Solicitor

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 2021 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 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.

Solicitor (or equivalent) to manage defendant clinical negligence claims.

Key responsibilities

• Specialise in acting on behalf of NHS Litigation Authority and NHS Trusts, protecting their interests
• Manage a 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
• Achieve financial and chargeable targets
• Demonstrate strong advocacy skills, and have the necessary flexibility to offer support in the handling of civil claims
• Control Case Manager diary, key dates and action lists
• Draft various documents to include SLA reports and pleadings
• Perform billing duties
• Satisfy standards of client care in accordance with client SLA and Team manager guidelines and directions
• Complete Client MI procedures
• Comply with relevant rules, policies and procedures
• Keep up to date with legal developments
• Contribute to profile-raising and business development initiatives

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 (or equivalent) 3 YR + PQE
• Experience of defending high value and complex litigated and pre lit clinical negligence claims, preferably involving experience of working for defendant and/or the NHS and/or private healthcare sector
• Demonstrable experience in the healthcare sector
• Excellent technical ability and knowledge of CPR
• Strong and effective 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 adhere to client protocols
• 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.

• We're committed to diversity and inclusion and to creating an environment where everyone can reach their full potential.  For more information please click  on the following link:

https://www.weightmans.com/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion