Assistant Lawyer
Job Purpose:
This role offers an excellent opportunity to work with a Lead Lawyer in our Complex Injury Claims Team dealing with large loss claims. In this role you will assist a lead lawyer on complex, high value injury claims which will include EL/PL as well as RTA claims. Experience of indemnity, liability and complex medical issues is required and excellent attention to detail essential. Your work will be supervised and feedback given in order to help progress your career and work through the development framework. The role also includes the need to engage with sophisticated senior claims handlers in long-standing insurance clients. In this role you may also be required to assist your Lead Lawyer in activities which enhance and develop Keoghs profile.
Key Accountabilities:
You will work as part of a team progressing each file from receipt of papers from the insurer client to resolution of the claim. The role will include:
Working with the Lead Lawyer to manage a caseload of high value complex injury claims including high value multi-track and catastrophic injury claims involving brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation and fatal claims.
Communicating with sophisticated insurer clients, dealing with their queries and updating them as the matter progresses.
Forensic analysis of voluminous quantum evidence, preparing chronologies, identifying anomalies and other relevant information across various sources and categories of evidence.
Using your existing knowledge of complex injury symptomology to identify relevant issues within medical records in order to instruct medical experts, drawing key issues to their attention.
Critical analysis of sources of liability evidence and identifying any gaps.
Drafting concise technical advice on all aspects of claim handling to include advice on reserves, indemnity, liability, quantum and causation issues and claims resolution for strategy discussion with the Lead Lawyer.
Proactively identifying next steps required on matter, discussing those aspects with the Lead Lawyer and taking action as agreed.
Interviewing witnesses and drafting statements.
Liaising with parties involved in claims including the insured, insurer, witnesses etc.
Drafting pleadings and applications.
Instructing counsel and attending conferences, JSMs, mediations both remotely and in person.
Attend court in person or by telephone, attend trials, settlement conferences etc as required.
Delivery of agreed performance targets and quality standards.
Delegate assigned tasks for a Complex Injury Legal Assistant / Paralegal and be fully engaged in their development in terms of technical ability and achievement of objectives.
Maintaining case managements systems with up to date management information for clients.
To ensure compliance with the SRA Code of Conduct
Working hours:
This is a full time opportunity
Required experience / skills:
As well as all the usual skills that you make a professional lawyer, for this role we are particularly looking for:
Qualified solicitor, CILEX or proven relevant legal experience is essential
Experience of RTA and/or EL/PL cases
Experience of indemnity, liability and quantum essential
Experience of cases involving complex medical issues
Critical thinking and quantum analysis experience required.
Good telephone advocacy skills.
Understanding of case law and litigation practice and process, and Court Practice Rules.
Ability to follow instruction and with attention to detail and to give clear instruction, direction and guidance to more junior members of the team
In return you can expect:
An excellent compensation package along with:
25 days holiday per year (opportunity to buy & sell 3 days)
Private Medical Insurance Bupa
Skills development framework which brings career opportunities depending on your ambition and own aspirations
Health Cash Plan
Life assurance
Critical Illness Cover
PHI/Income Protection
Pension Contribution based
Cycle to Work Scheme
Tech Scheme
Season Ticket Loan
Gym Flex
Our culture is focussed on making Keoghs sustainable and successful for our people and clients, with this our five values are at the heart of everything we do.
Keoghs values:
We listen, are down to earth and supportive
We work together towards a common goal
Were friendly with a can do attitude
We care about our clients
We evolve
I look forward to receiving your application, should you wish to have a more informal conversation initially, then please do not hesitate to contact me in the first instance.