Claims Handler

Shakespeare Martineau is a Top 50 law firm that combines creativity, commerciality and clarity. We work with blue-chip companies, leading organisations, high street brands and individuals across the country.

As enterprising and original thinkers, we’re driven to create exceptional experiences for our clients and our people. We handle personal and business-critical issues and game-changing deals across many dynamic sectors. It’s stimulating and rewarding.

We’re hardworking and deeply ambitious about creating opportunities for our employees; to move forward and achieve our ambition together. We provide an environment in which you’re supported to reach your potential.

Our people have a blend of excellent technical and business skills with the talent to do things differently.

Here you’ll find top quality work, cutting edge training, high profile clients, and supportive colleagues. We think it could be time you joined us.

Our Litigation & Dispute Resolution group has a long-standing experience of working with some of the most successful and influential businesses in the UK and also internationally. Our specialist teams combine expertise with a sound understanding of the commercial landscape to provide exceptional solutions for every aspect of our clients’ corporate requirements.

Our niche Uninsured Loss Recovery team, Corclaim, consists of specialists who focus solely on recovering uninsured losses for businesses in the public and private sectors who have sustained loss or damage to property resulting from the actions of others. We recover these costs and losses from the “at fault” party or their insurers. We have particular expertise in the application of the Road Traffic Act, European regulations in relation to vehicle insurance and all matters relating to the Motor Insurers Bureau so far as these matters relate to the recovery of damages. Our clients include retailers, construction companies, utility providers, hire operators, logistics businesses and  any business that operates its own vehicle fleet or has exposure to property risks and can provide repeat / volume instructions. In the last twelve months we have handled almost 7,000 cases, issued 2,700 legal proceedings and recovered £6.9m of client damages.

The role:

The role is to act for businesses on the recovery of their uninsured losses.

Your key duties will be:

• handling a caseload of contentious claims and being responsible for your own diary management
• considering liability by assessing evidence and establishing responsibility
• evaluating each claim and calculating the quantum figure
• negotiating liability or quantum with defendant solicitors or insurers
• sending Letters Before Action (LBA’s) to third parties; these are standard letters which are held on a case management system
• assessing and collating any relevant documentation to support the claim, pro-actively pursuing claims and making appropriate use of telephone and litigation
• drafting own legal proceedings and dealing with all aspects of litigation / compliance with the civil procedure rules, following through to and attending small claims trials
• instructing counsel to attend hearings where necessary
• drafting your own correspondence and witness statements etc
• maintaining client relationships e.g. informing them on the progress of a claim and taking new instructions over the phone, by email or letter
• general administration to include archiving, billing, file management (filing etc)
• maintaining case files in accordance with office procedures
• to carry out any other duties that are in keeping with the role

Skills and experience you will have:

• a legal qualification is not essential but advantageous
• knowledge of legal process

Key competencies you will need:

• an ability to work in and contribute to a close team environment
• good communication skills, good telephone manner and the ability to negotiate on the telephone
• an ability to respond to sudden client demands
• an analytical, problem solving approach
• a pro-active approach in settling claims
• good letter writing skills

About you – you will be:

• tidy, well organised and driven
• self motivated with a desire to succeed
• able to self-manage and take ownership of problems

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted. Details of the checks can be found here.

Shakespeare Martineau is a committed equal opportunities employer. We seek to attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. We value and respect individuality and encourage a culture within our business where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths and experiences. Everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.