Legal Assistant Birmingham, England
Job description
Vacancy details
Legal Assistant - Health Advisory & Litigation - Advisory & Inquest - Manchester, Birmingham or Nottingham
At Browne Jacobson, we’ve always worked across business and society, and this expertise sets us apart. Social and environmental impact are at the top of our business agenda. We champion fairness, make the complex simple and forge connections between clients to find creative solutions. This is how we improve outcomes for every person, community and business we serve.
With offices currently in Birmingham, Dublin, Exeter, London, Manchester and Nottingham, we’re a UK & I based law firm with an international reach. Our sectors include: health; real estate and construction; education; energy and infrastructure; financial services; government; insurance; manufacturing and industrials; and retail, consumer and logistics.
We nurture talent at all levels and from every background and celebrate what makes people individuals. Law needs all voices to reflect the society it serves and we’re working towards social mobility, diversity and inclusion in our firm - and our profession. We strive to create meaningful personal and professional development opportunities and offer flexible working in support of a good work-life balance. We focus on wellbeing and individuality, so that all our people can thrive.
What is the working practice for this role?
The firm operates a set of core principles that guides our working practice. It’s called ‘One Firm, Wherever You Are’.
You might have enjoyed working from home and would like to split your time between there and the office/ other work locations. Others may be eager to return to the office on a more regular basis. We believe that a regular level of in-person contact is an important way to build connections with your colleagues, enhancing knowledge and idea sharing and enabling all of us to benefit from the vibrant office culture Browne Jacobson has to offer.
Our expectation is that, on average, you’ll work from home for no more than three days per week, with the remainder of your time either spent with your colleagues in the office or working from other locations as work demands dictate, e.g. courts, client offices, conferences etc. This is an average expectation over time and we know that there will be variations from week to week. Equally, there will be individual circumstances in which a different pattern of work is needed, for example as an agreed reasonable adjustment for colleagues with a disability or long-term medical condition.
We believe this approach:
- fits with our values and personality;
- will enhance our performance through greater flexibility;
- advances our ambitions as an inclusive employer – helping you better balance work and family/life commitments;
- offers opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint (travel, office services etc.), a key ambition underpinning our corporate sustainability plan.
Why is this role important and how does it fit into the team, department and wider firm?
To provide high quality, proactive legal support to the Health Advisory & Litigation department, specifically the Advisory & Inquest team. You would be joining one of the leading healthcare teams in the country which handles a wide variety of inquest, advisory and court of protection work, acting for NHS, Local Authority and Independent Sector clients. “Browne Jacobson's approach to dealing with complex matters is first class…. They can handle the most novel and unusual cases." Chambers & Partners 2023 Court of Protection: Health & Welfare (Public Sector Clients) client UK (Top ranked).
What does the role actually involve?
- Assisting the healthcare advisory and inquest team to include assisting with applications to the court of protection, liaising with the court of protection, parties to proceedings, the coroner’s court, NHS bodies, local authorities and independent health and social care providers
- Task-based work on files such as preparation of court applications and bundles, review of medical records, liaising with clients and parties, drafting chronologies
- Supporting with applications to the court of protection under the streamlined ‘re:x’ procedure
- Preparing routine correspondence
- You may also be required to assist with inquest matters, for example attending court hearings or meetings with witnesses to take notes, compiling bundles, liaising with witnesses and the coroner’s court
- Maintaining diary, detailing appointments/dates for court dates, receipt of documents etc.
- Undertaking legal research
- Undertaking any other duties as required, commensurate with the level of the post
What technical skills are required for someone to be successful and enjoy the role?
- Successful completion of law degree or equivalent
- Familiarity with Microsoft office
- Advanced keyboard skills and the ability to produce own correspondence and documentation
- Previous experience in court of protection work would be an advantage but is not essential
Who would be a good fit for this role?
As part of the Advisory & Inquest team, you would be expected to have the following skills and experience:
- Effective communicator, able to establish and maintain harmonious and professional relationships with clients and colleagues
- Good organisational skills and be able to manage own time effectively
- A proactive, professional and flexible approach to work
- Ability to work on own initiative whilst maintaining a positive team spirit at all times
- Able to adopt a common sense approach with attention to detail
- Keen to develop over a period of time with a willingness and ability to learn
