Solicitor/Associate - Clinical Risk

Department: Clinical Risk

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Manchester

Description

Our Clinical Risk cluster is the biggest nationally, handling a challenging but fulfilling caseload of defendant clinical negligence work. We act for a variety of clients, including NHS Resolution, NHS Trusts, the MDU, independent healthcare providers and medical malpractice insurers.

Our reputation speaks for itself. The Legal 500 Series notes the team at DAC Beachcroft as "exceptional legal minds who combine sharp intellect with a practical, results-oriented approach". (http://www.legal500.com/)

We would love to speak with those interested in joining our Manchester office. This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious and passionate individual to join an award-winning, progressive and highly specialised team.

Key Responsibilities

• Handle a challenging caseload of defendant clinical negligence work on behalf of NHS Resolution. This will include drafting pleadings, witness statements and letters of response, conducting face to face negotiations and mediation of claims as well as preparing counter schedules.
• Act as first and primary contact for clients on a day to day basis providing them with commercially focused legal advice
• Adhere closely to client protocol and process
• Provide supervision and coaching to junior fee earners
• Make an appropriate contribution to non-fee earning activity e.g. knowledge sharing, training, client seminars, and business development
• Comply with the required standards for internal procedures e.g. financial
• Management of files, billing regimes etc. as well as the specific requirements of individual clients
• Writing articles for publication both for in-house and external publications
• Handle confidential information in line with the firm's data security protocols

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• A qualified Solicitor with a background in defendant clinical negligence, ideally at an NHS Resolution panel firm. We are also open to those with a background in defendant personal injury or claimant clinical negligence.
• An understanding of the NHS and their business drivers would be preferable, including knowledge of and ability to deliver against client protocols and KPIs
• Strong technical skills and an ability to understand and work through complex issues
• A demonstrable ability to adopt a commercial perspective rather than an 'academic' approach to legal issues and to be highly client focused
• Ability to operate with a high level of self-sufficiency, combined with an awareness of the boundaries of own competence/authority
• Team oriented and collegiate with an experience of and a willingness to mentor, coach and supervise less experienced members of teams
• Exposure to and success within business development activities
• Confident communicator with an ability to develop relationships, undertake client marketing and influence at all levels. Ability to deal confidently and professionally with clients on day to day issues, building up strong relationships
• Strong organisation skills to ensure a pragmatic and methodical approach to handling a variety of clinical negligence claims simultaneously, through an IT case management system
• Change oriented with a positive, flexible approach towards the implementation of new initiatives
• Able to handle a complex and constantly changing workload and to work under pressure
• Detail conscious with a concern for quality