Paralegal – Specialist Liability – Nationwide

DAC Beachcroft is looking to appoint a Paralegal to join our Claims Solutions Group

(CSG) Specialist Liability team. The successful candidate will be expected to attend

the office when required.

The Specialist Liability team acts for a number of leading names in the insurance

industry as well as large public sector organisations and household name corporates

in the defence of claims brought against them.

We specialise in complex claims involving abuse, the HRA, discrimination and

Equality Act claims, deprivations of liberty, misfeasance and other linked areas. 

We act for a range of Local Authorities as well as the Police, Housing and Residential

Care providers, Specialist healthcare providers, Schools, Colleges, Universities and

household name corporates. 

Much of the work involved is pre-litigation and involves

giving detailed pre-emptive advice on relevant issues to clients and subsequent

defence to Trial.

 

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, which aligns closely to our cultural principles (Determined, Clear, Creative and Supportive). If you are excited about this role and being part of our culture, but your past experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!

 

 

The purpose of this role is to assist the Specialist Liability team, primarily the

defence of abuse and Police claims. There may be an opportunity to run some lower

value claims under supervision. Day to day responsibilities will include:-

• Drafting of chronologies, statements and Court documents;

• Assisting with disclosure of sensitive documentation to include redaction;

• Ensuring appropriate key dates reminders are in place on all matters;

• Ensuring that a timetable exists to enable the progression of the case to

resolution;

• Maintaining internal and external case management documents;

• Recording timely and accurate management information;

• Maintaining an awareness of the firm's strategies and plans;

• Corresponding and communicating with the client, third parties and claimants’

solicitors to ensure the progression of the case to resolution.

• Attending upon Trials and Applications (with Counsel);

• Complying with internal and external service level agreements.

• Handling confidential information in line with the firm's data security

protocols;

• Developing technical knowledge through completing online courses, attending

training sessions and reading appropriate publications;

• Liaising with accounts on billing queries;

• Supporting marketing and business development activity within the team;

• Achieving a minimum budgeted annual target of 1,440 chargeable hours per

year;

• Meeting individual financial targets.

This position is ideal for someone who would like the opportunity to grow and

develop in the role. Initial responsibilities will involve document collation and

indexing as well as drafting chronologies for big cases. As you develop an

understanding of the law and underlying documents, there will be increased file

handling. 

Full training will be given throughout by specialist and highly rated

Partners and other lawyers.

Essential:-

• A keen interest and enthusiasm in Specialist Liability work and particularly

high value, complex and sensitive cases;

• Excellent organisational and IT skills to produce and manage complex

documentation;

• Detail conscious and able to produce work to a high standard for demanding

clients;

• The ability to dig into document heavy and complex cases in order to extract

relevant evidence and data;

• A sympathy and empathy for the public sector who comprise a large number

of our clients;

• A team player with a flexible and self-motivated approach;

• Able to work on own initiative as well as to work with and learn from

supervisors and other members of the department.

Desirable:-

• Good commercial awareness;

• Able to work under pressure to meet required deadlines occasionally meaning

that work will have to be undertaken outside core hours;

• Experience of working in a target driven commercial environment would be an

advantage;

• Whilst previous experience of dealing with Specialist Liability claims would be

helpful, it is not essential - we are looking for the right person and will provide

training.

We are a leading international legal business with over 2,900 colleagues and a diverse range of capabilities. We have 11 offices in the UK as well as offices in Dublin, Madrid, Paris, Milan, Rome, Singapore, Argentina Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Miami. We also have associations/alliances with firms in Malaysia, Brazil, Peru, Central America, the USA, Australia and Germany.
 

We are a broad-based commercial firm with a strong heritage in insurance, health and real estate. This is complemented by a fast-growing Business Advisory capability. We represent a wide range of clients, from household names to government departments and NHS bodies. We act for the UK’s top-ten insurers, we are market leaders in the provision of strategic, commercial and regulatory advice to providers and commissioners in the health sector, and in real estate we advise the UK’s top-12 housebuilders.

 

We have an impressive legal pedigree, with 141 practice area rankings across Chambers UK 2023 and The Legal 500 2023 and over 230 individual lawyers ranked in the two guides. 

 

Our successes have been recognised by the legal industry and the markets in which we operate. Our most recent accolades include being named the top winner at the 2022 Legal Innovation Awards with two awards, bringing home two National Insurance Awards in 2023 for ‘Insurance Law’ and ‘Innovative Product’, winning ‘Legal Adviser of the Year – Public’ at both the 2021 and 2022 HealthInvestor Awards and ‘Legal Adviser of the Year – Private’ at the 2021 awards, and being named ‘Arbitration Team of the Year’ at the 2022 British Legal Awards. Regionally in the UK, we were named ‘Law Firm of the Year – Large’ in the 2022 Yorkshire Legal Awards and ‘Innovators of the Year’ at the 2022 Bristol Law Society Awards. 

 

Our vision is to be leading business advisers, recognised for our insight and our outstanding commitment to clients, and for being the place where talented people want to work. For further details on our work and our culture, please visit www.dacbeachcroft.com.

At DAC Beachcroft, we don’t just accept your differences we celebrate them. From bespoke solutions for our clients, to treating you like an individual. Our strength comes from your diverse ideas and bringing the whole you to work. So if you’re good at what you do, come as you are. We welcome direct applications and are happy to talk flexible working.

We also want you to be at your very best. Please feel free to let us know of any changes we can make at any point in the recruitment process that will help support your application. If this opportunity sounds of interest to you, please make an application and submit your CV. Your application will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence.

Note for Recruitment Agencies – the DAC Beachcroft recruitment team is responsible for managing all current vacancies through direct hiring and referrals wherever possible. We do work with recruitment agencies and where we require external support we will formally release those vacancies to the agencies on our Preferred Supplier List deemed best placed to assist us. Speculative CVs sent by any agency to any DAC Beachcroft employee without a specific request by the recruitment team will not be accepted and with no introduction fee applicable. Our recruitment team can be contacted at csgrecruitment@dacbeachcroft.com