Senior Associate / Associate - Health Litigation

Hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00 - 17:30 (37.5 hours per week)

Location: Liverpool or Remote

Benefits:

• Annual leave starting at 25 days
• Annual bonus scheme
• Birthday privilege day and Christmas shutdown
• Holiday buy, sell and carryover scheme
• 2 charity volunteering or pro bono days
• Optional private medical insurance via BUPA
• Annual fitness allowance
• Flexible pension scheme
• ISA saving scheme and independent financial advice
• Electric or hybrid vehicle lease scheme
• Medicash EAP with access to counselling
• Enhanced family leave policies
• Access to confidential, expert support via Fertifa in relation to reproductive health and wellbeing
• Access to 10 days fully subsidised emergency or back-up care per year via Bright Horizons
• Life assurance
• Group income protection
• Annual travel season ticket loan
• Hybrid or remote working and dress for your day policy
• Bespoke training and development opportunities
• Financial contribution towards home working equipment

Role Overview:

The Health Litigation team specialises in defending clinical negligence claims for NHS Resolution (formerly NHS Litigation Authority), NHS Trusts and other defendant clinical negligence clients, including primary care clients. Our Health team can genuinely say it is award winning, having received major recognition over the last few years, most recently being named as Public Sector Legal Advisor of the Year at the HealthInvestor Awards. You would be joining an already strong team that specialities in obstetric and neonatal claims (including brain injuries) and safety, offering a commensurately high quality of work, with opportunity to develop specialism in this important and rewarding field under the guidance of experienced team members.

Key Responsibilities:

• Analysing evidence and organising appropriate investigations
• Drafting reports and advising clients
• Interviewing witnesses and drafting witness statements
• Instructing experts
• Instructing Counsel
• Attending Court for Case Management Conferences and Application Hearings
• Negotiating settlements
• Holding Conferences with Counsel
• Preparing for and attending trials and different forms of ADR

Additional Duties:

• Supervision of colleagues’ work and supporting development of the team by appropriate delegation and coaching
• Assisting colleagues in the running of higher value claims
• Building and maintaining client and internal relationships, adhering to both internal and external operating procedures
• Delivering client training and presentations
• Drafting articles for clients
• Contributing to business development by seeking new opportunities
• Making a wider contribution to the Health Business Group and wider firm by continually seeking ways to improve
• Covering secondments to NHS Resolution or NHS Trusts, as needed

What Are We Looking For:

Important criteria:

• Qualified Solicitor (3-9 years PQE)
• NHS Resolution Panel firm or MDO experience is preferred but not essential
• Experience of NHS Resolution’s EN Scheme and maternity-related claims is preferred, but a willingness to develop knowledge in this area is essential
• Ability to work independently and as part of a growing team, in the office or whilst working remotely
• Demonstrates an understanding of client needs/expectations
• Willingness to invest time in the development of junior team members
• Adheres to guidelines and client protocols/KPIs
• Proactive, pragmatic approach with focus on quality
• Excellent attention to detail
• Excellent organisational and communication skills
• An appreciation of client data security requirements
• Evidence of meeting hours and contribution target

If you don't meet all of the criteria above but feel that you could add real value to Hill Dickinson, we encourage you to submit an application and if successful, we can help you develop along the way.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

Hill Dickinson is committed to providing fairness and equal opportunity for all regardless of age, gender, gender identity, ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital or transgender status, nationality, religion or belief. We understand that our power as a firm comes from empowering our people and that it is only by encouraging and enabling individuals to be themselves at work that we can truly benefit from their rich and varied strengths.

Disability Support:

We are a Disability Confident employer, which means if there is anything that we can do to make your visit easier, so you are able to perform at your best, please let us know. You can contact the HR team at hrteam@hilldickinson.com should you require any adjustments to the application or interview process.

At Hill Dickinson, we welcome applications from individuals that are looking to return to the law as well as all routes to qualification, with both the SRA and CILEx. All successful candidates will be subject to our standard pre-employment screening, including a basic criminal record check via Disclosure and Barring Service. Any offer of employment made is conditional upon completion of all checks. Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.