Legal Support Assistant Clinical Negligence / Personal Injury in Bath

Location: Bristol

Salary: Competitive (+Benefits)

Hours: Monday-Friday, 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Full time, Permanent

About Davies and Partners Solicitors

Davies and Partners Solicitors is a well-established law firm with over 30 years' experience. It has a national reputation for excellence in the Property sector and strength in depth in a wide selection of other legal services for businesses and individuals. We have 5 offices in Bristol, Gloucester, Devon, London and Birmingham.

Address: 250 Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4TR

The Role

To provide comprehensive legal and administrative support to the Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury department in Bristol. This includes supporting fee earners with legal assistant responsibilities and progressing clinical negligence cases under supervision, as well as managing key departmental administrative tasks. This role reports to the Head of Bristol Clinical Negligence with a dotted line to the Head of Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist fee earners with legal tasks related to case progression
• Draft standard correspondence and assist in the preparation of legal documents
• Communicate with clients, counsel, medical experts, and other third parties under supervision
• Organise and maintain legal files, ensuring all documents are correctly filed and up to date
• Support fee earners in progressing cases under guidance, including liaising with courts, counsel and medical experts
• Monitor deadlines and key dates, ensuring timely reminders and follow-ups
• Draft routine legal documentation and assist with case preparation
• Ensure all tasks are conducted in compliance with firm policies, procedures, and professional standards

Departmental Duties

• Open, scan, and distribute incoming post for the department
• Prepare and send outgoing departmental post
• Accurately scan, upload, and manage medical records received in hard copy or CD format for disclosure, expert instruction, or audit purposes
• Maintain well-organised digital and physical filing systems for fee earner matters
• Provide holiday cover as required
• Carry out general administrative support for the department, including photocopying, data entry, typing and other ad hoc tasks as required

Compliance and Standards

• Exhibit flexibility to support team members during periods of absence (e.g. holidays/sickness)
• Adhere to best practices for preventing claims of professional negligence
• Assist with billing and productivity targets
• Act professionally and promptly in all client matters

Your job title does not define or limit your duties and you may be required to carry out other work within your abilities as requested. We reserve the right to introduce changes in line with technological developments which may impact upon your job duties or methods of working.

What We're Looking For

Essential Criteria

• Appropriate DBS disclosure required prior to confirmation of appointment
• Right to live and work in the UK (valid UK or EU passport or appropriate visa/work permits)
• Proven experience in a Clinical Negligence setting
• Experience of clinical negligence/personal injury claims
• Experience of working in a busy litigation environment
• Self-organised and proactive
• Ability to take responsibility and solve problems
• Ability to maintain client confidentiality
• Adaptable to the needs of the business as changes occur during operational requirements
• Competence in the effective use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT)
• The ability to prioritise, meet deadlines, and work under pressure
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong administrative and organisational skills
• Experience scanning, uploading, and managing documents (e.g. medical records, CDs, hard copy)
• Knowledge of court procedures and legal terminology
• Experience supporting fee earners with case progression
• Familiarity with handling and organising medical records
• High level of attention to detail and confidentiality

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of audio typing from dictation
• Familiarity with legal or case management systems
• Experience working in a personal injury team

Compliance

As part of our compliance procedures, applicants are asked to note that:

• References will be followed up
• All gaps in CVs must be explained satisfactorily
• Proof of identity and (where applicable) qualifications will be required
• Reference requests will ask specifically whether you have ever been subject to any proceedings or complaints initiated by the Law Society or any other professional body
• Appropriate suitability checks may be required prior to confirmation of appointment
• This role meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This role will require applicants who are offered employment to be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service before appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands, final warnings as well as convictions.

Equal Opportunities

Davies and Partners Solicitors provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable national laws.

You may have experience in the following: Legal Support, Clinical Negligence Assistant, Personal Injury Assistant, Legal Secretary, Case Manager, Litigation Support, Medical Records Manager, Court Administrator, Paralegal, Legal Assistant, Document Management Specialist, etc.