Defendant Motor Solicitor

Clayton Legal; Warrington; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Clayton Legal is seeking an experienced Solicitor to join its Defendant Motor team in Warrington. The role involves managing defendant motor claims, progressing litigated and pre-litigated matters, and delivering high standards of service to clients, insurers, and internal stakeholders.

You will handle liability disputes, vehicle repair and credit hire claims, and MOJ/OIC Portal matters, with a focus on practical, commercially minded advice and proactive case management.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor with experience in defendant motor claims.
• Experience handling litigated and pre-litigated motor claims.
• Experience with vehicle repair and credit hire claims.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of defendant motor claims within service standards.
• Progress litigated and pre-litigated matters to conclusions.
• Draft pleadings, correspondence, and instructions to Counsel.
• Assess liability, quantum, and litigation risk to develop strategies.
• Negotiate settlements while protecting the client's position.
• Ensure compliance with deadlines and client SLAs.

Skills

Defendant motor claims

Litigation management

Client service

Negotiation skills

Education

Qualified Solicitor

Tools

Proclaim

Job description

Solicitor - Defendant Motor

About the Role

My client is seeking an experienced and motivated Solicitor to join their Defendant Motor team.

This is an excellent opportunity to work within a specialist legal environment, managing a varied caseload of defendant motor insurance claims. The successful candidate will be responsible for progressing both litigated and pre-litigated matters to an effective and commercially appropriate conclusion while delivering a high standard of service to clients, insurers and internal stakeholders.

You will have sound legal judgement, strong attention to detail and the ability to manage a busy caseload with minimal supervision.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of defendant motor claims in line with client service standards, protocols, regulatory requirements and agreed service levels.
• Handle a broad range of litigated and pre-litigated motor claims, including:
• Liability disputes
• Vehicle repair and credit hire claims
• MOJ and non-MOJ personal injury claims
• OIC Portal claims
• Indemnity disputes
• Allegations of fundamental dishonesty
• Provide clear, practical and commercially focused legal advice.
• Assess liability, quantum, evidence and litigation risk to develop effective case strategies.
• Draft and review pleadings, correspondence, witness evidence, instructions to Counsel and other legal documentation.
• Conduct negotiations and identify appropriate settlement opportunities while protecting the client's position.
• Ensure compliance with limitation dates, court deadlines, procedural requirements and client service level agreements.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive file records, ensuring all case activity is appropriately documented.
• Proactively progress matters using the firm's case management system.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, supervisors, clients and other stakeholders to achieve the best possible outcomes.
• Identify and escalation potential risks, fraud concerns, indemnity issues and fundamental dishonesty arguments at an early stage.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, client protocols, SRA obligations and relevant legal and procedural requirements.

About You

You will be a qualified Solicitor with experience handling defendant motor claims. You will be confident managing a busy and varied caseload and able to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative team environment.

Essential Experience

• Qualified Solicitor with experience in defendant motor claims.
• Previous defendant or claimant RTA experience.
• Experience handling vehicle repair and credit hire claims.
• Experience managing litigated motor claims.
• Strong knowledge of liability disputes and personal injury claims.

Desirable Experience

• Experience handling MOJ and/or OIC Portal claims.
• Third-party intervention experience.
• Experience dealing with indemnity issues and allegations of fundamental dishonesty.
• Experience using the Proclaim case management system.

Skills and Attributes

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical ability and legal reasoning.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• The ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Confidence managing a busy caseload with minimal supervision.
• A strong understanding of client service level requirements.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Commercial awareness and sound professional judgement.
• A proactive and self-motivated approach, with the ability to prioritise workload effectively.
• A positive, collaborative attitude and willingness to support colleagues.
• Strong IT, typing and case management skills.
• Drive, determination and a commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for clients.

We are looking for a capable and commercially minded Solicitor who takes ownership of their work, demonstrates initiative and delivers a consistently high standard of client service. You will be comfortable working independently, while also contributing to a supportive and collaborative team.