Paralegal - Property Coverage & Liability (Complex)

DAC Beachcroft; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Income protection insurance

Discounted gym membership

Job summary

DAC Beachcroft in Birmingham conducts Property Insurance work for insurers across the UK. A permanent position is available in the Birmingham office, with probation requiring five days in the office.

The role covers property damage, policy coverage disputes, business interruption, and subrogated recoveries. You will develop knowledge of property-related claims, litigation tactics, CPR, and handle your own caseload under supervision while supporting colleagues with investigations and

Qualifications

• Knowledge of contractual and tortious principles relevant to property-related claims.
• Familiarity with litigation processes and CPR concepts.
• Interest in insurance-based property damage law and associated investigations.

Responsibilities

• Develop knowledge of property-related insurance claims, including policy disputes and subrogated recovery.
• Learn litigation tactics and CPR principles to support case work.
• Handle own caseload including litigated and pre-litigated files.
• Carry out investigations, gather evidence, obtain statements and relevant documentation.
• Maintain case management updates and ensure compliance with client protocols.
• Support team with time recording and billing targets.

Skills

Contract law

Tort law

Litigation knowledge

Commercial awareness

Education

LPC/SQE/CILEx training

Job description

Department: CSG - Property (Insurance / Damage / Recoveries / Subsidence)

Location: Birmingham

Description

Our Property Insurance team provides advice and claims’ management services to the insurance industry across all UK jurisdictions and is located in Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast. We have one permanent position available in the team, this role will be situated in Birmingham where you will be asked to come into the office 5 times a week during your probation.

We provide expert and practical advice covering a range of areas, including:

• Property Damage claims, including both pursuing and defending subrogated liability actions.
• Providing advice to insurance companies on policy coverage disputes.
• Business interruption claims.
• Investigating complaints arising under property insurance policies.

This expert team has been carrying out both First Party and Third Party Property Damage work for over 30 years, handling all types of claims, from small claims to large and complex liability claims with coverage issues.

With experience in a wide range of sectors including construction, commercial product failure, household, and agriculture, on behalf of insurers and their policyholders.

What you will do

• Developing your knowledge of all aspects of property-related insurance claims, including policy coverage disputes, public and product liability claims, complaints, and subrogated recovery claims and liability matters.
• Developing your knowledge of litigation tactics and a sound working knowledge of the CPR.
• Opportunity to handle your own caseload including a variety of litigated and pre-litigated files.
• Task-based discrete activities assisting on claims for other lawyers in the team, including carrying out preliminary investigations and evidence gathering, ensuring technical and expert evidence obtained by insurers and their agents is sufficient to prove causation; obtaining witness statements; and contacting relevant parties to obtain contractual and other relevant documentation.
• Ensuring that the case management system is updated with developments and diary dates as required by the case.
• Assuming responsibility for client protocol compliance both on own files and where working on task-based assignments.
• Handling confidential information in line with the firm's data security protocols
• Meeting and exceeding internal targets for time recording and billing.

Who you are

• Preferably (but not essential) have previous relevant legal experience.
• Internally, we are happy to support applications from apprentices who are keen to gain experience in another area of law
• Knowledge of the litigation process is desirable (but again not essential as training will be provided) – either through experience, the LPC/SQE or CILEx.
• Be interested in and have a good working knowledge of general contract and tortious principles.
• Be interested in and willing to learn insurance-based property damage law.
• Be interested in and willing to learn the technical aspects of construction and property claims investigations as required for the role.
• Have an ability to adopt a commercial perspective rather than an ‘academic’ approach to claims settlement.
• Demonstrates alignment with the Firm’s Cultural Principles (Clear, Creative, Determined and Supportive).

What's in it for you

• High levels of flexibility and a great work life balance - https://www.dacbeachcroft.com/en/Work-with-us/Whats-in-it-for-you
• A well-rounded remuneration package (which includes private medical insurance, income protection insurance and discounted gym membership, amongst many other benefits)
• Opportunities for growth and progression including professional funding
• In person and remote social events
• Opportunity to get involved in a range of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) activities

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, which aligns closely to our cultural principles (Determined, Clear, Creative and Supportive). If you are excited about this role and being part of our culture, but your past experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!

We are happy to talk flexible working with our Flex Forward scheme. We would encourage you to talk to us about our approach to flexible working during the hiring process if you would like to explore this further.