Paralegal (Motor / Casualty Claims)

Forbes Solicitors; Manchester; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days annual leave

Health care benefits

Company pension

Annual events

Job summary

Forbes Solicitors LLP, based in Manchester, is seeking a Paralegal to join the Insurance (Motor / Casualty Claims) team. The role is full-time, 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, and involves assisting qualified advisors with RTA/EL/PL claims and handling a caseload of low-level defendant insurance claims.

You will draft documents, carry out legal research, attend meetings and maintain accurate case files while delivering high-quality client service and ensuring deadlines are met.

Qualifications

• Law degree or other legal level 6 qualifications such as CILEX.
• Previous paralegal/legal assistant experience.
• Demonstrates attention to detail in proofreading and editing of legal documents.
• Ability to prioritise tasks, manage time and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work well in a team and collaborate with colleagues.
• Excellent IT skills and ability to use multiple platforms and case management systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication with clients and colleagues.
• Team-focused attitude and desire to help the department meet its objectives.

Responsibilities

• Provide effective support to Advisors through chargeable work and help deliver services for clients.
• Ensure timely progress of matters, prioritise work, monitor deadlines and keep clients informed.
• Draft and prepare legal documents requiring analysis and input.
• Provide legal advice under supervision to resolve queries and progress cases.
• Assess client queries and file notes to identify actions and needed advice.
• Attend external meetings and events such as hearings, court appearances and client meetings.
• Maintain systems and documents with client and case information.
• Conduct legal research and write high-quality articles for internal/external publication.
• Manage regular client communications, set expectations and chase responses.

Skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

IT skills

Written and verbal communication

Time management

Education

Law degree or Level 6 qualification (CILEX)

Tools

Case management systems

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Outlook

Job description

The Role

Forbes Solicitors LLP are seeking a Paralegal to join our Insurance (Motor / Casualty Claims) team based at our Manchester 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 an experienced Legal Assistant/Paralegal that can bring their experience, skills and knowledge to the roleor forsomeone to start their career in Law and become part of 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 successful person for this role will assist qualified advisors in the team with tasks on RTA/EL/PL claims as well as deal with their own case load of low level defendant insurance claims.

As a key member of our team, you will be responsible for achieving successful outcomes such as:

• Provide effective and efficient support to Advisors through chargeable (legal based) work that contributes to the delivery and completion of services for clients (e.g. obtaining and reviewing evidence and statements, taking witness statements, preparing for court, collation of legal bundles).
• Ensure timely and efficient day-to-day progress of matters, prioritising work, monitoring deadlines and actions needed and keeping clients informed.
• Drafting and preparing legal documents that require further knowledge, consideration and input based on analysis and understanding of information gathered.
• Providing legal advice, under the supervision of a qualified advisor, that resolves queries and advances clients’ instructions and cases.
• Assessing and understanding client queries and file notes to identify actions and advice required and manage and guide the progression of a client file.
• Attend external meetings and events including but not limited to hearings, court appearances, client meetings and networking events.
• Maintain, monitor and update the appropriate systems and documents with client and case information, data and file notes.
• Carry out and deliver accurate and up-to-date legal research.
• Write original high-quality articles and reports for internal and external publication.
• Manage regular and up-to-date communications with clients and stakeholders, answering queries, managing expectations (including costs), providing updates and effectively chasing responses required and escalating appropriately.

The Person

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

Essential:

• Law Degree or other legal level 6 qualifications such as CILEX.
• Previous paralegal / legal assistant experience.
• Demonstrates good attention to detail, including proof-reading and editing skills to ensure accuracy and quality of legal documents.
• Demonstrates the ability to prioritise tasks, manage time effectively, and coordinate multiple activities simultaneously to meet deadline.
• Demonstrates the ability to work as part of a team.
• Demonstrates excellent IT skills and the ability to use multiple platforms such as word, excel, outlook and other case management systems/databases.
• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills for interacting with clients, colleagues, and external parties.
• Team focussed approach and desire to assist the team meet its objectives
• Demonstrates an interest in long term development/progression in the department.
• Effective communication with the team, ability to manage deadlines and assist in the progression of cases.
• Aligns with the Firm’s values.

Desirable:

• Previous experience with motor claims or EL/PL claims.
• Previous experience of defending insurance claims.

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.
• Annual leave purchase scheme (Subject to T&Cs).
• Celebration leave.
• Ongoing professional development.
• Progression opportunities.
• Company pension.
• Profit share scheme.
• Long service awards.
• Subsidised tuck shops.
• Health care benefits (Health Cash Back Plan and Mental Health Counselling Services).
• BUPA (Solicitor positions only, for self, not dependants).
• Retailer 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 certified. We are committed to equal opportunities in employment, service provision, and supplier engagement, and strive to maintain a workforce that reflects the local community.