Mental Health Solicitor – Manchester
Job Overview
Reeds Solicitors would like to open a new Mental Health office in Manchester and therefore we are seeking a Mental Health Solicitor to join the team.
This is an exciting opportunity to help build a new office and develop a team of your own, with the added benefit of the background support of a larger team who have experience in this kind of business development.
With this in mind, we would like to hear from candidates who have prior management experience or a desire to develop those skills in due course and who will be excited to get involved in the marketing, promotion and development of our brand and services within this area. Applicants should have a good knowledge of mental health matters and have demonstrable experience in proceedings, good advocacy skills and experience with public funding. Salary is negotiable based on experience.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Meeting and interviewing clients to establish the firm’s suitability to provide the necessary advice and services, based on the firm’s specialism and funding options;
- Taking a client’s instructions;
- Advising a client on the law and legal issues relating to their case;
- Drafting applications, documents, letters and court orders tailored to the client’s individual needs;
- Negotiating with clients and other professionals to secure agreed objectives;
- Researching and analysing documents and case law to ensure the accuracy of advice and procedure;
- Attending meetings and negotiations with opposing parties, keeping a detailed note of all discussions;
- Acting on behalf of clients and representing them in court by way of in-house advocacy wherever possible;
- Instructing barristers or specialist advocates to appear in court for the client in more complex cases;
- Attending Court to cover hearings where Counsel is instructed and taking a detailed note of proceedings;
- Preparing and updating Court bundles in line with evidence served;
- Monitoring clients funding position to ensure works undertaken are either covered by a Legal Aid Certificate or private monies paid on account;
- Working in a team, sometimes referring cases to the head of department;
- Supervising and delegating work to trainee solicitors, paralegals and legal secretaries as appropriate;
- Checking all documentation prior to signing and implementing;
- Administrative duties, for example completing time sheets so that charges for work can be calculated, billing clients for work done on their behalf;
- Taking referrals from other firms of solicitors when a conflict of interest arises, or if they have no specialist practitioner available;
- Provide the highest level of client care and ensure file management in accordance with Lexcel standards
- Keeping up to date with changes and developments in the law by attending external training courses, reading journals and law reports;
- Undertaking a range of continuing professional development (CPD) activities throughout their career;
- Any other duties as directed by the Team Leader or a member of the Management Team.
Person Specification
- Must hold a current Practicing Certificate.
- Must be a member of the Law Society Mental Health Accreditation scheme.
- Must be a Legal Aid Supervisor under the Mental Health Contract.
- Must be able to multi-task, think on your feet and prioritise demanding workloads given the sensitive and emotive nature of the works undertaken.
- Must be an excellent communicator in both written and spoken English, with strong advocacy skills.
- Must have a good understanding of client care requirements and a commitment to legal aid.
- Be computer literate with experience of using Microsoft Office packages.
- Must have excellent time management and organisation skills.
- Must possess the ability to work within a high-pressure, high-workload environment, where a material change in circumstances may come about at the eleventh hour.
- Be self-confident, proactive and able to develop good working relationship with third parties including Court and Hospital / Care Home staff, Counsel and Advocacy Agencies.
Salary: Negotiable based on experience.
Working hours: 9:00am to 5.00pm, with one hour for lunch Monday – Friday.
Job type: Permanent.
Closing date: We reserve the right to amend the closing date or withdraw the advert without notice prior to the closing date.
Why work for Reeds?
- At Reeds we do things The Reeds Way – a set of foundational principles that not only tell us how we run our business, but why.
- Externally, it governs how we look after our clients. For example, we have developed our Service Pledge, and our whole firm works as a team to make sure we deliver on this every time.
- The Reeds Way also governs and guides how we try to add value to the communities in which we operate.
- Internally, the Reeds Way governs our culture, the Reeds working environment, and the working life and career that we offer to all Reeds people.
- So, what does all this look like when put into practice? Here is what you can expect from us if you join our team:
- We safeguard a non-negotiable culture of respect for and between colleagues;
- We offer a transparent and fair career development structure with opportunities for all lawyers and fee-earners to progress through the stages and become an Associate, Senior Associate and hopefully Partner;
- All our people – and that means all our people – constantly undergo training and development via The ‘Reeds Academy’ which helps everyone achieve their career goals and get to where they want to be professionally, and to enhance their skills and knowledge;
- We encourage all our staff to think about business development and look for growth opportunities. We are always willing to listen to, and potentially invest in, new ideas;
- We offer competitive salary and benefit packages and have a transparent annual review process which considers your whole contribution to your team and the Firm, not just billing figures;
- We offer to all staff a discretionary bonus scheme for exceptional performance;
- We offer flexible working schemes which include compressed 4 day weeks, 9 day fortnights and TOIL (time off in lieu), as well as other hybrid working schemes;
- You will enjoy the ability to earn up to 30 days of holiday with years of service (standard holiday packages start at 21 days plus all bank holidays);
- There is an additional paid celebration day for you to use as you would like (such as a birthday, anniversary or other key event);
- You will have the ability to buy a further 5 days of holiday, and sell surplus holiday, each year;
- Discretionary additional holiday days are given at Christmas (up to a maximum of 2 days);
- We give you private medical health care with the option to upgrade and add optical and dental care;
- Discounted gym membership is available, through private medical insurance;
- We offer an employee assistance programme with access to physical, mental and emotional health advice & webinars, wellbeing videos and programmes, online counselling & mini health checks;
- The Cycle To Work scheme is available, including e-bikes;
- Fresh fruit baskets are placed in each office on a weekly basis.
How to apply?
If you are interested in this position, or would like further information, please email recruitment@reeds.co.uk with the job title clearly stated in the subject line.
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