six month fixed term contract.
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
