Senior Litigation Paralegal

We are recruiting a Senior Paralegal with primary experience in Return of Goods/Asset Based Recovery litigation workstream in Scotland. The role holder will support the Senior Litigation Manager in delivering on client service for our Asset Based Lender clients in the recovery of their assets through litigation and recovery. This role will suit either a Paralegal with experience looking for their next challenge and step up or an experienced Senior Paralegal already working within this area of litigation, we welcome applications from both.

Our Litigation Services department provides a complete range of litigation and debt recovery services. Our team are specialists dealing with different debt types on both consumer and commercial accounts. This role sits within our Financial Services Litigation Team and involves acting on behalf of a range of clients including leading financial services organisations to deliver a quality and comprehensive litigation and debt recovery service. The workstreams include litigation in Secured Mortgage, Asset Based Recovery and Unsecured matters where both consumer and commercial customers are being pursued.

The firm Shoosmiths is the law firm clients choose for excellent service, incisive thinking and above all for our ability to focus on what matters. We empower our people to be their authentic selves and deliver together in supportive teams committed to excellence and innovation. We have an outstanding benefits package to complement our competitive remuneration system. In addition to the competitive salaries, great working environment and high-quality work, we believe that all staff should be rewarded for their commitment to the continued success of the firm through a comprehensive and flexible range of benefits. Shoosmiths is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer.

Main responsibilities:

• To manage litigation and collections cycles of assigned cases across all three litigation workstreams.
• To assist the management team in day-to-day team management, providing training and support to junior paralegals to move assigned cases forward in line with client requirements.
• To support the management team with client service delivery, including report production and billing.
• To manage inbound and outbound calls to a FCA standard which ensures the best outcome for our customers are achieved, including the negotiation of settlement of matters.
• File management within the case management system to ensure that our client's cases are progressed timely and accurately.
• Ensuring that customers' information is recorded accurately to our case management system and ensuring clients are kept updated on changes.
• Taking personal responsibility for compliance with all relevant client and internal Service Level Agreements and ensure that Junior Paralegals are also delivering.
• Taking responsibility to ensure that our clients' accounts are successfully managed through the court process to ensure a positive outcome for our clients.
• Making enforcement decisions or recommendations on behalf of our clients and enforcing court judgements.
• Remaining professional and polite at all times.
• Support Junior Paralegals with appropriate training, both technical and operational.
• Providing feedback to Junior Paralegals to aid their development.
• Interacting with clients and providing recommendations on account progression.
• Managing own workload with limited supervision.
• Deputising for relevant management personnel in their absence.

Skills, experience and knowledge:

• Experience in return of goods/asset based lending litigation and collections with transferable skills in this workstream with the appropriate Scottish litigation knowledge.
• Experience of working in a Paralegal role in an office environment.
• Experience of interacting with both clients and customers with excellent customer service expertise to a FCA standard, including by telephone and email.
• Experience in negotiating on behalf of clients with customers.
• Experience working with a high volume of work.
• Experience supporting and training junior members of staff.
• Strong negotiation, communication and problem solving skills.
• Good written, numeracy and oral communication skills.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• IT literate including sound knowledge of Word, Excel and the internet.
• Ability to prioritise, be organised and efficient.
• Flexibility with the capability to adapt to change, new practices and cope under pressure but with the ability to recognise when to seek assistance.
• Able to integrate within a team and able to work on your own initiative.
• Be pro-active and self-motivated with a positive approach.

Desirable skills and experience:

• Experience in Secured Mortgage Litigation.
• Experience in insolvency work.
• Previous experience of supporting with the management of client relationships.

Our approach to our people is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion and well-being. Our ambition is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents, and a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and has a strong sense of community between colleagues.