Personal Injury Lawyer

We are recruiting for a Personal Injury Lawyer (0 - two years' PQE) to conduct personal injury claims and undertake legal work on behalf of Claimants as part of the wider Personal Injuries and Medical Negligence department, working under the supervision of the Partner in the team.

Our busy and successful Personal Injury team compromises one Partner, one Senior Associate, one Associate, one Senior Paralegal, one Paralegal and one Senior Legal Secretary. The work of the team includes accidents at work, public liability claims, road accidents with a specific focus on pedestrian and cycling claims, and CICA claims. We also undertake beauty treatment and industrial disease claims.

In line with the firm's culture and aim to nurture and 'grow our own' talent, we will support and mentor your development and progression.

The role

Some of the duties you can expect to be involved in are:

Legal work

• Exercising high standards of client care in a professional and pleasant manner.


• Managing and progressing personal injury cases on behalf of Claimants.


• Assisting other lawyers with the conduct of client matters.


• Triaging new claims and undertaking risk assessments.


• Opening and closing matters.


• Interviewing clients, taking instructions and preparing witness statements.


• Maintaining detailed file notes of instructions received, advice given, and work carried out, as well as any other attendances upon clients and other parties.


• Providing advice to other departments and teams as appropriate.


• Completing relevant forms, submitting, monitoring, valuing and settling claims, and billing.


• Ensuring all emails and electronic communications are maintained in keeping with our Case Management System.


• Progressing matters in a proactive, professional and efficient manner with the aim of concluding cases efficiently whilst achieving good outcomes for clients.


• Carrying out clients' reasonable instructions promptly.


• Complying with all appropriate pre-litigation protocols.


• Dealing with emails, fax and telephone communications, and all other correspondence promptly.


• Dealing with funding arrangements for the client with all the appropriate approvals.


• Obtaining medical records and other records in a timely fashion.


• Selecting, instructing, and assessing appropriate experts and Counsel in accordance with the firm's documented policy and procedures.


• Perusing and assessing medical evidence.


• Drafting schedule of financial losses.


• Drafting claims and other court documents.


• Attending and conducting (where appropriate) case management conferences and other court hearings on behalf of clients where appropriate or instructing Counsel to do so.


• Keeping clients informed as to the progress of their cases and as to current and anticipated costs at least every six months.


• Maintaining file checklists and task lists.


• Preparing of trial bundles and management of documents, including photocopying, compilation of bundles of documents, delivery of documents to court and other parties and collection.


• Notifying Partners of any complaint received regarding work undertaken or service delivery.


• Reporting data protection issues.


• Responding promptly and accurately to requests for information concerning casework from Partners, Supervisors and fee-earners.


• Accurately recording time and meeting monthly time targets.


• Dealing with costs promptly at the conclusion of claims, both for the benefit of the firm and our clients.


• Any other reasonable duties as directed by Manager.


Marketing and business development (working alongside our Marketing and Business Development team)

• Working on the submission of legal directories (Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners)


• Attending relevant networking events as appropriate.


• Developing sources of work.


• Involvement in marketing strategies and initiatives.


• Developing the department's web pages and other marketing material.


• Cross-department work to raise the profile and understanding of our work and identifying cross-selling opportunities.


Non-legal work

• Attending 121 review meetings each month and engaging with the Personal Development Review process.


• Complying with the firm's policies and procedures, including but not limited to accounts procedures, billing and compliance.


• Maintaining an adequate and up-to-date knowledge of the law and practice.


• Championing the values of the firm and to actively supporting the objectives of the firm.


• Supervising other members of the team as necessary.


• Ensuring the confidentiality and security of all of the firms and client's documentation and information.


• Maintaining clear and precise communications with other personnel of the firm, and ensuring good working relationships with external organisations and third parties.


• Participating in team, departmental and office meetings.
  
  The ideal candidate would have experience in Personal Injury law and be familiar with the Civil Procedure Rules and relevant legislation.


The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of claims and will require a flexible approach in order to manage a varied workload. You will be capable of managing your own time effectively, be IT literate, confident using and adapting to new systems and processes and know how to use time recording software.

Location and working hours

• This is a full-time role (office hours are 9am - 5.15pm, Monday to Friday).


• Part-time considered (four days per week minimum).


• The role is based at our Prince House office in central Bristol with the option to apply for hybrid working upon successful completion of your probation period.
  
  Barcan+Kirby is well known in the Bristol legal market both as a provider of excellent legal services for individuals and businesses, and as a progressive employer.


We are committed to developing and nurturing our people, and encouraging positive wellbeing and mental health is central to our culture. When we say we offer a work/life balance, we mean it, and we were advocates for flexible working long before the Covid-19 pandemic.

We work hard to maintain a culture of kindness and friendliness, and we like to think that we do things a bit differently from other law firms.