Solicitor or Legal Executive

Weightmans is a Top 45 law firm with offices throughout the UK. Having been recognised as the leading legal employer at the annual Britain's Top Employers awards and achieved record rankings in Chambers UK 2017, we are immensely proud of the work we carry out for our clients and the culture we provide to our people.

Our Casualty team provides a full, expert service in defending public and employers' liability claims, particularly workplace, public sector and claims against the emergency services. Weightmans' team is second-to-none in providing defendant litigation services in these specialist areas. We operate on a national basis with dedicated workplace, public and police teams.

To effectively manage and provide a partner with assistance on a caseload of claims from local authority and insurance clients, with a particular focus on social services / abuse claims.          

Key duties and responsibilities

• Assist on/handle social services cases/abuse claims

• Specialise in acting on behalf of various local authorities, claims handlers and insurers, protecting their interests

• Manage a caseload of litigated and pre-lit claims

• Assist the team manager and other team members with their cases, client development, client training, networking and potentially public speaking where required

• Liaise with various parties such as other solicitors, insurers, experts, counsel and clients

• Control Case Manager diary and action lists

• Attend at court hearings as appropriate

• Draft various documents such as letters and reports

• Perform billing duties, ensuring bills are paid in a timely manner

• Satisfy standards of client care in accordance with management guidelines and directions

• Complete Client MI procedures

• Achieve set financial and chargeable targets

• Comply with relevant rules, policies and procedures

• Keep up to date with legal developments

• Work in accordance with Weightmans’ values

This list is not intended to be exhaustive and you will be expected to perform other duties and have other responsibilities that fall within the wider remit of the role.

• Experience of handling/assisting on social services cases/abuse claims is essential

• Experience of defending litigated claims, preferably claims against public authorities

• Willingness to present cases in the county court

• Excellent knowledge of the CPR and litigation

• Ability to influence a broad range of people including key decision makers

• Excellent organisation skills

• Excellent time management skills

• Excellent communication skills

• Excellent IT skills

• Ability to work to strict deadlines and targets

• Ability to work as part of a team or on own initiative

• Flexible approach to work and a willingness to travel

Please note:

• Any reference to experience or PQE in our adverts or job descriptions is to be used as a guideline only. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and with different levels of experience who can demonstrate that they fulfil the requirements of the role.

• The successful candidate appointed to this role will be subject to our standard background checking process, and any offer of employment made is conditional upon successful completion of those checks. Further details can be obtained from the Recruitment team.