Paralegal - Costs




Department: CSG - Strategic (Advocacy / Costs / Safety, Health and Environment / Criminal / Abuse / Travel)




Employment Type: Permanent




Location: Newport




Description



The CSG costs product currently deals with 700 instructions a month dealing with a wide range of work types referred from all the different clusters within DAC Beachcroft. The strategic aim of the department is to provide litigation costs expertise on demand across the broad range of work carried out throughout the business from low value injury claims to complex multi-million international commercial litigation.



The costs product comprises several distinct teams specialising in a specific area of costs including paying party teams (challenging claims for costs of up to GBP 100,000) and two complex claims teams.



There are also two receiving party recovery teams. An opportunity has arisen for at least one paralegal role within the paying party section. The paying party section consists of three teams and deals with claims of costs arising from a wide variety of civil litigation including personal injury, disease, clinical negligence, property damage, cyber, commercial and accidents abroad. There is also a Scottish jurisdiction unit.



We are currently accepting applications from candidates with no or minimal experience in costs as paralegals. This is a full-time position to be based in out of our Birmingham or Newport offices.




What you will do?



Specific responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Handle a case load of costs challenges where individual costs claims are up to GBP 100,000 in value.


• Assume responsibility for quality control and benchmark compliance on own caseload, including accuracy and timeliness of management reporting and information.


• Demonstrating a high level of financial management in respect of own files.


• To hit, maintain and apply a consistent approach to all individual targets of chargeable time, financial performance, realisation rates, settlement rates and average claim spend, achieving a minimum budgeted annual target of 1440 chargeable hours per year.


• Maintaining and developing technical knowledge through attendance at training sessions, reading appropriate publications.

Who you are



We are happy to hear from graduates or those with customer service/retail experience who are team players and have the passion for learning. We'd also like to hear from Paralegals who may already have experience working in a legal environment.



You will have;

• Undergraduate degree in Law or equivalent.


• Have an ability to adopt a commercial perspective to legal issues rather than a purely academic approach.


• Must be able to work under pressure and be dedicated to meet required deadlines.


• Prioritisation and Organisation Skills - the ability to structure your time well, prioritise work effectively and recognise when to ask for help.


• Interpersonal skills - communication skills to liaise with clients, intermediaries and colleagues on the phone and in person.


• Analytical skills - The ability to critically look at factual evidence, identify key legal arguments and apply the same.


• Commercial sense - The ability to know the principle or law but also know when is it worth pursuing it.


• Resilience - The ability to stand their ground in a telephone negotiation and to receive feedback.


• Commitment and enthusiasm - with a professional attitude.


• Alignment with the Firm's Cultural Principles (Clear, Creative, Determined and Supportive).

What's in it for you?

• High levels of flexibility and a great work life balance - https://www.dacbeachcroft.com/en/Work-with-us/Whats-in-it-for-you


• A well-rounded remuneration package (which includes private medical insurance, income protection insurance and discounted gym membership, amongst many other benefits)


• Opportunities for growth and progression including professional funding


• In person and remote social events


• Opportunity to get involved in a range of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) activities

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, which aligns closely to our cultural principles (Determined, Clear, Creative and Supportive). If you are excited about this role and being part of our culture, but your past experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!