Payment menu
Payment

Job Location: Nottingham

Criminal Department – Paralegal / Trainee Solicitor

Criminal Department – Paralegal / Trainee Solicitor

Our Crime Department continues to excel and expand.

We are currently inviting applications for Paralegals with a view to securing Training, either through the traditional or SQM route to qualification.

These positions are available because we have had a number of trainees recently achieve qualification and our aim is to continue to grow our capacity by investing in development for the future.

This role is open to Law Graduates either with successful completion of LPC or who are working towards completion of LPC or SQE.

Bhatia Best are a leading firm based in the East Midlands who specialise in Criminal Defence, Family Law, Personal Injury, Public Law and Community Care. This role will be based primarily in our Nottingham Office, focus on Criminal Defence and successful candidates can expect to engage in hands-on casework, assisting senior caseworkers and qualified staff both in Magistrates Court and Crown Court case preparation. Additionally, you will be supported and assisted to attain the Police Station Representatives Accreditation through our preferred provider (Datalaw) which will enable you to directly engage with clients at the very start of the investigative process of their case.

There is no requirement to have past experience in the field. These positions are envisaged as an initial step into private practice. You may be what we’re looking for if you have:-

A confident demeanour
A keen interest in working in Criminal Law and motivation to quickly advance your learning and experience in this field.
Good oral and written communication
Strong academic background and a solid theoretical grasp of legal procedures, codes of practice and rules of evidence.
An understanding of court protocol (perhaps having observed or shadowed a practitioner at Court).
Meticulous nature when recording conference and hearing notes.
Strong client care attitude, empathetic nature, positivity centred approach.
Good client retention skills.
Confidence and competence with a wide-range of IT, MS Office and case management platforms.
Commercial awareness.

In this role, you will:-
Learn and develop real-world skills and abilities that you will use throughout your career.
Advise and represent clients facing the full range of criminal offences.
Directly undertake fee-earning tasks to support principal caseworkers.
Assist on cases from start to finish.
Progress quickly through Accreditation, Traineeship to qualification as a Solicitor.
Assist in maintaining efficiency and profitability of the Department.
Undertake legal research and engage in drafting of proformas and Court documents.
Receive training and guidance on maintaining firm compliance with our Specialist Quality Mark standard and specification.
Engage with, assist, support and even deliver training initiatives.
Act as a “next friend” to future new recruits as they embark upon and progress their training.
Maintain high levels of client care and trust, maintaining and enforcing client confidentiality and legal professional privilege.
Actively promote positive relations with clients, their families, external service providers, colleagues and the wider public.

This is a full-time, on-site role with office hours Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:30.

Basic Salary plus out-of-hours rota overtime payable per case once successfully registered as a Police Station Representative.

You can either post your application using the Apply option on this page, or for more information you can contact either our Practice Manager louise.pynegar@bhatiabest.co.uk or Crime Department Manager steven.ramsell@bhatiabest.co.uk

Cost Administrator – Public Law & Community Care Judicial Review Department – Nottingham

Cost Administrator – Nottingham

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Costs Administrator to work in our Public Law & Community Care Judicial Review Department. The successful candidate would be based at our Nottingham Office and would support our Public Law & Community Care Judicial Review Department.

Nottingham office – Public Law & Community Care Judicial Review Department

Full time – Monday – Friday, 9am – 5.30pm (office based)

Salary – Above market rate – subject to experience

 

Job Specification:

  1. Assist with submitting Legal Aid bills via CCMS.
  2. Assist with preparing Legal Help claims.
  3. Assist with negotiating settlement with the paying party in Inter-Partes costs claims.
  4. Fully conversant with CCMS and legal aid systems. Uploading documents onto CCMS in a timely manner as per LAA requests.
  5. Dealing with any rejected claims and submitting appeals as necessary.
  6. Awareness of and aptitude to meet Legal Aid KPI’s.
  7. Ensuring compliance with Legal Aid rules and internal office policy.
  8. Liaising with Counsel’s Chambers in order to obtain fee notes for billing purposes.
  9. Allocating Counsel’s fees on CCMS.
  10. Liaising with fee earners.
  11. Undertaking other clerical and administrative duties as may be reasonably required from time to time.

Personal Specification:

  1. Ability to work under pressure and process a high volume of claims accurately.
  2. High level of numeracy and accuracy when dealing with figures.
  3. Good negotiating skills.
  4. Good oral and written communication skills.
  5. Ability to work in a team environment and autonomously, proactively managing your own caseload.
  6. Experience of using Case Management Systems.

Knowledge:

  1. Knowledge and understanding of Legal Aid Agency rules relating to assessment and recovery of solicitors costs in publicly funded files (preferable).
  2. Court rules for lodging bills (preferable).
  3. Court costs assessment procedures (preferable).
  4. Basic Accounting Principles (preferable).
  5. Experience of Judicial Review work (preferable).

We invite candidates to inform us in advance about any reasonable adjustments that they may require to take part in the selection procedure and interviews

Law Costs Draftsperson – Public Law & Community Care Judicial Review Department – Nottingham

Law Costs Draftsperson – Nottingham

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Law Costs Draftsperson to work in our Public Law & Community Care Judicial Review Department. The successful candidate would be based at our Nottingham Office and would support our Public Law & Community Care Judicial Review Department.

Nottingham office – Public Law & Community Care Judicial Review Department

Full time – Monday – Friday, 9am – 5.30pm (office based)

Salary – Above market rate – subject to experience

Job Specification:

  1. Costing and billing of legal aid files to include Legal Helps, Payments on Account, Final Legal Aid Claims.
  2. Costing and dealing with Inter-Partes costs claims (including risk assessing, drafting replies to points of dispute and negotiating settlement with the paying party)
  3. Lodging bills at Court for assessment.
  4. Preparing Schedules of Costs
  5. Fully conversant with CCMS and legal aid systems. Uploading documents onto CCMS in a timely manner as per LAA requests.
  6. Preparing, negotiating and agreeing High Cost Case Plans
  7. All aspects of cost recovery, including legal aid appeals.
  8. Dealing with any rejected claims.
  9. Awareness of and aptitude to meet Legal Aid KPI’s
  10. Ensuring compliance with Legal Aid rules and internal office policy
  11. Liaising with Counsel’s Chambers in order to obtain fee notes for billing purposes.
  12. Liaising with fee earners and addressing any concerns which may be identified whilst preparing a bill
  13. Undertaking other clerical and administrative duties as may be reasonably required from time to time.

Personal Specification:

  1. A Costs Lawyer Professional Qualification or equivalent qualification.
  2. Experience of drafting both Inter Partes and Legal Aid bills.
  3. Competent cost drafting skills.
  4. Competent negotiating skills.
  5. Good oral and written communication skills.
  6. High level of numeracy and accuracy when dealing with figures.
  7. Ability to work under pressure and process a high volume of claims accurately.
  8. Ability to work in a team environment and autonomously, proactively managing your own caseload.
  9. Experience of using Case Management Systems.

Knowledge:

  1. Knowledge and understanding of Legal Aid Agency rules relating to assessment and recovery of solicitor’s costs in publicly funded files.
  2. An understanding of the rules governing Inter Partes bill preparation.
  3. Court rules for lodging bills.
  4. Court costs assessment procedures.
  5. Basic Accounting Principles.
  6. Experience of costing Judicial Review files (preferred)

We invite candidates to inform us in advance about any reasonable adjustments that they may require to take part in the selection procedure and interviews

Personal Injury Solicitor – Nottingham

Personal Injury Solicitor – Nottingham

We are recruiting a personal injury solicitor or equivalent with experience of dealing with litigated, mostly multitrack employers’ liability, public liability and occupiers liability claims.

Our Personal Injury department also specialises in claiming compensation for those who have suffered injuries as a result of serious road accidents, clinical negligence, criminal assaults and historic abuse.

We have varied clinical negligence cases including contaminated blood, abdominal mesh matters and vaccine damage. These are complex matters and require good medico legal knowledge.

If you believe in and can deliver an exceptional quality service and share our ethos and commitment to clients, this role based at our Nottingham office may be ideal for you.

 

Candidate

You will:

  • Have experience of dealing with claimant personal injury matters which are litigated with ideally 3 year + PQE or relevant experience.
  • Have a good academic background and have sound procedural knowledge of how to conduct civil court actions, especially using the Damages Portal for online issuing of claims.
  • Possess exceptional client care skills.
  • Have knowledge of IT systems and processes
  • Be a team player, with an individual touch.
  • Have a desire to personally develop and progress within the firm

 

Key responsibilities

You will:

  • Look after your own case load and assist on other complex and interesting matters.
  • Be willing to conduct more substantial matters from inception.
  • Integrate and be part of a small, friendly team undertaking varied, interesting and substantial cases.

We invite candidates to inform us in advance about any reasonable adjustments that they may require to take part in the selection procedure and interviews

Law Costs Draftsperson – Family Department – Nottingham

LAW COSTS DRAFTSPERSON – FAMILY DEPARTMENT – NOTTINGHAM

Job Specification:

  • Costing and billing of legal aid files to include legal helps, payments on account and final bills.
  • Fully conversant with CCMS and legal aid systems
  • All aspects of cost recovery including legal aid appeals
  • Preparing, negotiating and agreeing high cost case plans
  • Understanding and adherence to Legal Aid KPI’s
  • Working closely with caseworkers
  • Ensuring compliance with Legal Aid rules and internal systems
  • Experience using digital case management systems and Cost Master preferable

Personal Specification:

Skills:

  • Good oral and written communication skills
  • Competent drafting all types of bills and costs
  • Competent negotiating skills

Knowledge:

Understanding of rules relating to assessment and recovery of solicitors costs Basic Accounting Principles

 

We invite candidates to inform us in advance about any reasonable adjustments that they may require to take part in the selection procedure and interviews

Criminal Duty Solicitors

CRIMINAL DEPARTMENT – ALL BRANCHES

This is an opportunity for a Solicitor (NQ+) to join our busy Criminal Department. The successful candidate will be a currently practicing solicitor in Crime, have a strong work ethic and advocacy skills, and hold a Duty Solicitor Accreditation.

Our activity spans the East Midlands and the successful candidate may be required from time to time to conduct work at any of three branches or at other Police Stations and Court Centres in the area.

Job Specification:

Solicitor primarily practicing in the Magistrates Court conducting the full ambit of litigation and advocacy in cases from commencement to conclusion.

Candidate will be required to:-

  • Engage in Client interaction on daily basis either on telephone, video conferencing or in person.
  • Engage in preparation of Case Files
  • Attend Court on a daily basis to represent clients in Plea (NGAP / GAP) courts, remand courts, contested trials and sentencing hearings.
  • Engage in Police Station Attendance and Representation.
  • Engage in Litigation in respect of Crown Court matters
  • Undertake out-of-hours work (Police Station and Saturday/Bank Holiday Courts) on a rota basis.

Remuneration package will include basic salary plus overtime and mileage once engaged on out-of-hours rota.

Personal Specification:

Skills:

  • Experience maintaining case files via a computerised Case Management System. Compliance with SQM (Specialist Quality Mark) and internal transaction criteria.
  • Good oral and written communication skills.
  • Competent drafting of all types of legal documents.
  • Strong analytical skills and ability to apply law to fact.
  • Competent negotiating skills (both written and oral).
  • Confidence in delivering coherent, robust, reliable advice to clients. Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel) and Windows 10. Full UK Driving Licence desirable (out of hours travel) but not essential.

Knowledge:

Candidate will be a Solicitor with a current Practicing Certificate and have obtained CLAS Accreditation as a Duty Solicitor.

All levels of PQE will be considered.

We will also accept applications from CILEX accredited individuals who have the appropriate Advocacy Certificate and CLAS (Duty) Accreditation

Comprehensive understanding of the Criminal Justice System and constituent elements thereof. Understanding of Criminal Legal Aid applications process.

Understanding of Rules of Conduct and Client Confidentiality.

Application:

If you wish to apply please attach a CV and Covering Letter.

If you would like to know more about this vacancy you may wish to contact either our practice manager or the Department Manager, Steve Ramsell for an informal and confidential chat.

 

We invite candidates to inform us in advance about any reasonable adjustments that they may require to take part in the selection procedure and interviews