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 £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 £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
- 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
About DAC Beachcroft
We are a leading international legal business with over 3,000 colleagues and a diverse range of capabilities. We are market leaders in insurance, health and real estate but with a full-service offering, including growing Financial Services and Tech capabilities. We represent a wide range of clients – from household names to government departments and NHS bodies. We act for nearly all of the top-20 UK and global insurers, we’re market leaders in the provision of strategic, commercial and regulatory advice to providers and commissioners in the health sector, and in real estate we advise all of the UK’s top-five housebuilders.
We are a fast-growing international business with offices around the globe. In addition to our 11 UK offices, we also have offices in Bogota, Buenos Aires, Dublin, Lima, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Madrid, Mexico City, Milan, New York, Paris, Rome, Santiago de Chile, and Singapore plus a representative office in Miami and broad network of affiliations across the globe.
At DAC Beachcroft we are committed to and recognise the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion across the board, including and beyond the protected characteristics. We take decisions based solely on merit. We value, welcome and seek out people with different backgrounds and life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, ways of thinking and identities.
We are happy to talk flexible working with our Flex Forward scheme. We would encourage you to talk to us about our approach to flexible working during the hiring process if you would like to explore this further.
