DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Assistant Lawyer – Catastrophic Loss / Complex Injury (Solicitor / Legal Executive / Paralegal / Lawyer)
Salary: Discussed upon initial application
Contract type: Permanent, Full or Part-Time hours
Location: Southampton (however, we would be open to other office locations), hybrid working 1 day per week in the office

COMPLEX & CATASTROPHIC LOSS TEAM AT KEOGHS

Here at Keoghs, in our complex & catastrophic loss department we have market-leading advisors who are at the forefront in the defence of complex and catastrophic injury claims.
With team members based in all of our office locations across the UK, we are able to provide national coverage to a long list of major insurers, public bodies, and corporate clients. Our Chambers and Legal 500 recognised team has an exceptional track-record in dealing with complex and catastrophic claims.
With a unique collaborative approach, that promotes the sharing of information between teams, we ensure a consistently high level of service provision, as well as enhancing the team ethos within our clients’ teams.
We also work with our opponents, seeking to achieve a fair outcome at the earliest possible opportunity. This not only enables us to deal with individual claims but to look more widely to identify claim trends and opponent’s strategies to ensure clients have that insight at the earliest possible stage.
Keoghs’ reputation for innovation speaks for itself. Our five Special Interest Groups (‘SIGs’) – made up of teams of leading experts from across our offices, focussing on key injury groups within this sphere – ensure that we always provide clients with the very latest insight and advice, while standardising and rationalising internal handling processes

YOUR ROLE:

As our next Assistant Lawyer to join the Southampton team, you will be working alongside Partner, Paul Baxter. You will assist Paul on complex, high value RTA multi-track and large loss personal injury claims. Paul handles a variety of liability cases and specialises in motor claims involving large loss, catastrophic injury and fatalities.
The role will also include the need to engage with senior claims handlers in long-standing insurance clients as well as assisting Paul in activities that enhance and develop Keoghs’ profile. Which, in turn will enhance your own development and career and provide excellent advancement.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

You will work as part of the team progressing each file from receipt of papers from the insurer client to resolution of the claim. The role will include:

• TEAMWORK: Working with Paul and his mini team, your role is help manage a caseload of complex injury claims including high value multi-track large loss claims.
• COMMUNICATE: with insurer clients, dealing with their queries and updating them as the matter progresses.
• ANALYSIS: Forensic analysis of voluminous quantum evidence
• STRATEGY: Drafting concise technical advice on all aspects of claim handling to include advice on reserves, indemnity, liability, quantum and causation issues and claims resolution for strategy discussion with the Lead Lawyer.
• PROACTIVITY: identify next steps required on matter, discussing those aspects with the Lead Lawyer and taking action as agreed.
• TECHNICAL: 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.
• TARGETS: Delivery of agreed performance targets (including chargeable hours) and quality standards.
• DELEGATION: assign tasks for a Legal Assistant and/or Paralegal and be fully engaged in their development in terms of technical ability and achievement of objectives.
• CASE MANAGEMENT: Maintain case managements systems with up to date management information for clients.