Paralegal, Personal Injury - Asbestos

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.

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.