Paralegal - Personal Injury

JMW Solicitors LLP; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A law firm in Manchester is searching for a dedicated Paralegal to join their Personal Injury department's Travel Litigation team. The role involves supporting legal professionals with their caseload, including drafting documents and liaising with clients. The ideal candidate will have relevant personal injury experience and strong communication skills. The firm offers a supportive work environment, hybrid working after an initial period, and benefits such as generous annual leave and private medical insurance.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Private Medical Insurance

Death in Service benefit

Travel Insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Relevant personal injury experience (litigated or EL/OL/PL).
• Knowledge of law and Civil Procedure Rules for personal injury.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support fee earners with administrative and legal tasks.
• Draft client and witness statements.
• Request and collate medical records.
• Research case law on liability and quantum.
• Prepare instructions for medical experts.

Skills

Written communication

Oral communication

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Ability to work under pressure

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

Proclaim Case Management System

Job description

JMW are seeking a Paralegal to join our Personal Injury department’s Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners ranked Travel Litigation team, who pursue justice for clients injured abroad, whilst on holiday or working, and specialise in catastrophic and fatal accident cases.

In your role as Paralegal, you will support your team’s Partner, Senior Associate and Solicitor with their caseloads, alongside our other paralegals and trainees. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn and develop your legal knowledge and skills.We offer a supportive work environment with the opportunity to expand your legal experience while dealing with a wide variety of personal injury matters.

The Department

Each year, JMW’s Personal Injury department secures millions of pounds in compensation for clients across the UK by taking positive action on their behalf and presenting the strongest possible case. Our team of expert personal injury lawyers produce some of the best results in the industry. They pride themselves on providing a high level of customer service and understand how an injury can have an impact on clients' day-to-day lives.

Over decades of success, we have received recognition from numerous legal institutions, including being ranked in band 1 for personal injury work in the Northwest for both Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500, and receiving the Corporate Supporter Award at the inaugural Child Brain Injury Trust Diamond Awards for our ongoing support and fundraising for the charity.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Our paralegals provide support across the team. They are responsible for a wide range of general, administrative, and other legal services related tasks delegated by fee earning colleagues, including:

• Requesting, reviewing and collating medical records
• Researching case law on liability and quantum
• Drafting of client and witness statements
• Preparing instructions to medical experts and counsel
• Drafting Schedules of Loss and court documents
• Drafting instructions to counsel
• Liaising with clients and updating on case progress
• Preparing court bundles
• Dealing with billing and disbursement payments

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

Travel litigation experience would be advantageous but is not essential, however applicants must have gained some relevant personal injury experience (of litigated or EL/OL/PL cases ideally), along with:

• Knowledge of the law, practices and Civil Procedure Rules applicable to personal injury
• A very high standard of written communication and attention to detail, particularly when preparing emails, letters, reports and other professional documents
• Strong oral communication skills that include dealing directly with clients in a professional and empathetic manner
• Team working ethic
• Ability to work well under pressure and pro-actively prioritise and complete work to a high standard set by senior fee earners
• Experience in Word, Excel and Outlook
• Experience using Proclaim Case Management System would be advantageous but is not essential

Working for JMW

As well as a rewarding career, JMW offers its colleagues many other opportunities and benefits, including:

• A minimum of 25 days’ annual leave (increasing with length of service) plus office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Travel Insurance – covering you and eligible family members
• Death In Service - 3 x basic salary
• Private Medical Insurance (subject to opting in) and option of contributing to add eligible family members
• Income Protection – cover of up to 75 % of salary
• Access to an interest free travel pass/parking loan
• A one‑hour early finish, one Friday a month
• Two days a year to do charitable work, with a huge variety of events to get involved in
• The opportunity to participate in sports teams, hobby clubs, and social events
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders
• Annual promotions process open to all
• Work and employee referral schemes

Hybrid working is available in this role after an initial settling in period.