Clinical Negligence Lawyer; retrain available

Express Solicitors Limited; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Hybrid working after probation

Generous benefits package

Gym facilities / wellness

Job summary

Express Solicitors is expanding its Clinical Negligence Department in Manchester and seeks a lawyer eager to retrain and progress to Associate. The role targets higher-value clinical negligence work and offers strong mentorship and realistic career progression.

The successful candidate will handle cases against NHS Trusts and GP practices, with empathy for seriously injured claimants, and benefit from a supportive team, flexible hybrid working after probation, and a generous benefits package.

Qualifications

• Experience of higher-value work, or at least two years' personal injury litigation experience, ideally involving high-value or complex claims.
• Strong billing track record in handling a mixed clinical negligence caseload, including issued cases.
• Ability to meet KPIs and work toward targets with tenacity and empathy.
• Willingness to develop specialist clinical negligence knowledge with support for retraining.

Responsibilities

• Handle a broad mix of clinical negligence work, including pre-issue and issued cases against NHS Trusts and GP practices.
• Develop specialist knowledge in high-value and complex claims with guidance from senior team.
• Research, draft pleadings and witness statements, negotiate settlements, and represent clients when necessary.
• Work in a target-driven, fast-paced environment with a secretary and assistant support.

Skills

Ambition to retrain

PI litigation experience

Empathy

Billing track record

CPR / litigation skills

Team player

Tools

Proclaim

Job description

Clinical Negligence Lawyer; retrain available

Established in 2000, Express Solicitors is an award‑winning, no win no fee law firm specialising exclusively in personal injury claims. Headquartered in Manchester, we support clients nationwide across all areas of personal injury, including employers’ liability, serious injury, clinical negligence, occupiers’ and public liability, road traffic accidents and industrial disease.

We are ranked 60th in The Lawyer UK Top 200, out of more than 10,000 law firms nationwide, and after achieving a 24% year‑on‑year growth, Express Solicitors are the largest personal injury claimant firm in the UK.

Our commitment to outstanding client care is reflected in our Trustpilot rating of 4.7 (Excellent), placing us among the highest‑rated firms in the sector.

The Role

Express Solicitors is entering an exciting phase of sustained growth, and our Clinical Negligence Department is expanding as a result of continued success and strong marketing performance. We are currently experiencing a significant increase in new clinical negligence instructions and are therefore seeking to recruit an additional lawyer to join our team.

This roles offer genuine career progression, and we are particularly keen to attract candidates who are ambitious, committed to professional development, and aspire to progress to Associate level in the future.

We welcome applications from candidates with healthcare experience, as well as those with at least two years’ personal injury litigation experience who are looking to retrain and develop a career in clinical negligence.

For candidates looking to make the transition from personal injury into clinical negligence, this is an excellent opportunity to build on existing litigation skills, develop specialist expertise and benefit from the support and guidance of an experienced team.

Ideally, you will have strong clinical negligence experience, with a proven track record of demonstrating empathy and understanding. However, we recognise that excellent personal injury litigators can bring valuable transferable skills, particularly those with experience of high-value and complex claims.

The roles offer genuine opportunities for progression and would suit individuals who are passionate about achieving excellent results for clients, contributing to the success of the team and developing their own professional reputations.

We are interested in hearing from lawyers seeking the next exciting step in their careers, including those with aspirations of becoming a Partner in the future.

Responsibilities

The caseload will comprise a broad mix of clinical negligence work, including both pre-issue and issued cases, with a focus on higher-value and more complex claims against NHS Hospital Trusts and/or GPs. We do not handle dental cases.

Catastrophic injury work, including amputation, brain injury and birth injury cases, is also available.

For lawyers joining from a personal injury background, there will be an opportunity to develop the specialist knowledge and skills required to handle clinical negligence claims, building on existing litigation experience.

We are looking for individuals who can work with seriously injured claimants with empathy and understanding, while managing the complexities and risk assessments associated with clinical negligence work.

To assist in achieving goals and targets, the roles will be supported by a secretary and assistant.

• Conducting thorough legal research and providing sound legal advice to clients
• Preparing and drafting legal documents, including pleadings and witness statements
• Negotiating settlements and representing clients in court when necessary
• Working in a target driven, fast paced environment
• Collaborating with colleagues to ensure the successful outcome of cases.
• Keeping up to date with changes in relevant laws and regulations

Person Specification

• Experience of higher-value work, or at least two years' personal injury litigation experience, ideally involving high-value or complex claims.
• A proven billing track record in handling a mixed clinical negligence caseload, including issued cases, or a strong personal injury litigation background with transferable skills.
• The ability to meet key performance indicators and work towards agreed targets.
• Genuine tenacity, with strong CPR and litigation skills.
• Excellent client care skills and a passion for achieving the best possible outcomes for clients.
• The ability to demonstrate empathy, sensitivity and understanding when working with seriously injured claimants and their families.
• Knowledge of the Proclaim case management system would be advantageous.
• Strong organisational skills and an efficient approach to managing a caseload.
• A willingness to act as team players and contribute to the continued success of the department.
• An interest in developing specialist clinical negligence knowledge, with support available for those retraining from personal injury.
• Law Society or AVMA accreditation would be advantageous but is not essential.
• An understanding of the issues affecting the clinical negligence sector and its wider landscape, or a willingness to develop this knowledge.
• Experience of writing blogs and/or marketing clinical negligence work would be advantageous.
• A willingness to attend marketing and fundraising events.
• These roles offer an opportunity to join a supportive and ambitious team, develop specialist expertise and build a rewarding long-term career in clinical negligence.

Salary & Hours

A basic salary up to £55,000 depending on experience. Along with a very generous commission scheme, paid monthly in arrears.

Our standard working hours are 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday-Thursday and 8:30am to 5pm Friday. There is a degree of flexibility which can be discussed at interview.

Hybrid Working

3/2 hybrid working pattern after probation.

23 Days Holiday

Rising to 26 days, plus bank/public holidays.

3 holiday buy backs and an extra day for your birthday after service length requirement.

Looking After Your Health

Private medical insurance available after 2 years’ service, annual flu jab and Employee Assistance Programme.

24/7 onsite Gym, Netball/Football team, 10km Manchester team and more.

Work Life / Balance

Active social committee with generous departmental and firm-wide social budget.

Recruitment Process

Interviews will be conducted by MS Teams and will include scenario-based questioning.

Our employees are our most important asset, we rate skill and ability above all else and our recruitment policy encourages applications from all.

Petal Peters, our Recruitment Manager, is happy to answer any questions you may have, about what Express Solicitors can offer you.