Solicitor - Motor

Davies Group; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Keoghs Northern Ireland is seeking a Solicitor to join its Motor team in Belfast. You will handle a varied caseload of litigated motor injury and credit hire cases within the County Court jurisdiction, specialising in insurance defence litigation.

The role requires 5+ years PQE and a Law degree with qualified solicitor status. Keoghs offers a supportive environment with a clear progression path, hybrid working, and opportunities to develop specialist expertise within a collaborative team.

Qualifications

• 5+ years PQE required.
• Experience in defence insurance litigation preferred.
• Strong client communication and advocacy skills.
• Excellent listening, verbal and written communication.

Responsibilities

• Work within the Motor team to pursue insurance defence claims.
• Build relationships with clients, colleagues and third parties.
• Identify next steps and manage cases within authority.
• Interview witnesses and draft statements.
• Liaise with insured, insurer and witnesses throughout the claim.
• Draft pleadings and applications and instruct counsel as needed.
• Attend conferences, mediations, and court hearings as required.
• Meet performance targets and maintain up-to-date information in case systems.

Skills

Motor insurance defence

Client communication

Court appearances

Legal research

Witness interviews

Education

Law degree

Qualified Solicitor

Tools

Case management software

Legal research databases

Job description

Solicitor - Motor

Department: Legal

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Belfast

Description

You will handle a varied caseload of litigated motor injury and credit hire cases within the County Court jurisdiction.

The role will suit solicitors with 5 + years PQE.

Keoghs is the leading provider of legal and claims solutions to insurers, businesses and other suppliers to the insurance sector. Keoghs Northern Ireland has grown year on year since inception in the local market in 2019 and now has over 50 staff solely dedicated to defendant insurance litigation services. The strong and well-respected reputation of our experienced team has been recognised in the Legal 500 and Chambers Directories.

We work in partnership with our insurance clients and their policyholders, providing a supportive team focused approach, resulting in excellent outcomes. There is a great team ethos within our Northern Ireland office, where we encourage personal development and wellbeing. We offer hybrid working and a relaxed dress code, and we pride ourselves on our agile working policy. Our team is friendly and supportive, and there are opportunities to become part of our social committee, participate in charity events and to get involved in client development initiatives.

We have ambitious growth plans for our future. We have a clear Career Progression Pathway, and each team member engages in a Continuing Conversation with our Leadership Team to ensure we support you in developing your talent with internal promotions to Trainee Solicitor, Associate, Team Lead and Partner, as we celebrate and reward our successes. We are fully committed to recognising contribution and rewarding high performance, making Keoghs a great place to develop your career.

The cases you will work on will be varied and exciting, with opportunities to develop into specialisms of particular interest to you, as we play to the strengths of each team member.

Key Responsibilities

• Work within the Motor team as an insurance defence litigation specialist, to pursue completion of files in line with client instruction to the commercial benefit of Keoghs and clients.
• Communicate, build and utilise relationships with colleagues, clients and third parties in a professional and knowledgeable manner; including all methods of communication: in person, over the phone and written.
• Proactively identifying next steps required and handling cases within your agreed handling authority.
• Interviewing witnesses and drafting statements.
• Liaising with parties involved in claims including the insured, insurer, witnesses etc.
• Drafting pleadings and applications.
• Instructing counsel and attending conferences, consultations, mediations both remotely and in person.
• Attend court in person or by telephone, attend trials, settlement conferences etc as required.
• Delivery of agreed performance targets and quality standards.
• Maintaining case management systems with up-to-date management information for clients.
• To ensure compliance with the LSNI regulations

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Law Degree & qualified Solicitor (5 + years PQE).
• Previous experience in defence insurance litigation is desired but not essential.
• Good telephone advocacy skills.
• Positive, confident and enthusiastic.
• Excellent listening, verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and client care skills.
• Understanding of case law and litigation practice and process, and Court Rules.
• Ability to prioritise work, keep to deadlines and work under pressure.
• Confidence to take initiative and adapt to changing situations.
• Ability to work to agreed targets and service level agreements.
• Excellent research skills.
• High level of analytical skills.
• Excellent IT skills.

Working Hours

35 hours per week

Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm with 1 unpaid hour for lunch.