Paralegal - Travel Law

Job description

Job title:                     Paralegal – Travel Law

Department:             Personal Injury

Location:                    Manchester – Hybrid working

Reporting to:             Partner

Hours:                         9:30am – 5:30pm, Monday to Friday. Some flexibility is required from time to time to meet the professional requirements of the role.

Contract:                   12 Month FTC, Full time

About the team

This role is part of the Travel Law team within the Personal Injury Department and will be primarily dedicated to supporting the ongoing SDF group action The matter is legally and logistically complex, requiring close coordination between claimants, medical experts, international contacts, and legal professionals.

As a Paralegal, you will assist with the day-to-day management of the group action, including taking and drafting witness statements and Schedules of Client Information, reviewing medical and travel documentation, organising evidence, preparing case summaries and bundles, and communicating directly with clients. You will also help ensure consistency and efficiency across the group claims, working in line with the firm's established group litigation protocols.

You will work under the supervision of Clare Campbell, Jill Paterson and Colin Murphy, all  Partners who lead the SDF litigation and bring extensive experience in high-profile travel law cases. This is a rare opportunity to work on a headline group action, gaining hands-on experience in mass litigation, international claims, and claimant-focused legal practice. The team is collaborative, fast-paced, and committed to delivering justice for clients affected by serious failings abroad.

Overall purpose for this role

• 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, financial institutions and other solicitors.
• In the absence of your 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 provide preliminary advice on liability/quantum/costs & funding.

Client relations

• Telephone clients/other contacts as and when necessary, dealing with such calls in a courteous and efficient manner.
• Communicate effectively; be approachable and professional in all dealings.
• Ensure cheques are requisitioned / paid in as instructed.  To ensure monetary transactions are dealt with efficiently and in accordance with firm procedures.

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.

Any other tasks as might be required from time to time.

Essential experience

• Excellent academics (including a LLB or PGDL/conversion course or equivalent)
• Previous paralegal or litigation experience.
• Genuine interest to work with a leading claimant law firm and passionate about providing access to justice to all.
• 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 experience

• Relevant experience in personal injury
• 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 

29 days' holiday per annum inclusive of 4 days' compulsory leave to be taken during the Christmas office closure, plus all public and bank holidays; two weeks' of working elsewhere; contributory pension scheme; life assurance (4 times annual salary); private medical insurance; interest free season ticket loan; childcare vouchers; cycle to work scheme; electric vehicle scheme. Our hybrid working policy for full-time employees is three days in the office and two at home, and we also offer free breakfast and lunch every day for those coming into to the office. 

We also have annual social activities and genuinely pride ourselves on having a supportive and friendly culture.

Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion

Leigh Day is committed to the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion.  We value the diversity of our colleagues, our clients and the third parties with whom we work.  We seek to create an environment where everyone feels included and valued for their unique characteristics, skills and abilities and supported in their needs and responsibilities.

We welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. Please let us know if you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the application or recruitment process. There is an option to detail this on your application form, however, please just get in touch should you wish to discuss this prior to formally submitting an application. Please note all conversations or disclosures are treated in the strictest confidence.