Claims Handler/Paralegal - Legal Indemnity

Our Legal Indemnities Team advises insurers and their policyholders when claims are made against legal indemnity policies. Legal Indemnity policies are issued to provide cover for losses arising due to defects in the title to property. Our team advises on the full range of claims and policy wordings including absence of easement, restrictive covenant, rights to light, defective title, planning and building regulation issues. Policyholders can be individuals, commercial property owners/developers or their lenders. Claims range from a neighbour dispute to complex, high-value litigation regarding development of land. Settlement of the claims involves creative thinking with a view to avoiding litigation wherever possible. The team are particularly experienced in the deployment of alternative dispute resolution techniques, including mediation.

The Legal Indemnities Team sits within the Professional and Commercial Risks team in our Bristol office. The team is ranked in Tier 1 in both the Legal 500 and Chambers directories, with a number of leading individuals named. It includes commercial litigation together with the longest established professional negligence team in Bristol, acting for most of the leading insurers, as well as large professional services firms themselves including leading global surveyors, solicitors and insurance brokers. Alongside the team sits a market leading claims handling team, DAC Beachcroft Specialist Claims Services, handling several thousand professional indemnity claims on an outsourced basis on behalf of London Market Insurers.

This role is a claims handling/paralegal role within the Legal Indemnities team handling legal indemnity claims and assisting panel solicitors with their work.

The overall purpose of this role is to provide a timely, professional and high-quality service to clients in the management of legal indemnity claims. You will have delegated authority from the insurer to make coverage decisions in claims worth up to £25k. Above that value you will report to the insurer and provide instructions to panel solicitors. The role will require you to:

• Manage a legal indemnity caseload under supervision. This will include developing a knowledge of property law, insurance law and coverage issues as well as the civil procedure rules and aspects of alternative dispute resolution;
• Conduct the review of new cases, completing case checklist to identify coverage issues;
• Assess quantum, legal position and establish strategy for the claim;
• Draft correspondence to policyholders requesting additional information as required;
• Resolve claims through negotiation of settlement, rebuttal of claim and/or declining of cover;
• Review panel reports and obtain instructions when appropriate;
• Maintain ongoing contact with the insurer and policyholder throughout the process to report on progress and take further instructions;
• Play a key role in developing and maintaining client relationships;
• Support the Legal Indemnities team in claims review meetings with the insurer;
• Ensure that the client’s brand and methodology are promoted effectively in all dealings with third parties;
• Instruct experts and external counsel where appropriate;
• Ensure that case management system and hard copy files are updated with diary dates as required by the case;
• Assume responsibility for quality control and client protocol compliance on own caseload, including accuracy and timeliness of record keeping, file management and management reporting and information;
• Ensure that the DAC Beachcroft brand and standards are maintained in managing the outputs of other panel firms;
• Handle confidential information in line with the firms data security protocols.

• Graduate calibre with an excellent academic record and/or previous experience of working as a claims paralegal or similar within the field of professional indemnity is desirable;
• IT literate with working knowledge of Word and Excel;
• Knowledge/previous experience of case management systems would be an advantage but training will be provided;
• Client focused with an ability to build strong relationships with client and third-party contacts at all levels;
• Able to work to deadlines, prioritise own workload effectively under pressure and manage conflicting priorities;
• Proactive and energetic with a tenacious approach to identifying issues and solving problems;
• Quality and customer service oriented with a concern for accuracy and an eye for detail;
• Team oriented. A collegiate approach to sharing knowledge and working with colleagues across locations is essential;
• Able to progress tasks using own initiative, seeking guidance and input from others where appropriate;
• Committed and enthusiastic with a mature attitude to work and a desire to commit long term to a career in this field;
• Confident oral and written communication skills.