Assistant Lawyer - PRC

Description

Keoghs LLP is one of the leading insurance law firms in the UK and can rightly claim to be amongst the most dynamic in its sector. We now have a number of exciting opportunities for talented insurance lawyers to join our Property Risks and Coverage Team. These roles are based at our Bolton office but feature strong connections with, and team working alongside, our London and Bristol offices. Flexible working is encouraged for the right candidates.

Our large and complex cases require a collaborative approach and you will be part of a team handling some of the largest property damage and insurance coverage claims in the UK – fires, escapes of water, construction and engineering failures. The caseload involves acting for most of the leading UK insurers on issues ranging from policy coverage disputes, major loss subrogation claims, first party fraud, FOS referrals and defended liability claims where insurers and their policyholders are facing claims arising out of fires, escapes of water, escapes of oil and subsidence.  Often, one major event will give rise to our early engagement and multiple involvements.  The successful candidates will not at this level, be expected to handle a case load in their own right. 

The team regularly delivers training seminars and workshops to various insurer clients and the ideal candidates will have an interest in client development and show a willingness to assist in the preparation and delivery of seminars on technical legal issues. In the first instance the successful candidate will be working closely with a Lead Lawyer to assist in the running of substantial commercial insurance litigation disputes across the range of legal issues identified above.  The role may also involve assisting other Assistant Lawyers in the mini sub specialist team.  

The key accountabilities for these roles will be dependent upon the level at which the successful candidate starts in role but typically the key accountabilities will include:

• Reviewing documents and preparing draft advices to client on behalf of Lead Lawyer 
• Bespoke draft advices on coverage for Lead lawyer
• Assisting the Lead lawyer with all aspects of the litigation process 
• Considering the issues of coverage, liability, quantum and strategy
• Conducting investigations
• Preparing first draft instructions to counsel and experts
• Legal research
• Document searches
• Attendances at client meetings/strategy discussions/conferences for the purpose of note taking and follow up.
• Ensuring compliance with the SRA Standards & Regulations

The above is not a definitive list of possible work which may be delegated and which they may be required to undertake.

Working Hours 
35 hours per week, Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm with 1 unpaid hour for lunch. Primary location for this role is Bolton, Parklands Office. We are hybrid workers with attendance required 1 day in the office.
Such other hours are necessarily to comply with client/court obligations. 

Recruitment Criteria

• Legal qualification require ie. Solicitor/FILEX
• Previous Defendant property insurance litigation experience
• A knowledge and understanding of the types of disputes handled by the department and claims handled by the department’s insurer clients
• Knowledge of product liability related issues, breach of contract, negligence, property law, insurance coverage issue

Desirable

•  Experience of dealing with complaints to the FOS referrals 

Required Soft Skills:  

• An ability to prioritise workload
• Ability to pay attention to detail
• Ability to work with case management systems
• The personal skills to deal with such work as major and expensive litigation involving liaison with senior claims handlers

Values
Our culture is focussed on making Keoghs sustainable and successful for our people and clients, with this our five values are at the heart of everything we do; 

We are connected
We are Dynamic
We are Innovative
We succeed together

• 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 
• 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