Job Description

If you're an experienced Litigation Assistant looking for a new challenge within a welcoming team, we have an exciting opportunity for you in our Clinical Negligence team.

Job Role:

To provide direct support to Senior Fee Earners in the Department in a range of matters relating to clinical negligence and manage all client work allocated in accordance with the Firm's standards. To effectively undertake all assigned tasks allocated and where necessary provide support to the wider Department and/or Firm with a high degree of self-management and initiative. To support accounts management on behalf of the team to prepare all bills, Legal Aid Funding and disbursement requests from the ATE insurer. To effectively manage aspects of new matters allocated by keeping accurate and up to date logs and to prepare a monthly report to FRU Supervisor and HOD detailing the number of referrals received and converted. To assist the team with new Clinical Negligence enquiries, by taking initial instructions from potential new clients, either over the telephone or face to face. Completing the new client questionnaire, sending matters to fee-earners for screening, setting up new matters on the case management system, and sending out client care packs to clients via post and electronically and ensuring that these are signed and returned expeditiously.

The post holder will undertake tasks including but not limited to:-

To act in a semi-fee earning capacity and to accurately record and submit regular time recording in line with the firm's/departments policy. To undertake basic fee earning duties under supervision, such as taking detailed client instructions in person or over the phone and managing conduct of files where assigned by a senior fee earner. To achieve agreed levels of billing and time recording, where applicable. To ensure all financial controls procedures are followed particularly in respect of billing procedures and collection of monies. Read through medical notes and highlight salient points for senior fee earners attention. Carry out research into medical conditions/treatments to assist senior fee earners in progression of cases. Also quantum research and case law. Carry out eligibility calculations to determine whether potential new clients are eligible for Legal Aid Help/Advice/funding. To ensure that all client work relating to files is processed correctly and expeditiously and that the client is kept regularly informed of progress and costs. To manage and deal with all correspondence associated with files on a daily basis. To maintain and update files with relevant correspondence to ensure files remain current and up to date. Updating the case management system efficiently and effectively in accordance with departmental processes and procedures. When required, arrange and attend conferences with Counsel, instruct experts and review expert reports. Liaise with legal representatives including counsel, costs drafts persons, experts etc. Preparing Legal Aid Agency (LAA) forms/online applications. Manage periodic payments on account as agreed by the relevant fee earner. To follow file review procedures ensuring that these are dealt with promptly. Carry out periodic costs checks on files as requested by the relevant fee earner. Assist with and undertake tasks relating to fee earner's clinical negligence caseloads when required. Assist the department in developing work processes for clinical negligence cases when required. To undertake administration work on files and support senior fee earners with the same. To support senior fee earners with all typing (audio and copy typing) requirements. To deal with enquiries, calls and correspondence from clients/other professionals, which do not need input from a senior member of the Dept. To undertake all filing, copying, scanning duties as required to support the Dept. To administer the opening, closing, storage and retrieval of client files in accordance with the firm's procedures. To prepare daily mail and enclosures for dispatch. Manage diaries/calendars for senior fee earners and where relevant own diary management. To ensure that support staff allocated are progressing your work in a timely manner. To prepare bundles of documents for counsel and experts and trial bundles when required. To attend to clients both in person and on the telephone and to provide such support in a
professional and friendly manner in keeping with the firm's standards for client care.

To provide support to the firm's support staff and fee earners as required. Greeting and dealing with "walk in" clients, to the office to take initial instructions or brief updates on their matter. Preparing draft bills. To maintain flexibility to attend conferences with clients which, on occasions may be outside of 'normal working hours.' To ensure the confidentiality of all the firm's and client's documentation and information. To undertake any other duty as reasonably requested of you and within your capabilities including reception cover, post room cover and court run cover (full training provided.)
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

Company events Company pension Health & wellbeing programme Referral programme Sick pay
Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person