Job Description
Primarily based at:
Overview
JOB DESCRIPTION
Ben Hoare Bell LLP is a well-established Legal Practice operating from 3 sites in the cities of Sunderland, Gateshead and Newcastle. The firm has 11 Partners.
The firm has a strong ethical base and is committed to offering a high quality service to people regardless of means. The firm also has a growing private client base.
Work is undertaken in all areas of family work including children, domestic abuse, divorce, property and financial disputes, international family law, child abduction, forced marriage and FGM.
The team has legal aid contracts for family work in all offices.
Resolution accreditation and/or Children Panel membership would be an advantage. If you are not already a panel member it is expected that the successful candidate will be supported to work to achieve appropriate accreditation or panel membership as soon as possible.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
Key Result Areas
To be a specialist family solicitor and advocate.
To assist in other areas of work as reasonably required by the firm.
To promote the full range of family work particularly through links with relevant referring organisations.
To participate when required in the decision making structures of the firm.
To carry out when required administrative tasks.
Supervision of staff.
Responsibilities
To advise, assist and act for clients in all aspects of the areas of family work including advocacy, drafting, briefing Counsel, communication with client and third parties and relevant administrative tasks.
To keep fully up to date with legislation and case law in the area of family work by completing suitable training and accessing training materials.
Case progression and compliance with file management and file organisation procedures.
Effective time management and time recording is required to ensure targets are met.
Involvement in the preparation of bills and good financial file management.
To be involved in the firms development including the attraction of new clients, developing referral sources and the maintenance of existing clients and client base.
To use support services effectively, including supervision of paralegals and secretaries.
Managing legal documentation in strict confidence.
To comply with the Law Society training requirements for continuing education.
To possess any relevant Law Society panel membership (Family and Children), and other appropriate membership e.g. Resolution.
To comply with Legal Aid Agency requirements in accordance with the policy of the firm.
Assist with the marketing of the team and the firm.
Development
To continue to gain expertise in family work by experience and to play a part in contributing to in-house training and assisting with supervision of more junior members of the team and support staff under the direct supervision of a partner. You will continue to develop your own knowledge and abilities with appropriate in-house and external continuing education. Investment in your training and development will be provided.
To increase the reputation of yourself and the team.
This Job Description is not intended to be a complete and detailed statement of the responsibilities of the post.
The Post will be reviewed on an annual basis. The Post Holder will be invited to contribute to this review.
Personal Specification
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Skills
All essential
Good communication to clients, other solicitors and professionals, and any other agencies involved in a case, written and oral.
Good advocacy skills.
Good negotiation skills.
Ability to work as a member of a team.
Ability to work profitably and economically.
Ability to meet tight deadlines.
Ability to interpret and analyse complex evidence and to apply to the clients case.
Strong research skills and the ability to consider critically how to use the law to advance clients cases.
Proven computer skills, particular experience in the use of Microsoft packages and the ability to be self-servicing for word processing.
Good organisational skills.
Ability to contribute to the development and marketing of the department.
Experience
Experience of Family Law(essential)
2 years+ PQE (desirable)
Experience of a wide range of family law work and working with vulnerable clients (essential)
Good working knowledge of legal aid eligibility and CCMS (desirable)
Involvement in administration and management (desirable)
Work with community or NfP organisations (desirable)
Marketing experience (desirable)
Qualifications
Qualified as a Solicitor or CILEX (essential)
Evidence of good level of academic ability (essential)
Membership of Resolution or other Law Society Panels (desirable)
Current full driving licence (desirable)
Personal
Sympathy with ethical principles of Firm
Resilience
Good interpersonal skills
No agencies please
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