Solicitor

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Solicitor (0-3 years PQE) to join the Dispute Resolution team in our Beverley office.

Wilkin Chapman LLP is the largest law firm in Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire, with an unrivalled breadth and depth of expertise and experience.

We are distinguished by our approachability, innovation and commitment to providing the best service we can to our clients along with achieving and maintaining quality standards.

We believe that this quality, service-led approach is also reflected by the number of accreditations and recommendations that the firm regularly achieves with the UK's leading legal directories, such as Legal 500, Chambers UK and is ranked 111 in The Lawyer UK’s top 200 law firms by turnover.

The successful candidate will contribute to the achievement of the department's goals and objectives; to provide excellent legal advice to the Firm's clients; to develop own client base and niche areas of practice within the department.    

1. Assisting the team in dealing with a wide range of general litigation cases to include commercial and property disputes.
2. Conducting all matters in the client's best interest and in accordance with the highest professional standards at all times.
3. Maintaining files in a neat and orderly state using the available electronic system and ensuring that each file is reviewed in line with monthly Matter Maintenance Reports.
4. Maintaining time recording on client matters on a daily basis.
5. Regularly updating clients as to the current status of their case including regular updates on costs.
6. Dealing with routine and difficult enquiries from telephone callers and clients effectively and efficiently and ensuring that all client complaints are dealt with both professionally and promptly.
7. Attending court and conducting advocacy on behalf of clients or instructing counsel where appropriate.
8. Working with the support team (including secretaries and paralegals) to encourage production of work of the highest possible standard.
9. Delegating appropriate work to paralegals / trainee legal executives and supervising the completion of the work.
10. Understanding the obligations relating to client accounts and ensuring the preparation and service of bills complies with the Solicitors Accounts Rules.
11. Achieving financial targets and maintaining financial hygiene agreed with the Department Head or Divisional Head.
12. Keeping up to date with case law and applying as appropriate.
13. Ensuring compliance with the SRA’s approach to continuing competence.
14. Involvement with business development activities organised by the department, division or office at which you work. 
15. Identifying and following up new business opportunities.

• 0-3 years post qualified experience.

Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate:

• Experience of general litigation (preferably to include commercial and property disputes).
• Good knowledge of civil procedure and court rules together with experience of alternative dispute resolution.
• Excellent client relationship, interpersonal and team skills, including an ability to work closely with others.
• Initiative and self-motivation.
• Time and matter management skills.
• Ability to adopt a commercial as well as legal approach to client issues
• An ability to business develop and network individually & collectively
• Understanding and adopting the Firm’s values and behaviours.

Wilkin Chapman is an equal opportunities employer that values diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religious practice or any other perceived differences. We are an armed forces friendly employer.

Our Values

All that we do is shaped by our five values: Service, Teamwork, Approachability, Innovation and Commitment to achieving results. These values are the bedrock of Wilkin Chapman, they define who and what we are - they underpin everything that we do. For more information on our values, please click here.

If you have any queries regarding this position, please contact recruitment@wilkinchapman.co.uk.