Paralegal - Travel

Penningtons Manches Cooper are looking to hire a Paralegal to join it’s Travel Law team in Guildford. The team is regarded as one of the leading specialist teams in the country.  It is a trusted advisor to the UK travel insurance industry and instructed to represent their policyholders, should they be involved in an accident abroad. The work requires the team to act in both a Claimant and a Defendant capacity and to work closely with lawyers from the firm’s foreign offices and its international network.

We are looking for a candidate who will work as part of a team, carrying out a range of tasks and working with two senior associates, an associate and a partner who specialise in high value and complex foreign accident claims.  Candidates will have experience of handling personal injury work and good communication and organisational skills. Fluency in a foreign language is desirable but not essential. The role offers excellent quality work in a collegiate and supportive environment. 

The firm operates a hybrid agile working policy allowing employees to work from home (or another UK location) for up to 50% of their time but subject to the demands of the business. Individuals can also apply for other flexible working options either at the time of recruitment or during the course of their employment.

• Handle foreign litigated claims with supervision from solicitors in the team
• Manage the three key stakeholders in foreign litigated claims – the UK travel insurer, the lay client and the foreign lawyer
• Report to insurers on policy terms/exclusion clauses, reserves etc
• Support to fee-earners in the team with running their case load
• Draft documents and general correspondence. 
• Research – carrying out research using legal publications, case law, the internet etc. preparing detailed reports of research results
• Dealing with initial client care documentation and follow up
• Obtaining and sorting medical records
• Arranging appointments
• Obtaining and collating documents and running disclosure lists and drafting Schedules of Loss
• Preparing witness statements
• Preparation of bundles
• Arranging expert appointments and drafting letters of instruction
• Attendance at conferences with experts and counsel and joint settlement meetings

• Degree or CILEX qualification
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to manage a busy workload and excellent organisational skills
• Comfortable working under pressure with the ability to plan and prioritise work
• Appreciation of fee earner needs and constraints; commercially aware
• Collaborative and conscientious team member with ability to quickly build relationships with a wide range of people
• Confident to engage in client facing meetings and communications
• Attention to accuracy and detail
• Receptive to facilitate and support change
• Fluency in a foreign language

At our firm, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a priority and at the heart of everything we do. We actively want to attract a diverse workforce and welcome applications from everyone, from all backgrounds. We are committed to promoting an inclusive culture where everyone can be their full selves and experience being seen and heard. You can find out more about our firm’s commitment, initiatives and Pennclusion committees here.

We ensure that there are equal opportunities and treatment for all job applicants and employees, at all stages of the recruitment process and employment, regardless of age, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and social background. We aim to provide adjustments for people who have a disability, long-term health condition (including mental health) or neurodiversity. If you would like to request an adjustment, please contact Helen.Lewis@penningtonslaw.com.