Catastrophic Injury Senior Associate - Defendant

Cape Clarke; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Cape Clarke in Newcastle is seeking a Catastrophic Injury Senior Associate to manage serious injury claims within a specialist defendant insurance team. You will run cases at a senior level, shaping defence strategy with lead lawyers and experts.

The role requires 4–8 years of PQE, with applications from solicitors or qualified legal executives; hybrid working means at least one Newcastle office day per week. You’ll also mentor junior colleagues and contribute to major defense work.

Qualifications

• Solicitors and qualified legal executives with substantial injury litigation experience.
• Experience handling catastrophic injury cases (brain injury, spinal injury, amputation and fatal accidents).
• Minimum of four to eight years' PQE.

Responsibilities

• Run serious injury claims and lead defence strategy.
• Assess liability and expert evidence.
• Advise on quantum and work with counsel.
• Support junior colleagues and mentor the team.
• Drive progress on defendant large-loss work.

Skills

Litigation management

Catastrophic injury expertise

Legal analysis

Mentoring juniors

Education

Solicitor qualification

Legal executive qualification

Job description

Catastrophic Injury Senior Associate - Defendant

Newcastle | Hybrid - at least one office day a week | £60,000-£80,000

Complex injury work, a Newcastle base and a minimum of one office day a week make this a particularly worthwhile move for a lawyer who wants to keep substantial litigation at the centre of their career.

I'm recruiting for a specialist defendant insurance practice seeking a Senior Associate. You will run serious injury claims and work with lead lawyers on major catastrophic cases involving brain injury, spinal injury, amputation and fatal accidents.

The role offers responsibility for shaping the defence: assessing liability and expert evidence, advising on quantum, working with counsel and helping insurer clients make informed decisions. You will also support junior colleagues, bringing your experience to the way the wider team investigates and progresses its cases.

The guide is around four to eight years' PQE, although the work you have handled matters more than a precise number. Applications are welcomed from solicitors and qualified legal executives with substantial injury litigation experience. A strong claimant background can also be considered, making this a credible route into defendant large-loss work.

For someone already handling demanding claims, the attraction is the combination of case ownership, access to very substantial litigation and a senior contribution to the team. Hybrid working requires at least one day a week in the Newcastle office. I'll talk you through the remit and how your existing experience would transfer before you apply.