Civil Litigation Assistant

Robertsons Legal Limited; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Robertsons Legal Limited in Cardiff is seeking a civil litigation assistant to join our busy litigation team. Based in Cardiff, you will support solicitors on a caseload from instruction through to settlement or trial, with scope to handle lower-value matters under supervision.

You will draft letters of claim, responses, witness statements and schedules, keep diaries, track CPR deadlines and liaise with clients, counsel and process servers, using MCOL and Civil National Business Centre portals.

Qualifications

• Excellent organisation and the discipline to manage deadlines across a number of files at once.
• Clear, accurate writing, and the ability to produce a first draft that needs little correction.
• Excellent communication skills, including with clients who may be anxious or distressed.
• Confidence with IT and case management systems, and using court portals.

Responsibilities

• Support solicitors in running a caseload of civil litigation matters, from first instruction through to settlement or trial.
• Prepare first drafts of correspondence, letters of claim and responses, claim forms, witness statements, chronologies and schedules for review by the supervising solicitor.
• Keep the diary on each file and track pre-action protocol steps, court directions and CPR deadlines, flagging anything at risk early.
• Issue and file documents through MCOL, court e-filing and the Civil National Business Centre portals, and deal with court correspondence.
• Collate and review documents for disclosure, and prepare bundles for hearings, mediations and trial.
• Help prepare instructions to counsel and experts. Book hearings and conferences, and liaise with counsel’s clerks, experts and process servers.
• Keep clients updated, take instructions, and gather the information and evidence needed to progress their matter.
• Open files and carry out client identification, source of funds and anti-money laundering checks. Maintain files in line with Lexcel and firm policy.
• Record time accurately, and support the team with billing and requests for money on account.

Skills

Organisation

Attention to detail

Written communication

Verbal communication

Time management

Deadline management

Problem solving

Education

Law degree

Paralegal qualification

Tools

MCOL

Civil National Business Centre portals

Case management systems

Job description

We’re looking for a civil litigation assistant to join our busy litigation team. Based in Cardiff we are actively growing that office and there is scope to be part of it.

You will work alongside the department’s solicitors on a caseload of civil disputes from first instruction through to settlement or trial. As your experience grows, you will run lower-value matters of your own under supervision. The work covers contract and debt claims, property and boundary disputes, landlord and tenant matters including claims under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, professional negligence, and contentious probate including Inheritance Act claims.

This role would suit someone who has already worked in a litigation department as a legal assistant or paralegal. It would also suit a law graduate with relevant experience who wants to build a career in civil litigation. You will need to be organised and accurate, and comfortable working to court deadlines. You will have client contact from the outset.

Key Responsibilities

• Support solicitors in running a caseload of civil litigation matters, from first instruction through to settlement or trial.
• Prepare first drafts of correspondence, letters of claim and responses, claim forms, witness statements, chronologies and schedules for review by the supervising solicitor.
• Keep the diary on each file and track pre-action protocol steps, court directions and CPR deadlines, flagging anything at risk early.
• Issue and file documents through MCOL, court e-filing and the Civil National Business Centre portals, and deal with court correspondence.
• Collate and review documents for disclosure, and prepare bundles for hearings, mediations and trial.
• Help prepare instructions to counsel and experts. Book hearings and conferences, and liaise with counsel’s clerks, experts and process servers.
• Keep clients updated, take instructions, and gather the information and evidence needed to progress their matter.
• Open files and carry out client identification, source of funds and anti-money laundering checks. Maintain files in line with Lexcel and firm policy.
• Record time accurately, and support the team with billing and requests for money on account.

Essential

• Excellent organisation and attention to detail, and the discipline to manage deadlines across a number of files at once.
• Clear, accurate writing, and the ability to produce a first draft that needs little correction.
• The judgement to know when to ask a question and when to elevate a problem.
• Excellent communication skills, including with clients who are anxious, angry or hearing something they don’t want to hear.
• Confidence with IT and case management systems.

Desirable

• Experience of e-filing, MCOL and the Civil National Business Centre portals.
• Experience of property or boundary disputes, contentious probate, or Inheritance Act claims.
• Experience supporting employment tribunal claims, on either the claimant or respondent side.
• An understanding of costs budgeting and the fixed recoverable costs regime.
• A grounding in the CPR, pre-action protocols and the track system, from study or practice.
• Familiarity with Welsh-specific legislation, particularly the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.