Paralegal, Personal Injury (Serious Injury)

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. 

Notable cases the Partner has worked on were assisting on two key cases where pedestrians were seriously injured in road crashes, and the drivers of the vehicles argued that the Claimants were partly to blame (Lightfoot v Go Ahead Plc [2011] EWHC 89 (QB) and Belka v Prosperini [2011] EWCA Civ 623). 

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.
•    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, 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 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.

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.

Please note that candidates should only apply if they have a notice period of  one month or less.

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.