Personal Injury Senior/Principal Associate
Job title
Senior/Principal Associate – Solicitor/Legal Executive
Department
Personal Injury
About Higgs
Our vision is to be the independent regional law firm of choice, recognised for having a positive long-term impact upon its people, its clients, its business partners and its community.
When it comes to our people, the team is everything at Higgs – an environment of sharing and collaboration, and a real sense of loyalty to each other and the firm. That is coupled with a desire for everyone to learn and develop. We are always striving to be better. We enjoy what we do. We are genuinely interested in our clients and want them to feel a part of the firm too.
Our approach to our people draws on enjoyment, health & wellbeing, developing talent, technical excellence, training, reward and recognition.
Role purpose
- To provide specialist legal advice to meet the needs of clients
- To manage an ongoing caseload of multi-track and catastrophic personal injury claims
- To work as part of a team on complex and intellectually demanding work, which requires the ability to meet exacting deadlines and work under pressure
Key responsibilities
- Working as part of a team in supporting clients who have sustained life-changing injuries
- Managing client expectations appropriately, which includes negotiating with defendant insurers/solicitors and other professionals to secure the desired objectives of the client
- Drafting documentation relating to the client’s case including pleadings, applications, witness statements, schedules of medical records, instructions to counsel and instructions to experts
- Responsible for guiding and developing a paralegal/serious injury assistant whose role is to provide support on a case
- Adherence to the departmental Best Practice Policy
- Meeting agreed targets
- Efficient administration, billing and cost recovery
- Supporting, maintaining and developing business relationships and engaging in key relationship management
- Proactive compliance with Solicitor’s Regulations Authority and/or CILEX professional conduct rules and standards / ISO / firm’s procedures, as appropriate
- Assisting in the implementation of the departmental business plan and the firm’s business plan
Person specification
- Commercial attitude and aptitude
- Ability to delegate tasks clearly and effectively and to work within agreed deadlines
- Demonstrate accuracy, efficiency and high quality presentation of work
- Experience in providing highest standards of client service
- Discretion, tact and ensuring the confidentiality of client and firm affairs
- Self-motivated and able to use initiative
- Sound grasp of your own discipline
- Experienced in offering clear and comprehensive advice to the client
- Willingness to engage in business development and take an active part in the management of key commercial relationships
- A desire to make a wider contribution with attendance at events and supporting with delivery of the departmental and the firm’s business plan.
Technical knowledge
- A good understanding of the core legal process in serious/catastrophic injury claims.
- A good understanding of The Rehabilitation Code, Serious Injury Guide and their application to major trauma cases.
- Knowledge and experience of the law relating to road traffic collision claims, work accidents and accidents in a public place.
Other information
The firm offers hybrid working wherever possible. Our Higgs’ Best FIT (flexible, inclusive, together) principles are designed to ensure that people are able to complete their best work from the most appropriate location.
We also encourage a ‘dress for your diary’ approach.
Equal opportunities
As charter signatories to The Law Society’s Diversity and Inclusion Charter, Higgs LLP are committed to developing a diverse business by engaging with the widest pool of talent and promoting equality of opportunity for everyone. Our mission is to ensure that everyone is empowered to be the best version of themselves and to have a voice which can be shared, heard and respected.
