Claims Handler/Paralegal
Department: Professional and Commercial Risk - Claims Handling
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Bristol
Description
Our Professional Negligence Team specialises in advising professionals and their insurers when negligence claims arise. We work across a variety of service lines, including law, construction, architecture, property consultants, financial services, and accounting, offering tailored advice for each sector. Our expertise covers a wide range of claims, from straightforward disputes to complex, high-value cases, assessing professional standards and mitigating risks for our clients. We also handle Management Liability claims i.e. directors and officers and employment practices liability claims.
We take a proactive approach to resolving disputes, often employing creative solutions to avoid litigation where possible. The team is also well-versed in alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation, helping to achieve favourable outcomes efficiently and cost-effectively. Through our deep knowledge of industry-specific standards and regulations, we ensure that our clients receive expert guidance on navigating claims in their respective fields.
The Professional Negligence Team sits within the wider Professional and Commercial Risks team in our Bristol office. The team is ranked in Tier 1 in both the Legal 500 and Chambers directories, with a number of leading individuals named. It includes commercial litigation together with the longest established professional negligence team in Bristol, acting for most of the leading insurers, as well as large professional services firms themselves including leading global surveyors, solicitors and insurance brokers. Alongside the team sits a market leading claims handling team, DAC Beachcroft Specialist Claims Services, handling several thousand professional indemnity claims on an outsourced basis on behalf of London Market Insurers.
This role is a claims handling/paralegal role within the Professional Negligence Team handling Professional Negligence claims, Directors and Officers and Employment Practices Liability claims.
Key Responsibilities
The overall purpose of this role is to provide a timely, professional and high-quality service to clients in the management of Professional Negligence and Management Liability claims. The role will require you to:
* Manage a caseload of lower value claims under supervision. This will include developing a knowledge of professional indemnity law, employment practices liability, insurance law and coverage issues as well as the civil procedure rules and aspects of alternative dispute resolution. The role will provide training and supervision with a view to enabling you to independently assess liability and quantum, and advise on strategy for a claim;
* Conduct the review of new cases;
* Drafting correspondence to clients;
* Maintain ongoing contact with the insurer and insured professional throughout the process to report on progress and take further instructions;
* Instruct experts and external counsel where appropriate;
* Complete administrative tasks;
* Handle confidential information in line with the firms data security protocols.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
* Graduate calibre with an excellent academic record;
* Previous experience of working as a claims handler or similar within the field of professional indemnity is useful but not essential;
* IT literate with working knowledge of Word and Excel.
* Able to work to deadlines, prioritise own workload effectively under pressure and manage conflicting priorities;
* Proactive and demonstrating initiative in driving forward matters on own accord, seeking guidance and input from others where appropriate;
* Very good attention to detail and accuracy with drafting;
* Team oriented. A collegiate approach to sharing knowledge and working with colleagues across locations is essential;
* Committed and enthusiastic with a mature attitude to work and a desire to commit long term to a career in this field;
* Confident oral and written communication skills.
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