About Us
Express Chambers operates as an integrated chambers model within Express Solicitors, a progressive law firm. We are instructed by the wider business to provide specialist advisory and advocacy skills across all the firm’s areas of work. This innovative and collaborative structure ensures continuity of litigation strategy, efficiency, and the highest standard of representation at every stage. We comprise barristers, pupil barristers, court advocates, and clerks; the core operation of the department is closely aligned to that of a traditional barristers’ chambers. Based in Manchester, Express Solicitors is an award-winning law firm currently ranked 64 out of more than 10,000 law firms.
Role
Following growth in the wider business, Express Chambers is looking to recruit a qualified barrister or solicitor-advocate with 3 - 5 years of post-qualification experience.
The role is primarily that of a typical civil barrister in that your practice will involve being instructed to undertake advocacy and written work in a vast range of civil litigation. The firm’s core practice areas are personal injury and clinical negligence, but we are also instructed in other areas such as civil liberties, housing disrepair, and consumer claims litigation (we would be particularly interested in hearing from applicants who have experience in these areas).
The successful candidate will be clerked by our experienced clerking team. Significant efforts are made, usually successfully, to restrict the workload to that which can be completed within core working hours (i.e. time for preparation will be factored in). Whilst nationwide travel is required, this will be limited to ensure a healthy balance with home/office working. Your reasonable travel and subsistence expenses will be borne by the business, as will the cost of renewing your practising certificate. You will not require your own separate professional indemnity insurance.
You will be supported by Chambers in every sense. We are a friendly team, always willing to discuss issues and ideas. You will be mentored by an experienced barrister. Significant training material and legal resources are available, and you will be provided with a laptop and tablet for your sole use. Mandatory policies are in place to ensure that instructions and papers are received in a timely and organised fashion.
We would like to bring on board a candidate who is looking to add value to the wider business whilst also progressing their own practice. The value and complexity of the work you undertake will depend on your experience, but there is sufficient intermediate and multi track work available for that to comprise your entire practice. The complexity and value of the work you undertake will steadily increase as your career progresses along the recognised pathway.
We are keen to meet with candidates who either have experience of supervising pupils or who are interested in undertaking the requisite training to become one in the short-term. We would also like to receive applications from those interested in taking on management/operational responsibilities.
We will consider candidates based anywhere in England and Wales.
Express Chambers has a clear and achievable growth strategy; it is an exciting time to join us and assist with its implementation.
Responsibilities
* Court advocacy.
* Attendance at conferences, settling papers.
* To keep up to date with procedural changes, case law, and developments in legislation.
* To assist with the training and mentoring of less experienced advocates.
* Provide a high-quality service.
Person Specification
Essential
* Current practising certificate.
* Higher Rights of Audience (if applicable).
* Exceptional attention to detail.
* Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
* The ability to work both independently as well as part of a team.
* Resilience
Desirable
* Experience of personal injury litigation.
* Working knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules.
* Experience as a pupil supervisor.
* Good level of IT literacy.
Salary, hours & benefits
* Competitive salary, dependent on experience (in the region of £70,000 to £80,000)
* Flexible working hours.
* Pension contributions.
* Practising certificate renewal, travel/subsistence costs, and professional indemnity insurance.
* 23 days of paid annual leave (this increases with tenure), plus Bank Holidays.
* An extra day of annual leave for your birthday after 2 years’ service.
* 3 annual leave ‘buy backs’ per year after 1 year of service.
* Private medical insurance after 2 years of service.
* Enhanced maternity leave payment after 1 year of service.
* Death in service.
* 24/7 onsite gym access.
* Netball/football team, 10km Manchester team, running club, and more.
* Active social committee with generous departmental and firm-wide social budget.
* A thriving EDI Network.
* Other benefits including an Employee Assistance Programme, and an annual (optional) flu jab.
Recruitment Process
Interviews will be conducted by MS Teams and will include scenario-based questioning.
Our employees are our most important asset; we rate skill and ability above all else and our recruitment policy encourages applications from all.
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