Paralegal
Application Deadline: 2 May 2025
Department: Legal
Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time
Location: Belfast
Description
This role offers an excellent development opportunity for a Paralegal to work alongside a Lead Lawyer in our Belfast office assisting with Catastrophic Injury, Motor, and Counter-Fraud claims.
The successful candidate will assist with case progression tasks including discovery exercises, liability investigations, obtaining statements from Policyholders and witnesses, analysing quantum evidence, drafting court documents, liaising with counsel, medical experts, and engineers, liaising with Police, trial preparation, and legal research. The role will also involve attending court and consultations.
This position is suitable not only for experienced Paralegals but also for graduates seeking to gain vital legal experience with the aim of progressing their legal careers, including attending IPLS.
Keoghs is a leading provider of legal and claims solutions to insurers, businesses, and other insurance sector suppliers. Since establishing our Northern Ireland office in 2019, we have grown annually and now have over 50 staff dedicated to defendant insurance litigation services. Our reputation has been recognized in the Legal 500 and Chambers Directories.
We partner with insurance clients and their policyholders, providing a supportive team-focused approach that results in excellent outcomes. Our Northern Ireland office fosters a great team ethos, encouraging personal development and wellbeing. We offer hybrid working, a relaxed dress code, and an agile working policy. Our team is friendly and supportive, with opportunities to join our social committee, participate in charity events, and engage in client development initiatives.
Progression
We have ambitious growth plans and a clear Career Progression Pathway. Each team member engages in ongoing conversations with our Leadership Team to support talent development and internal promotions to roles such as Trainee Solicitor, Associate, Team Lead, and Partner. We celebrate success and reward high performance, making Keoghs a great place to develop your career.
The cases you will work on are varied and exciting, with opportunities to develop into specialisms of particular interest, tailored to each team member's strengths.
Key Accountabilities
* Assist the Lead Lawyer with case progression tasks.
* Build and utilise relationships with colleagues, clients, and third parties professionally and knowledgeably.
* Progress discovery matters by drafting pleadings and reviewing discoverable material, liaising with Policyholders to obtain documentation.
* Conduct legal research, reviewing case law and procedural nuances.
* Assist with investigations by taking statements from Policyholders and witnesses, liaising with Police to obtain relevant documents.
* Assist with trial preparation, including compiling trial bundles and preparing witnesses.
* Analyze quantum evidence, preparing chronologies and identifying anomalies to support reserve calculations.
* Instruct Counsel, engineers, and medico-legal experts by preparing briefs and instructions.
* Draft updates for clients and brokers.
* Manage daily tasks, prioritising and meeting deadlines.
* Work effectively within the team.
* Act as a role model for Keoghs Values.
Working Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm, with 1 unpaid hour for lunch. The primary location for this role is Belfast.
Experience, Skills, and Qualifications
* Law Degree
* Excellent listening, verbal, and written communication skills
* Ability to prioritise, meet deadlines, and work under pressure
* Ability to work to targets and service level agreements
* Excellent research skills
* High analytical capability
* Excellent IT skills
Benefits
* Davies Incentive Plan
* 25 days holiday per year, increasing with service (option to buy & sell 3 days)
* Simply Health Care Cash Plan
* WeCare – 24/7 online GP, mental health support, and wellbeing resources
* Death In Service after 1 year of service
* Pension contribution: 5% Employee / 3% Employer
* Employee Resource Groups
* Employee Volunteering Programme
* Cycle to Work Scheme*
* Tech Scheme*
* Season Ticket Loan*
* Gym Flex*
* Access to online discounts
* Gourmet Society Membership
* Discounted Merlin Attractions tickets
* Discounts at local retail outlets
*after successfully completing probation period
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