Job Description

PRC Solicitor

Department: Legal

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Belfast

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.

The team currently has a live vacancy for a Solicitor.

The available role offers an excellent opportunity to work within the Belfast Team dealing predominately with Property and Coverage claims. In this role you will be a Solicitor handling County Court cases and assisting on higher value cases, which will include Recoveries and Property, Risks and Coverage claims. Experience of complex liability issues and commercial litigation is preferred and excellent attention to detail is essential. There will be an opportunity to work on casualty cases and property cases involving injury.

Key Responsibilities

• Handling your own caseload of claims predominantly in the County Court with some High Court litigation.
• Communicating with sophisticated insurer clients, dealing with their queries and updating them as the matter progresses.
• Forensic analysis of voluminous quantum evidence, preparing chronologies, identifying anomalies and other relevant information across various sources and categories of evidence.
• Using your existing knowledge of 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 a 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, Joint Consultations, 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.
• Maintaining case managements systems with up to date management information for clients.
• To ensure compliance with the LSNI regulations.
• Participation in Business Development activities.

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 & Expertise

• Qualified solicitor or proven relevant legal experience is essential.
• Experience of indemnity, liability and quantum
• 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 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.
• Ability to recognise when sensitivity and tact are required.
• Ability to effectively work within a team.
• Proficient IT skills (Word, Excel and Office)
• Personal Effectiveness
• Team Commitment :Values others’ perspectives
• Resilience:Demonstrates self-control
• Passion for Growth and Improvement:Systematically improves performance
• Embracing Change:Responds positively to change
• Client Care:Works to add value for the client
• Decision Making
• Negotiation, Influence and Persuasion
• Commercial Insight:Considers and understands commercial implications