Advocate
Established in 2000, Express Solicitors is an award-winning law firm that deals in 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 also have a 5-star ranking with Trust Pilot from over 4,500 reviews, which means a lot to us, as this comes from our clients.
Role
We are looking for a talented Advocate to join our advocacy team. Candidates will ideally have sound knowledge of the personal injury sector, but it is not essential. We welcome applications from individuals with all levels of qualification or experience, but are particularly interested in hearing from BPTC graduates and candidates with some practical experience (e.g. advocacy, paralegal).
This role will give you the chance to work with a successfully established and growing company with Solicitor owner-managers. You will be part of the advocacy team, working closely with the Head of Advocacy (Partner/Barrister). This is an excellent opportunity to gain and develop first-hand advocacy skills.
Responsibilities
- To undertake advocacy requirements that might arise, including but not limited to interlocutory application hearings, case management hearings, and infant approval hearings.
- To undertake drafting tasks as required, such as advices (formal and informal), pleadings and skeleton arguments.
- To keep up to date with procedural changes, caselaw and developments in legislation.
- Ensuring the provision of a high-quality advocacy service.
- Extensive travel across England and Wales that might require overnight stays.
In addition to the above, you must be able to work independently and to a high standard, prioritising workloads and have fantastic attention to detail. While you will be working within the advocacy team, you will be provided with instructions in a similar way to external counsel.
Required Attributes
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Sound working knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules.
- Fast learner with the ability to hit the ground running.
- Resilience and able to think and perform under pressure to meet strict deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Flexible approach
- Able to act upon own initiative as well as taking direction from management where appropriate.
- Strong understanding of confidentiality – tact and discretion are absolutely essential.
- Strong academic achievement – (Minimum 2.1 at degree level and minimum Very Competent for the BPTC).
- Good IT skills including all Microsoft Office and knowledge of Case Management Systems.
Desired attributes
- Knowledge of Proclaim Case Management System.
- Own car preferred (although travel allowance will be available)
Salary, Working Hours & Benefits
- Starting Salary is dependant on experience
- Our standard working hours are 8:30am to 5:30am Monday-Thursday and 8:30am to 5pm Friday
- 3/2 alternative working from home pattern staff after probation
- 23 days holiday a year, rising to 26 days (3 days reserved for Christmas closure of the office)
- 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 fee earner 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
We rate skill and ability above all else and our recruitment policy encourages applications from all.
Recruitment Process
To apply, send a CV and covering letter by clicking below.
Interviews will be conducted by MS Teams or Telephone and will include scenario-based questioning.
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Candidates with the relevant experience or job title of: Legal Counsel, Legal Aid Attorney, Public Defender, Legal Representative,Legal Advisor,Legal Counselor,Legal Consultant,Legal Specialist,Legal Expert,Legal Analyst,Legal Liaison,Legal Agent,Legal Officer,Legal Practitioner,Legal Support Advocate,Legal Services Advocate,Legal Rights Advocate,Legal Aid Advocate,Legal Assistance Specialist,Legal Justice Advocate,Legal Empowerment Officer,Legal Rights Officer,Legal Outreach Coordinator may also be considered for this role. Overseas candidates will NOT be considered for this role. We are not sponsoring Visa’s at this time, so please refrain from applying unless eligible to work in the UK.
