JMW’s Personal Injury Department looking for a Paralegal to join their in-house Costs Team.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a Legal 500 Tier 1 Personal Injury department and support recognised lawyers who are passionate and dedicated in their work to secure compensation for people who have suffered injuries, which are often life-changing, as a result of accidents. The Costs Team provides strategic advice to a variety of legal teams to ensure the best interests of our clients are always well-represented in relation to issues pertaining to legal costs. 

In this role you will be working directly under the supervision of the Costs Manager and will be dealing with claims for costs arising from a wide range of case types, principally within the Personal Injury department. You will receive full on the job training alongside technical training which will equip you with the requisite skills to apply costs law and procedure in practice. You will be given opportunities to develop your career in a friendly and supportive environment. The right candidate will be able to manage their own agreed caseload and gain exposure to more complex work.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be educated to degree level or have a Level 6 equivalent qualification
• Have a minimum of 12-months experience of working in a paralegal or legal support role in any legal practice area
• Prior knowledge of costs litigation and procedure is not necessary but would be a distinct advantage, as would knowledge of how a personal injury claim is conducted
• Possess excellent inter-personal skills as the role will include working collaboratively with colleagues of all levels of seniority across the business
• Have a strong critical faculty, good analytical skills, and excellent attention to detail
• Be self-disciplined, enthusiastic, and committed to their own professional development
• Be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing as the role will include routinely communicating with opponents, Counsel, and external costs litigation firms
• Have strong organisational and time management skills
• Strong IT skills

The role and responsibilities include:

• Preparing statements of costs for applications and trial
• Drafting detailed Bill of Costs on agreed cases
• Liaising with external costs litigation firms as directed
• Undertaking negotiations on costs cases (subject to a period of training)
• Providing advice to legal teams in relation legal costs issues (subject to a period of training)
• Assisting the Costs Manager in preparing for costs related Court hearings (preparation of bundles, briefing Counsel)
• Undertaking legal research
• Dealing with billing and disbursement queries

 Working for JMW  

As well as a rewarding career, JMW offers its colleagues many other opportunities and benefits, including:

• A minimum of 25 days' annual leave (increasing with length of service) plus office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Employee Pension Scheme – SMART pension scheme
• Travel Insurance – covering you and eligible family members
• Death In Service - 3 x basic salary
• Private Medical Insurance (subject to opting in) and option of contributing to add eligible family members
• Income Protection - cover of up to 75% of salary
• Access to an interest free travel pass/parking loan
• A one-hour early finish, one Friday a month
• Two days a year to do charitable work, with a huge variety of events to get involved in
• The opportunity to participate in sports teams, hobby clubs, and social events
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders
• Annual promotions process open to all
• Work and employee referral schemes

More information including a full list of our benefits and company culture can be found on the careers home page, and via our social media channels – X, Instagram, LinkedIn.