Description

This role offers an excellent opportunity for a Solicitor with 5-10 years PQE to handle a varied caseload of litigated motor injury, fraud and credit hire cases, spanning both the County Court and High Court jurisdiction.

As well as handling your own caseload, you will be responsible for supervising more junior colleagues, providing advice and guidance and be required to provide feedback to them.

This is a temporary maternity cover position.

The role will include:

• Handling your own caseload of claims predominantly in the High Court.

Communicating with sophisticated insurer clients, dealing with their queries and updating them as the matter progresses.
Forensic analysis of quantum evidence, preparing chronologies, identifying anomalies and other relevant information across various sources and categories of evidence.
Using your existing knowledge of complex injury symptomology to identify relevant issues within medical records in order to instruct medical experts, drawing key issues to their attention.
Critical analysis of sources of liability evidence and identifying any gaps.
Drafting concise technical advice on all aspects of claim handling to include advice on indemnity, liability, quantum and causation issues.
Proactively identifying next steps required on matter, taking action as agreed.
Interviewing witnesses and drafting statements.
Liaising with parties involved in claims including the insured, insurer, witnesses etc.
Drafting pleadings and applications.
Instructing counsel and attending conferences, JSMs, mediations both remotely and in person.
Attend court in person or by telephone, attend trials, settlement conferences etc as required.
Delivery of agreed performance targets and quality standards.
Delegate assigned tasks for a Legal Assistant and/or Paralegal and be fully engaged in their development in terms of technical ability and achievement of objectives.
Maintaining case management systems with up to date management information for clients.
To ensure compliance with the LSNI regulations.
Hands on supervision and development of more junior team members.
Participation in Business Development activities.

Key Responsibilities

Keoghs is the leading provider of legal and claims solutions to insurers, businesses and other suppliers to the insurance sector. Keoghs Northern Ireland has grown year on year since inception in the local market in 2019 and now has over 50 staff solely dedicated to defendant insurance litigation services. The strong and well-respected reputation of our experienced team has been recognised in the Legal 500 and Chambers Directories.

We work in partnership with our insurance clients and their policyholders, providing a supportive team focused approach, resulting in excellent outcomes. There is a great team ethos within our Northern Ireland office, where we encourage personal development and wellbeing. We offer hybrid working and a relaxed dress code, and we pride ourselves on our agile working policy. Our team is friendly and supportive, and there are opportunities to become part of our social committee, participate in charity events and to get involved in client development initiatives.

We are looking for ambitious, driven candidates who are looking to join a leading Northern Ireland defence firm. Keoghs NI have grown year on year since inception in 2019, and the successful candidate will benefit from working with an insurance industry leader representing most of the key Insurance clients in the UK.

Working Hours 35 hours per week Monday Friday 9am 5pm with 1 unpaid hour for lunch. Primary location for this role is Belfast Office.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Qualified solicitor with 5 10 years PQE, or proven relevant legal experience is essential.
Experience of indemnity, liability and quantum essential.
Experience of credit hire desired.
Experience of cases involving complex medical issues preferred
Critical thinking and quantum analysis experience required.
Good telephone advocacy skills.
Positive, confident and enthusiastic
Excellent listening, verbal and written communication skills including the ability to compose professional written communications.
Good advocacy skills.
Excellent inter-personal and client care skills.
Understanding of case law and litigation practice and process, and Court Practice Rules.
Ability to plan and prioritise workloads, keep to deadlines and work under pressure.
Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
Ability to weigh facts, apply the law and make decisions.
Ability to anticipate problems and identify solutions.
Driven to achieve to take development opportunities when they arise with a positive attitude.
Calm under pressure with the ability to re-prioritise and delegate effectively when required.
Confidence to take initiative to innovate and adapt to changing situations.
Confidence to seek advice and guidance when dealing with new tasks.
Ability to follow instruction and with attention to detail and to give clear instruction, direction and guidance to more junior members of the team.

Benefits

Davies Incentive Plan
25 days holiday per year which increases with level of service (opportunity to buy & sell 3 days)
Family Cover Private Medical Insurance (Bupa) – will automatically be at single cover level but can opt into family option within first month of joining.
Simply Health Care Cash Plan
WeCare 24/7 online GP, mental health support and virtual wellbeing covering a whole host of topics to do with health, mental health, wellbeing & healthy living and financial & legal wellbeing
Death in Service
Critical Illness Cover
PHI/Income Protection (Private health insurance)
Pension Contribution based 5% Employee / 3% Employer
Employee Resource Groups
Employee Volunteering Programme
Cycle to Work Scheme*
Tech Scheme*
Season Ticket Loan*
Gym Flex*
Access to Online Discount Sites
Discounted Gourmet Society Membership
Discounted Tickets for Merlin Attractions nationwide
Discounts at local retail outlets
after successfully completing probation

About Keoghs Keoghs is the leading provider of legal and claims solutions to insurers, businesses and other suppliers to the insurance sector. We manage more than £1bn worth of insurer claims and resolve in excess of 100,000 claims per year working in partnership with leading insurers, MGAs, brokers, corporates and the public sector.

With more than 50 years experience we have an in-depth understanding of the insurance claims process, enabling us to contain and lower litigation rates, shorten claims lifecycles and reduce overall claims costs. We combine proven processes, technology and low cost infrastructure with extensive legal and insurance market knowledge. This enables us to create individual solutions for each of our clients that match their requirements in terms of quality, performance and value for money.

We invest heavily in specialised services, technology and innovation for our insurance clients, and we are the first to launch a true artificial intelligence (AI) insurance lawyer. Through our proprietary AI lawyer, Lauri, weve transformed the claims handling process for low-value personal injury claims; weve reduced claim lifecycles and reduced costs for our clients. Supported by commercial acumen and innovative products, Keoghs leads the way in providing legal solutions to the insurance industry.