Associate Solicitor, Human Rights, 12 Month FTC

Leigh Day And Co; London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a qualified lawyer to join their Human Rights department. This role focuses on managing a caseload related to the care and treatment of prisoners, ensuring the highest standards of legal representation. You will engage in business development, provide sensitive client relations, and contribute to the firm's growth while adhering to ethical standards. With a commitment to equality and justice, this firm offers a supportive environment, competitive benefits, and a hybrid working model that allows flexibility and work-life balance. If you are passionate about making a difference in the legal field, this opportunity is for you.

Benefits

29 days' holiday

Contributory pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Interest-free season ticket loan

Cycle to work scheme

Electric vehicle scheme

Free breakfast and lunch

Two weeks' working elsewhere

Qualifications

• Experience in representing clients in actions against the state.
• Ability to manage a large caseload with deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain a caseload focused on prisoner care.
• Conduct cases for Human Rights clients to high standards.

Skills

Legal Aid Experience

Client Management

Case Management

Communication Skills

Business Development

Team Collaboration

Analytical Skills

Education

Qualified Lawyer

Tools

MS Word

Excel

Case Management Systems

Outlook

Job description

Department:

Human Rights

Location:

London

Competitive

Contract type:

Fixed term contract

Overall job purpose:
• To manage and maintain a caseload focused on the care and treatment of prisoners in England and Wales.
• To conduct cases on behalf of Human Rights clients to the highest standards.
• To assist the firm in achieving its stated professional and commercial objectives.
• To assist with business development in relation to inquests and prison work.

Key duties and responsibilities:

File/case management
• To obtain accurate information and instructions from our 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.
• To ensure that appropriate funding is in place and that all conditions of that funding arrangement are complied with.
• To interview clients and witnesses, advise on settlement agreements, draft statements, prepare lists of documents, draft schedules of loss, prepare Court bundles.
• To deal with interlocutory matters, appear at interlocutory hearings and possibly short substantive hearings when sufficiently experienced.
• To brief counsel, attend conferences and Court with counsel.
• To analyse and advise on strategy, tactics, and how best to achieve the most successful outcome for each client according to the particular circumstances of their case.
• To endeavour, where appropriate, to achieve settlement pre-litigation; otherwise to conduct litigation through to trial or earlier settlement and to deal with post trial/settlement considerations such as costs and enforcement proceedings, and to consider whether any decision should be appealed.
• To enable clients and/or their litigation friends, where a client lacks capacity, to make informed decisions based on advice on legal and other appropriate considerations e.g. costs, funding and risks of litigation.
• To ensure the timely and effective deployment of others involved in the matter e.g. expert witnesses, enquiry agents, counsel, cost draftsmen.
• To monitor all aspects of the case on behalf of the client and advise on whether subsequent developments affect views previously expressed.
• To follow Court timetables and adhere to time limits, to make necessary applications where required to protect the client's position.
• To comply with the Civil Procedures Rules and related protocols.

Client relations
• To deal with clients in a sensitive, professional and compassionate way.
• To identify clients' objectives and to seek to further them in a manner consistent with all professional and ethical obligations.

Other responsibilities
• To anticipate as well as to respond to clients' needs and demands.
• Sharing of information with colleagues.
• To participate in the growth and development of the department/firm.

Marketing: social and technical
• To present seminars, write articles, join and participate in professional and other relevant organisations.

Management of resources
• To assist the firm in maximising income and profitability by effective time recording, billing and staff planning.

Training
• To keep up to date with developments in law and practice.
• Individuals who need CPD hours must keep their records up to date and comply with the relevant CPD requirements.

Information technology
• Wherever possible, to utilise I.T. to provide a quality, cost effective and efficient service to clients.
• To maintain the strictest concern for and awareness of the need for data protection at all times.
• Any other tasks as might from time to time be required.

Performance measured by
• Conducting matters on behalf of clients to their satisfaction.
• Efficiency in dealing with work and accuracy of work produced.
• Increase in caseload brought about by the business development activities undertaken.
• Ability to work with initiative; maintaining a flexible and responsible approach.
• Careful file management and the keeping of detailed contemporaneous attendance notes of all work done on behalf of our clients.
• Compliance with time recording requirements and reaching financial targets.
• Knowledge and use of court rules and procedures.
• Personal development and contribution to the overall objectives of the firm.
• Good attendance and timekeeping.

Person specification
• Qualified lawyer with experience representing clients in actions against the state, including inquests
• Experience of Legal Aid is essential, from application through to billing
• Ability to demonstrate a commitment to equality, access to justice and affordable legal advice of the highest quality.
• Demonstrable experience in business development, marketing and networking to bring in work.
• Demonstrable working knowledge of civil procedure from initial instructions to trial.
• Demonstrable ability to ensure team systems are functioning effectively
• Demonstrable experience of managing a large number of cases with limitation/service and court deadlines.
• Substantial experience in conduct of cases from initial advice through to trial.
• Substantial experience in analysing complex factual and legal situations and advising clients in accordance with their aims.
• Substantial experience of day to day running of a large and varied caseload
• Substantial experience in dealing sensitively with vulnerable client groups, providing solutions and managing difficult situations and conversations.
• Solid awareness of the general legal and ethical principles and able to apply those to different situations.
• Solid experience in using a variety of IT packages (MS Word, Excel, Case Management Systems and Outlook).
• Excellent communication skills, demonstrated by ability to communicate accurately, clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Substantial experience in working and contributing in a team environment.

Desirable
• 2-4 years relevant PQE experience
• Demonstrable experience of representing clients in prison, including an awareness of prison processes
• Familiarity with Claims Against Public Authorities (CAPA) Legal Aid category
• Demonstrable experience in Costing own files
• Demonstrable working knowledge of application of private law in human rights, negligence and inquests.

Application Process
Interviews will commence on the last week of May, with a start date commencing beginning of September.

About Leigh Day

We are a top 100 law firmcommitted 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.

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.

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