Paralegal

Job Introduction

Currently the costs product has two Partners, five Legal Directors and two Associates. There are 50 lawyers specialising in all aspects of costs litigation including Solicitors, Chartered Legal Executives, Costs Lawyers and Paralegals. 

The costs product comprises several distinct teams specialising in a specific area of costs including paying party teams, complex claims team and a receiving party recovery team. 

Team members aim to build strong links and establish good rapport with the clients and claims handlers, which ensures that team members understand the clients' businesses and exceed their expectations.

We are currently accepting applications from lawyers to join one of our paying party teams. This is an opportunity for an entry level paralegal with no previous experience although we will also consider a paralegal with some costs experience. 

• High levels of flexibility and a great work life balance - https://jobs.dacbeachcroft.com/whats-in-it-for-you/
• A well-rounded remuneration package (which includes private medical insurance, income protection insurance and discounted gym membership, amongst many other benefits)
• Opportunities for growth and progression including professional funding
• In person and remote social events
• Opportunity to get involved in a range of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) activities

Paying party claim team specific responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Handle a case load of costs claims arising from a wide range of originating claims including personal injury, clinical risk, commercial, judicial review and international jurisdictions
• Drafting points of dispute (challenges to claims for costs) 
• Negotiating claims to conclusion 
• Acting as a point of contact for clients, demonstrating a level of knowledge and skill commensurate with experience
• Ensuring full compliance with clients' SLAs and DAC Beachcroft's internal protocols
• Assume responsibility for quality control and benchmark compliance on own caseload, including accuracy and timeliness of management reporting and information 
• Ensure strict and ongoing adherence to benchmark standards in all work undertaken.
• Demonstrating a high level of financial management in respect of own files
• To hit, maintain and apply a consistent approach to all individual targets of chargeable time, financial performance, realisation rates, settlement rates and average claim spend.
• Achieve a minimum budgeted annual target of 1440 chargeable hours per year.
• Exercise full compliance with DAC Beachcroft protocols on billing and credit control and demonstrate a high level of financial management in respect of own files. 
• Supporting marketing and business development activity within the team e.g. attending marketing events and client training 
• Maintain an awareness of the firm's strategies and plans.
• Maintaining and developing technical knowledge through attendance at training sessions, reading appropriate publications 
• Handle confidential information in line with the firm's data security protocol

This is an ideal opportunity for an entry level paralegal to start their legal career and obtain an essential grounding in an area which will serve as a platform for their own development.  

• No experience is necessary just a willingness to learn. Full training will be provided and funding support for the Costs Lawyer training course is available.  
• Confident negotiator, who can communicate clearly and concisely both verbally and in written form
• IT literate with a good working knowledge of Excel and Word. Previous knowledge or experience of a case management system would be an advantage but is not essential
• Willingness to follow a process driven system, working within set parameters.
• Ability to work on own initiative without close supervision
• Able to demonstrate strong team working skills and that they are a flexible and self-motivated team player
• Have excellent organisational skills and able to effectively prioritise and organise a workload/tasks
• Experience of working within a pressurised and deadline driven environment 
• Have an ability to adopt a commercial perspective to legal issues rather than a purely academic approach
• Able to produce work to a high standard, with excellent attention to detail
• Flexible with an ability to adapt to rapid change, both internally and in the context of clients' businesses;
• Knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules (academic or practical). 

• Must be able to work under pressure and with a high volume caseload, to meet required deadlines 

DAC Beachcroft