Local Government & Social Care Lawyer

We are currently recruiting for a lawyer to join our Local Government Team based in either Birmingham or Leicester. You will be exposed to a high-quality work including Public Inquiries, Human Rights Act claims, abuse and neglect claims, and Equalities litigation. We are committed to developing our people and will support the right candidate to become an expert in this interesting area. We seek a handler with experience of handling or assisting on claims arising from adult and children's social care. We are open to all candidates with an interest in developing in this challenging area of work. Your key duties and responsibilities will include:

• Handling or assisting on social care and abuse files (depending on experience)
• Assisting senior fee earners with various tasks including general case management, legal research, drafting of witness statements, reports to clients and preparation for court hearings
• Managing disclosure documents
• Attending client meetings and court hearings
• Assisting with the instruction of Counsel and experts
• Responding promptly and accurately to correspondence and telephone enquiries from clients and other parties, with and without supervision
• Achieving set financial and chargeable targets
• Supporting the team's business development activities
This list is not intended to be exhaustive and you will be expected to perform other duties and have other responsibilities that fall within the wider remit of the role.

You will have experience handling or assisting on social care and abuse files, or previous experience of handling casualty claims, and a genuine, demonstrable interest in the work. We also require you to have:
• A proactive and forward-thinking mindset
• A willingness to ask questions and engage with the whole team
• Experience of handling own caseload
• Good drafting skills
• Good communication skills
• Good negotiating skills
• Good IT skills
• Good written and communication skills
• Good time management and organisation skills
• Good attention to detail
• Ability to multi-task and prioritise
• Ability to work to strict deadlines
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
• Knowledge of CPR procedure with proven technical ability.
If you meet our criteria and think this is a job where you could bring enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn, then we look forward to receiving your application.

Weightmans is a Leading national law firm, with strong international capabilities. Weightmans has been recognised as a leading employer for the 19th consecutive year at Britain's Top Employers awards, and ranking top 10 in the list, the firm has also secured top positions in Chambers UK. Join Weightmans as we continue our journey to becoming one of the UK's top 30 law firms.