Associate Solicitor (NQ to 2 years PQE)

Leigh Day; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Leigh Day is seeking an Associate Solicitor to join the Personal Injury department in Manchester. The role covers EL/PL and RTA injury claims end to end, suitable for experienced solicitors or newly qualified juniors seeking to develop expertise.

You will work with a supportive team handling high-quality cases and have opportunities to contribute to business development. The role focuses on managing cases from start to finish, obtaining instructions, and briefing experts to provide robust advice

Qualifications

• Experience in personal injury law.
• 0-2 years of post-qualification experience is a plus.
• Ability to manage cases from initial instructions through to trial.

Responsibilities

• Manage personal injury cases from start to finish.
• Instruct medico-legal experts to advise on liability, causation and quantum.
• Analyse strategy and pursue optimum settlements, including pre-litigation and litigation through to trial.
• Engage in business development activities relevant to the role and department.
• Maintain professional standards and client confidentiality.

Skills

Legal research

Client communication

Negotiation

Case management

Education

Solicitor qualification

Tools

Case Management Systems

MS Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

We are looking for an Associate Solicitor to join our Personal Injury department to work on a range of EL / PL & RTA injury claims end to end.

This is an exciting opportunity for either an experienced personal injury solicitor seeking a new challenge or a newly qualified/junior solicitor looking to develop their expertise in this specialism. You will work closely with an experienced and supportive team on high-quality cases, gaining exposure to complex litigation and making a genuine difference to clients' lives.

The role also offers opportunities to become involved in business development.

Overall purpose of the role

• To assist the team with high value personal injury cases and run own caseload of cases comprising a mix of fast track, intermediate track and multi-track injury claims.
• To assist the firm in achieving its stated professional and commercial objectives.

Main duties and responsibilities

• To manage personal injury cases from start to finish;
• To obtain accurate information and instructions from clients, analyse the legal and practical aspects of their claims and obtain the necessary documents/evidence to provide advice on funding/liability/quantum/costs.
• To instruct medico-legal experts to advise on liability, causation and quantum.
• 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 to achieve optimum settlements for clients, whether that be pre-litigation, or by conducting litigation through to trial or earlier settlement and to deal with post trial/settlement considerations including costs.
• To enable clients and/or their litigation friends to make informed decisions based on advice.
• To ensure the timely and effective deployment of others involved in the matter e.g. expert witnesses, enquiry agents, counsel, cost draftsmen.
• To comply with the Civil Procedures Rules.

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.
• Take part in business development activities relevant to the role and department.

Professional standard

• To work and behave in a professional manner and within the highest ethical and other standards of the profession.
• Comply with procedures set out in the office manual, professional standards and any requirement set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or similar interested bodies e.g. Legal Expense Insurers.
• To ensure monetary transactions are dealt with efficiently and in accordance with professional rules.
• To maintain the strictest standards of client confidentiality at all times.

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.

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.

Person specification

• Ability to demonstrate a commitment to equality, access to justice and affordable legal advice of the highest quality.
• Experience in personal injury law. It would ideally suit lawyers with 0-2 years of post-qualification experience.
• Demonstrable knowledge in conduct of cases from initial advice through to trial.
• Relevant experience in analysing complex factual and legal situations and advising clients in accordance with their aims.
• Substantial experience in dealing sensitively with clients and experts, providing solutions and managing difficult situations and conversations.
• Ability to analyse complex factual and legal situations and advise as to the critical path that should be followed.
• A keenness to engage in business development.
• 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.
• Excellent time management skills demonstrated by ability to organise and prioritise a complex workload and work to tight deadlines.
• Experience in working and contributing in a team environment.