Litigation (LEI) Solicitor (5861)

Irwin Mitchell LLP; Leeds, Sheffield; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A national law firm is seeking a Commercial Litigation lawyer in Leeds focusing on LEI-funded cases. In this role, you will manage your own caseload, handle various commercial disputes, and be involved in all stages of litigation. Ideal candidates will have 1-4 years PQE, a keen interest in contentious matters, and a commercial mindset. The firm offers a supportive environment along with numerous benefits, including generous holiday and health membership.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Generous pension schemes

Volunteering days

Qualifications

• Experience in handling commercial litigation matters, including professional negligence.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and a busy workload.
• Enthusiasm for contentious work and both claimant and defendant matters.

Responsibilities

• Be involved in all stages of litigation, including drafting pleadings and preparing for trials.
• Run your own caseload with support from senior team members.
• Mentor junior colleagues in legal processes.

Skills

Commercial mindset

Problem solving

Client representation

Education

1-4 years PQE

Job description

We’re a national law firm with a local reach. Our legal experts are here for you. Whether it’s personal or business, we understand that everyone’s situation is different. But we’re more than just a law firm – we’re a team of people working together to help individuals and businesses navigate life’s ups and downs. Working here you’ll feel a part of our friendly and inclusive environment.

We’ll value you for who you are and what you bring. We support each other and push boundaries to achieve incredible things and make a real difference to our clients and communities.

We're always looking to support our colleagues to work in a way that works best for them and everyone else, including our clients, the business and the regulators. Please speak to a member of our Recruitment and Onboarding team for more information.

Our Team

Our Commercial Litigation teams in the North, including Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, and Manchester, handle a variety of complex commercial and consumer disputes for both commercial and individual clients. We specialise in professional negligence claims and deal with a vast breadth of cases involving construction professionals, solicitors, accountants, barristers, financial advisors and insurance brokers. We have a strong reputation for our expertise in Legal Expenses Insurance (LEI) funded litigation, acting for both claimants and defendants in a wide range of disputes.

We work collaboratively across our northern offices, sharing knowledge and supporting each other to deliver the best outcomes for our clients.

Your role and what you'll be doing

This is a fantastic opportunity to join our Commercial Litigation team in either our Leeds, Manchester Liverpool or Sheffield offices, with a focus on litigation funded by Legal Expenses Insurance (LEI). You will work closely with colleagues who specialise in LEI work, as well as being part of the wider Commercial Litigation team.

The types of cases you will handle are varied and may include professional negligence, contractual disputes, and other complex commercial matters. You will have the opportunity to work on high‑value and challenging cases, gaining hands‑on experience from the outset.

In this role, you’ll:

• Be involved in all stages of litigation, including merits assessments, drafting pleadings, preparing witness statements, managing disclosure, and preparing for hearings and trials.
• Run your own caseload with support from senior members of the team.
• Work closely with junior colleagues, providing guidance and mentoring where appropriate.
• Develop your expertise in LEI‑funded litigation and contribute to the continued growth of this specialist area.
• Participate in our comprehensive training programme, including regular legal updates and technical training to support your ongoing professional development.

About You

• Ideally between 1-4 years PQE
• Experience handling commercial litigation matters, ideally including professional negligence and/or LEI‑funded cases.
• Demonstrable enthusiasm for contentious work and an interest in both claimant and defendant matters.
• A commercial mindset and the ability to think creatively to solve complex problems.
• Commitment to securing the best outcomes for clients.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and a varied, busy workload.
• Experience of representing clients funded by legal expenses insurance and/or volume litigation is desirable but not essential.

Our Benefits – What We Can Offer You

• 25 days holiday as standard plus bank holidays – You can ‘buy’ up to 35hrs of extra holiday too.
• Generous and flexible pension schemes.
• Volunteering days – Two days of volunteering every year for a cause of your choice (fully paid)
• Westfield Health membership, offering refunds on medical services alongside our Aviva Digital GP services.

We also offer a wide range of well‑being initiatives to encourage positive mental health both in and out of the workplace and to make sure you’re fully supported. This includes our Flexible by Choice programme which gives our colleagues more choice over a hybrid way of working subject to role, team and client requirements.

We have been ranked in the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing for Large Organisations for 2024!

Our responsible business programmes are fundamental to who we are and our purpose. We’re committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace where our colleagues can flourish, and we have established a number of inclusion network groups across our business to support this aim.

Our commitment to Social Responsibility, community investment activity and tackling climate change is a fundamental part of who we are. It’s made up of four strands: Our People, Our Community, Our Environment and Our Pro Bono.

Additional Information

As part of the Irwin Mitchell Group’s on‑boarding process all successful applicants are required to complete the group’s employment screening process. This process helps to ensure that all new employees meet our standards in relation to honesty and integrity therefore protecting the interests of the Group, colleagues, clients, partners and other stakeholders.

We carry out pre‑employment screening to establish your eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record and financial checks with our trusted 3rd parties.

The employment screening process will fully comply with Data Protection and other applicable laws.

Irwin Mitchell LLP is an equal‑opportunity employer.

We’re proud of our values, and we’re looking for people who share them.