Housing Disrepair – Litigation Assistant
About Us:
Established in 2000, Express Solicitors is an award-winning law firm that deals personal injury and clinical negligence claims. Based in Manchester, we serve clients nationwide. We are proud of the work we do helping injured people, and this is our core business.
Express Solicitors are currently ranked 80th out of more than 10,000 law firms in the UK and ranked in the top ten for the Best Law Firm to work for in the UK by Best Companies. We have a 5-star ranking with Trust Pilot from over 4,500 reviews, which, coming from our clients, means a lot to us.
The Role:
The role will be to assist a senior fee earner with their caseload of pre and post-issue Housing Disrepair claims. Experience of housing disrepair would be beneficial but is not essential, as full training will be given. You will work closely with your supervisor and other team members, to learn the job in a structure format, building up from key foundation tasks to more complex ones over time.
There is excellent progression offered with this role, for a bright capable candidate we would expect them to move to handling their own caseload within 3 months and to progress to a training contract within 6 to 18 months. This is built into our progression pathways and is where we expect all of our Litigation Assistants to progress to.
We will support you in your first steps into your new legal career with strong supervision and guidance. We have an open door policy, along with weekly one to ones with your supervisor. We also provide three appraisal a year, for you to discuss any training needs you have and your progression outlook.
We have high-quality non-CMC work and a positive working environment. Where we encourage a work life balance with hybrid working once probation is passed.
Job description – the types of tasks within the role
- You will assist with matters from cradle to grave and will deal with all stages from letter of claim to trial.
- Client care is an important part of the role, ensuring that clients are happy with the progression of their case.
- Task management & Case progression including:
- Legal Research.
- Drafting letters of claim, drafting of court documentation, instructing counsel, collating bundles.
- Taking witness statements.
- Instructing and liaising with expert engineers.
- Keeping the case management file fully up to date.
- You will assist with for preparing cases for trial, including preparing trial bundles and instructing counsel.
- Engaging with Third Parties and discussing settlement opportunities with them and the client.
- Advocacy – attending applications & conferences.
Salary & Working Hours:
The starting salary is £24,750 and this will increase once you take on your own files and progress further. Hours are 8:30am-5:30pm Monday-Thursday and 8:30am to 5pm Friday.
Benefits:
- 3/2 alternative working from home pattern staff after probation
- 23 days holiday a year, rising to 26 days
- 3 holiday buy backs per year after 1 year of service
- Extra day’s holiday for your birthday after 2 years’ service.
- Private medical insurance available after 2 years’ service
- Attending Lawyer meetings and training sessions (every other month)
- 3 appraisals per annum to discuss career and progress towards a training contract
- Death in Service – 2 x salary
- Active social committee with generous departmental and firm-wide social budget.
- Active training culture and various groups and events such as Diversity & Inclusion.
- Netball / Football team, 10km Manchester team and more.
- Enhanced Maternity Leave payment if you have over 1 year tenure
- Other benefits including Employee Assistance Programme, free fruit & annual flu jab
Recruitment Cycle Process
Please send a CV and covering letter by clicking APPLY.
Interviews will be conducted by MS Teams. It will involve a presentation on the housing disrepair litigation process, as well as some other competency questions. You will be provided full information and support at every step.
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At Express Solicitors, we rate skill and ability above all else and therefore our recruitment policy encourages applications from all.
