Assistant Solicitor - Belfast, United Kingdom - Virtuoso Recruitment Limited

Virtuoso Recruitment Limited

Verified Company

Belfast, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

Assistant Solicitor (Immigration and Crime)

Reports to:

The Assistant Solicitor will report to the Head of Department

Location:
Belfast

Job Overview:

The Assistant Solicitor will be responsible for dealing with delegated work within their own areas of competence and achieving performance targets as set by the practice.

The Assistant Solicitor will provide expert legal supportand advice to clients. Also, he/she will be responsible for offering support to the Head of Department and/or the CEO. He/she will be responsible for dealing their own caseload and dealing with clients.

Furthermore, he/she will be expected to train and mentormore junior staff members and positively promote quality of service to clients, raising the quality level and creating new business for the Practice whenever possible.

Purpose/Main Objectives:
To support all Practice decisions, carrying out any actions required. To provide any support required by Head of Departments. To act on behalf of Head of Departments as required.

To be alert when acting for clientsof other legal services they may require and to refer clients to other departments within the firm when it is appropriate.

Responsibilities & Duties:

Deal with delegated cases as required, reporting progress to the Head of Department and/or the CEO; act on behalf of clients in disputes and represent them in court
Deal with all aspects of Immigration litigation and Criminal Law, review all files; there will be times where you will be asked to deal with other cases in areas such as extradition, commercial litigation, personal injury and all kinds of litigious work
Prepare for trials, hearings and closings; attend court, conduct hearings i.e. Trials, Bail Applications, this list is not exhaustive
Liaise with clients and other professionals such as barristers in a prompt and professional manner; coordinate the work of all parties involved; instruct barristers or specialist advocates to appear in court for the client in complex dispute
Advise and negotiate with clients and other professionals to secure agreed objectives
Research and analyse documents and case law to ensure the accuracy of advice and procedure
Always act in a trustworthy and confidential manner; have integrity and sensitivity
Ensure quality of service levels are to standard
Follow internal methods, policies, and procedures as set by the Office Manual
Remain informed of changes in any area of specialisation, such that service quality is always maintained. Carry out file reviews as appropriate
Attending upon clients at offices / courts / prison. Advising and assisting clients.
Preparation for cases. Advising and assisting at police stations, doing Defence Case Statements, Hearsay Applications, this list is not exhaustive
Sitting behind Counsel at Crown Court. Liaising with Courts, Police, Public Prosecution Service, Benefits Agencies, Counsel, Defence Witnesses & experts
Dealing with correspondence, adhere to accurate and comprehensive file management and maintenance practices of caseload according to company policy and procedures
Maintenance of diaries & time recording
Attending the Police Station during office hours and out of office hours on the internal rota (you will be given a day and some weekends to attend the police station after 5.30pm to 9am)
Work as part of a team and give concise and reasonable instructions
Each person employed in this category must recognise that may be contacted by the Law Society of Northern Ireland and that they are expected to cooperate fully with that officer
Conduct legal research and gathering of relevant information on a case. This includes researching the facts of the case as well as identifying the appropriate laws, judicial decisions, and legal articles relevant to the case
Draft legal documents. This can include drafting correspondence and pleadings, such as complaints, subpoenas, interrogatories, deposition notices, pretrial orders, and legal briefs with various parties
Taking statements from witnesses and other parties; interviewing clients and passing on relevant information
Carry out other types of administrative duties such as billing, invoicing, time recording, compile litigation bundles, dealing with correspondence, collect and organise evidence; calculate claims for damages, compensation, maintenance, etc
Network with clients and build valuable relationships in a way that enhances the company's reputation and cultivate new business opportunities
Assist during trial by taking notes, preparing exhibits, preparing files, and reading court transcripts
Use the company's case management system
Any other hoc duties as directed by the Head of Department or CEO

Skills & Qualifications:

Essential:

Qualified Solicitor in Northern Ireland
Previous Experience of dealing with relevant department cases
Ability to multitask and prioritize, and understand the importance of deadlines
Highly organised; able to be productive, flexible and simultaneously manage multiple cases and priorities in a performance driven environment
Superior research skills and data maintenance skills
Strong client relationship skills; the ability to establish positive, cooperative and professional relationship, both internal and external
Be highly trustworthy, discreet, and use good judgement
Able to work well under pressure, without sacrificing a high attention to detail
Excellent oral and written communication are essential
Good commercial awareness and analytical skills
Selfstarter and the ability to work autonomously; Proactive and eager to learn
Selfawareness and a commitment to using feedback to learn and develop as a professional
Ability to read, digest and process vast amounts of information into data that can be used in a legal case
Computer Literacy