Associate

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 2019 and achieved record rankings in Chambers UK, we are immensely proud of the work we carry out for our clients and the culture we provide to our people.

Our specialist Healthcare team covers all aspects of healthcare and related areas of law and practice, including child law, clinical negligence, clinical governance, consent to treatment, healthcare advisory and mental health. We provide a supportive, proactive service based on a deep understanding of NHS procedures and the social/political background of public healthcare. Our expert team includes doctors and nurses among other health professionals, all with specialist medical knowledge in key areas. 

Our Healthcare team is a vibrant specialist department. We provide advice on all aspects of healthcare law, including clinical negligence, patient safety, consent to treatment, human rights, child law and mental health.

The ethos of the team is to work hard for our clients so that we secure the right outcome for them. In so doing we improve our technical skills and enhance our ability to meet the clients’ needs as they evolve.

The healthcare sector is fast moving and the challenge of working for our clients provides very interesting work.

The successful candidate will be highly motivated to develop their own and our teams’ practices.

We provide a supportive environment in which to work hard.

Solicitor (or equivalent) to manage complex and high value defendant clinical negligence claims, develop junior lawyers, contribute to and lead client facing initiatives.      

Key responsibilities

• Manage case load of litigated and pre-litigated clinical negligence cases
• Conduct relevant investigations in order to repudiate and/or conclude the claim
• Liaise with various parties such as claimants and their solicitors, clients, counsel, experts etc.
• Obtain documents and instruct experts
• Complete MI procedures
• Adhere to client protocols
• Achieve financial and chargeable targets
• Ensure relevant deadlines, quality measures and key progress indicators are adhered to
• Contribute to and lead client facing and business development initiatives
• Comply with relevant policies and procedures
• 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.

• Qualified Solicitor 2YR + PQE
• Genuine and demonstrable interest in healthcare sector
• Knowledge of clinical negligence
• Excellent technical ability and knowledge of CPR
• Strong communication skills
• Disciplined time management and organisational skills
• Capacity to rigorously investigate and analyse evidence
• Ability to multi-task and prioritise
• Ability to work to strict deadlines and targets
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
• Flexible approach

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.