NQ Solicitor or Duty Solicitor

TN United Kingdom; Salford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Newly Qualified Solicitor or Duty Solicitor to join their dynamic Crime team in Salford. This full-time role offers a fantastic opportunity to develop your career while maintaining a sustainable work-life balance. You will handle a variety of Criminal Defence cases, attend Court hearings, and provide expert legal advice to clients. Join a collaborative environment where your contributions will be valued, and be part of a firm recognized for its commitment to excellence and professional growth. If you're passionate about Criminal Law and eager to make a difference, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

33 days annual leave

Enhanced family friendly policies

Ongoing professional development

Health care benefits

Retail and gym membership discounts

Qualifications

• SRA or CILEx qualified or working towards qualification by September 2025.
• Proven experience in handling own caseload and managing deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Handling a full range of Criminal Defence cases for Private and Legal Aid clients.
• Attending Court hearings and conducting advocacy in Magistrates/Crown Court.

Skills

Criminal Law

Client Care Skills

IT Skills (Outlook, Word)

Communication Skills

Caseload Management

Education

SRA or CILEx Qualification

Law Degree

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Job description

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UK Employer of the Year 2024: Silver (250+) - Investors in People Awards

Role
Forbes Solicitors are looking for a Newly Qualified Solicitor or Duty Solicitor to join our Crime team based at our Salford office. This is a full-time role working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9am until 5pm.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a Newly Qualified Solicitor or a Duty Solicitor to progress their career and bring their skills and knowledge to a collaborative and professional team. Whilst the role will be working to the fast-paced, customer focused and high standards of a law firm, the role will also provide a sustainable work-life balance and relate to the regional area in which it is based.

The role will be responsible for delivering successful outcomes such as:

• Handling a full range of Criminal Defence cases both Private and Legal Aid clients which may be complex and/or sensitive cases;
• Attending Courts hearings for a wide variety of criminal defence hearings;
• Representing clients detained the police station, conducting advocacy in the Magistrates/Crown Court, attending to clients both in and outside of office hours;
• Provision of written and verbal legal advice;
• Communications with client, opponents, Courts/Tribunals and third parties to progress files;
• Supporting other Criminal advisors on their own cases, and the delivery of the departmental strategy and business objectives;
• Ensuring compliance with internal and external business requirements including SQM/LAA, ISO:9001 quality control, SRA Principles / Code of Conduct, Court & Tribunal deadlines;
• Monitoring and reporting on own financial and business performance, to deliver work in a profitable manner;
• Contributing towards internal continuous improvement, innovation, and knowledge sharing;
• Inter-departmental support and collaboration on joint files, projects and events;
• Contributing to the development of the departmental business plan;
• Building positive relationships with current/prospective clients and enhancing the firm’s profile, to drive business growth;
• Contributing to business development including training events, articles/newsletters, Chambers & Legal 500 submissions, etc.

The Person

We will be progressing applicants to the next stage based on their demonstrated knowledge, experience, and skills in:

• be SRA or CILEx qualified (hold CILEx qualification/Law Degree) or working towards qualification by September 2025;
  
• previous experience within Criminal Law and dealing with Criminal clients;
  
• demonstrate excellent knowledge of Criminal Law;
  
• demonstrable experience working within the Magistrates and or Crown Court;
  
• proven experience of handling own caseload, working to and managing deadlines, alongside the capability to generate fees in accordance with agreed targets;
  
• demonstrate excellent client care skills and experience in providing professional and competent legal advice in accordance with SRA Code of Conduct;
  
• have proven competence in their IT skills (Outlook, Word, and other systems experience);
  
• demonstrates the ability to work as part of a team;
  
• align with the Firm’s values;
  
• demonstrate the ability to manage their own caseload to meet tight deadlines;
  
• have excellent attention to detail and organisational skills;
  
• demonstrates good communication skills, both written and verbal;
• have Duty Solicitor status, or a willingness to work towards it.

The Firm

At Forbes Solicitors, we believe in creating a supportive and collaborative environment where our team members can thrive and develop themselves and others. We offer a comprehensive range of legal services and have offices across the North, with deep roots in Lancashire. Our team are known for its genuine, practical advice and passion for achieving the best results. We are real people who listen to each other and work together to deliver exceptional service.

We are proud to have been awarded UK Employer of the Year: Silver (250+) at the Investors in People Awards 2024 and the Firm is ranked as a Legal 500 Top Tier Firm and a Chambers and Partners Leading Firm.

We are a values led Firm and are looking for people who embody our values: authenticity, striving for exceptional results, and unity in teamwork to join our award-winning Firm.

The Benefits

We are dedicated to supporting our people and offer a range of benefits, including:

• 33 days annual leave, including bank holidays, increasing with length of service;
• Annual leave purchase scheme (Subject to T&Cs)
• Enhanced family friendly policies and pay for Maternity, Paternity and Adoption;
• Celebration and Volunteer leave;
• Ongoing professional development and progression opportunities;
• Additional long service awards;
• Subsidised tuck shops;
• Staff discount on Firm services;
• Health care benefits (Health Cash Back Plan and Mental Health Counselling Services);
• BUPA (Solicitor positions only, for self, not dependents);
• Retail and gym membership discounts;
• Recruitment and legal department referrals (Subject to T&Cs);
• Annual Events;

Forbes is an equal opportunities and disability-confident employer, accredited by Investors in People and ISO 9001 quality management systems. We are committed to equal opportunities in employment, service provision, and supplier engagement, and strive to maintain a workforce that reflects the local community.

We kindly remind all recruitment agencies to respect our policy which prohibits the acceptance of speculative CVs unless explicitly instructed to do so for this role. Any candidates that are submitted on a speculative basis will not be considered an introduction. Our dedication to this process is part of our commitment to equal opportunity for all applicants.