Legal Support Assistant – Clinical Negligence / Personal Injury

Location: Bristol
Salary: Competitive (+Benefits)
Hours: Monday – Friday, 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Full time, Permanent

About Davies and Partners Solicitors

Davies and Partners Solicitors is a well-established law firm with over 30 years' experience. It has a national reputation for excellence in the Property sector and strength in depth in a wide selection of other legal services for businesses and individuals. We have 5 offices in Bristol, Gloucester, Devon, London and Birmingham.

Address: 250 Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4TR

The Role

To provide comprehensive legal and administrative support to the Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury department in Bristol. This includes supporting fee earners with legal assistant responsibilities and progressing clinical negligence cases under supervision, as well as managing key departmental administrative tasks.

This role reports to the Head of Bristol Clinical Negligence with a dotted line to the Head of Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury.

Key Responsibilities

Legal and Case Support

Assist fee earners with legal tasks related to case progression
Draft standard correspondence and assist in the preparation of legal documents
Communicate with clients, counsel, medical experts, and other third parties under supervision
Organise and maintain legal files, ensuring all documents are correctly filed and up to date
Support fee earners in progressing cases under guidance, including liaising with courts, counsel and medical experts
Monitor deadlines and key dates, ensuring timely reminders and follow-ups
Draft routine legal documentation and assist with case preparation
Ensure all tasks are conducted in compliance with firm policies, procedures, and professional standards
Departmental Duties

Open, scan, and distribute incoming post for the department
Prepare and send outgoing departmental post
Accurately scan, upload, and manage medical records received in hard copy or CD format for disclosure, expert instruction, or audit purposes
Maintain well-organised digital and physical filing systems for fee earner matters
Provide holiday cover as required
Carry out general administrative support for the department, including photocopying, data entry, typing and other ad hoc tasks as required
Compliance and Standards

Exhibit flexibility to support team members during periods of absence (e.g. holidays/sickness)
Adhere to best practices for preventing claims of professional negligence
Assist with billing and productivity targets
Act professionally and promptly in all client matters 
Your job title does not define or limit your duties and you may be required to carry out other work within your abilities as requested. We reserve the right to introduce changes in line with technological developments which may impact upon your job duties or methods of working.

What We're Looking For

Essential Criteria

Appropriate DBS disclosure required prior to confirmation of appointment
Right to live and work in the UK (valid UK or EU passport or appropriate visa/work permits)
Proven experience in a Clinical Negligence setting
Experience of clinical negligence/personal injury claims
Experience of working in a busy litigation environment
Self-organised and proactive
Ability to take responsibility and solve problems
Ability to maintain client confidentiality
Adaptable to the needs of the business as changes occur during operational requirements
Competence in the effective use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT)
The ability to prioritise, meet deadlines, and work under pressure
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Strong administrative and organisational skills
Experience scanning, uploading, and managing documents (e.g. medical records, CDs, hard copy)
Knowledge of court procedures and legal terminology
Experience supporting fee earners with case progression
Familiarity with handling and organising medical records
High level of attention to detail and confidentiality
Desirable Criteria

Experience of audio typing from dictation
Familiarity with legal or case management systems
Experience working in a personal injury team
Compliance

As part of our compliance procedures, applicants are asked to note that:

References will be followed up
All gaps in CVs must be explained satisfactorily
Proof of identity and (where applicable) qualifications will be required
Reference requests will ask specifically whether you have ever been subject to any proceedings or complaints initiated by the Law Society or any other professional body
Appropriate suitability checks may be required prior to confirmation of appointment
This role meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This role will require applicants who are offered employment to be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service before appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands, final warnings as well as convictions.

Equal Opportunities

Davies and Partners Solicitors provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable national laws.

You may have experience in the following: Legal Support, Clinical Negligence Assistant, Personal Injury Assistant, Legal Secretary, Case Manager, Litigation Support, Medical Records Manager, Court Administrator, Paralegal, Legal Assistant, Document Management Specialist, etc