Barrister

Express Solicitors are currently ranked 70 out of more than 10,000 law firms in the UK and ranked in the top ten for the Best Law Firm to work for in the UK by Best Companies. We have a 5-star ranking with Trust Pilot from over 6,000 reviews, which, coming from our clients, means a lot to us.

**Role**

We are looking for a talented Barrister from either a chambers, employed bar background or civil litigation background to join our advocacy team.

Personal injury experience is preferred but we are happy to talk to anyone with wider litigation experience.

You will be expected to represent claimants at trials around England and Wales and to undertake representation of the firm’s clients at CMCs/CCMCs, Interim Hearings, IAHs, Stage 3 portal Hearings and other forms of advocacy in claimant PI litigation. Although the majority of the work will be on fast track cases there are opportunities to be involved in multi-track litigation.

You must be able to work independently and to a high standard, prioritising workloads and have fantastic attention to detail. You will be provided with instructions in a similar way to external counsel. Ideally you will be based in the North West or commutable distance to the South of England.

This role will give you the chance to work with a successfully established and growing company with Solicitor owner-managers. You will be part of the advocacy team, reporting to the Head of Advocacy, and joining the team as the firm’s third in-house barrister.

**Responsibilities**
- To undertake advocacy requirements.
- To undertake drafting tasks as required, such as advices (formal and informal), pleadings and skeleton arguments.
- To keep up to date with procedural changes, case law and developments in legislation.
- To assist less experienced advocates with their advocacy and drafting work
- To ensure the provision of a high-quality advocacy service.
- Extensive travel across England and Wales that might require overnight stays.

**Person Specification**
- Current practising certificate
- Higher Rights of Audience (if applicable)
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Strong knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules.
- Demonstrable advocacy experience
- Resilience and able to think and perform under pressure to meet strict deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Flexible approach
- Able to act upon own initiative as well as taking direction from management where appropriate.
- Able to work independently where necessary but also as part of a team
- Strong understanding of confidentiality - tact and discretion are absolutely essential.
- Good IT skills including all Microsoft Office and knowledge of Case Management Systems.
- Experience in personal injury litigation
- Knowledge of Proclaim Case Management System.
- Own car preferred (although travel expenses will be paid)

**Salary, Hours & Benefits**
- Competitive salary - Dependent on experience.
- Flexible working hours
- 25 days holiday a year, rising to 28 days, plus public/bank holidays.
- Extra day’s holiday for your birthday after 2 years’ service
- 3 holiday buy backs per year after 1 year of service
- Private medical insurance.
- Enhanced Maternity leave payment if you have over 1 year’s tenure, further enhanced at over 4 years’ service.
- Death in service
- 24/7 onsite Gym access
- Netball/Football team, 10km Manchester team and more
- Active social committee with generous departmental and firm-wide social budget.
- Active training culture and various groups and events such as Diversity and Inclusion.
- Other benefits including Employee Assistance Programme, free fruit & annual (optional) flu jab.

**Recruitment Process**

Interviews will be conducted by MS Teams or Telephone and will include scenario-based questioning.