Associate Solicitor – Human Rights (Contaminated Blood)

Location: London

Contract type: permanent

Competitive

Overview

This role offers an exciting opportunity to join Gene Matthews’s team in managing complex, large‑scale group litigation, with a strong focus on high profile human rights cases.

Key work involves representing individuals who contracted Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B or HIV through NHS blood, blood products or tissue – widely regarded as the “worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS”. The scandal was recently the subject of the Infected Blood Inquiry, which published its damning findings in May 2024. In response, the Government established the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, and Leigh Day is proud to be one of the legal firms supporting affected individuals through the compensation process.

The broader caseload typically involves group claims brought against large companies across a range of areas, including consumer law, environmental protection and data protection, with the team also handling individual cases for clients injured during clinical trials. In addition to litigation support, the role includes assisting in the supervision and management of paralegals within the team.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate an interest in consumer, environmental protection and data protection law, with the role also particularly suitable for candidates with a background in personal injury or clinical negligence who are seeking a meaningful change in direction. We would also welcome applications from candidates returning to practice after a career break.

File Management

• Obtain accurate information and instructions from clients, analyse the legal and practical aspects of their claims and obtain necessary documents/evidence to provide preliminary advice on liability/quantum/costs & funding.
• Instruct medico‑legal experts, negotiate acceptable terms, prepare formal instructions and liaise with experts and/or their secretaries during case run‑through.
• Analyse and advise on strategy, tactics and how best to achieve the most successful outcome for each client according to circumstances.
• Strive to achieve pre‑litigation settlement; otherwise conduct litigation through to trial or earlier settlement and deal with post‑trial/settlement considerations such as costs and enforcement proceedings, and consider whether any decision should be appealed.
• Enable clients and/or their litigation friends, where a client lacks capacity, to make informed decisions based on advice on legal and other appropriate considerations e.g. costs, funding and risks of litigation.
• Ensure timely and effective deployment of others involved in the matter e.g. expert witnesses, enquiry agents, counsel, cost draftsmen.
• Monitor all aspects of the case on behalf of the client and advise on whether subsequent developments affect previously expressed views.
• Heed procedural timetable and time limits, make necessary applications where required to protect the client’s position.
• Comply with the Civil Proceedings Rules.

Client Relations

• Deal with clients in a sensitive, professional and compassionate way.
• Identify clients’ objectives and seek to further them in a manner consistent with all professional and ethical obligations.

Business Development

• Help research and develop new areas of practice for the firm.

Professional Standard

• Work and behave in a professional manner and within the highest ethical and other standards of the profession.
• Comply with procedures set out in the office manual, professional standards and any requirement set by the Legal Services Commission or similar interested bodies e.g. Legal Expense Insurers.
• Ensure monetary transactions are dealt with efficiently and in accordance with professional rules.
• Maintain the strictest standards of client confidentiality.

Other Responsibilities

• Delegate appropriately and supervise and motivate reporting staff.
• Anticipate as well as respond to clients’ needs and demands.
• Share information with colleagues.
• Participate in the growth and development of the department/firm.

Marketing: Social and Technical

• Include presentation of seminars, writing articles, joining, and participating in professional and other relevant organisations.

Management of Resources

• Assist the firm in maximising income and profitability by effective time recording, billing and staff planning.

Training

• Keep up to date with developments in law and practice.
• Individuals who need CPD hours must keep their records up to date and comply with the relevant CPD requirements.

Information Technology

• Wherever possible, utilise IT to provide a quality, cost effective and efficient service to clients.
• Maintain the strictest concern for and awareness of the need for data protection.

Performance Measured

• Conduct matters on behalf of clients to their satisfaction.
• Careful file management and the keeping of detailed contemporaneous attendance notes of all work done on behalf of our clients.
• Compliance with time recording requirements and reaching financial targets.
• Efficiency in dealing with work and accuracy of work produced.
• Work with initiative, maintaining a flexible and responsible approach.
• Knowledge and use of court rules and procedures.
• Personal development and contribution to the overall objectives of the firm.
• Good attendance and timekeeping.

Person Specification

• Demonstrate commitment to equality, access to justice and affordable legal advice of the highest quality.
• Interest in consumer law, environmental protection and data protection law. Suit cases with personal injury and/or clinical negligence experience looking for a change in direction.
• Qualified lawyer with 3-4 years PQE – exceptional candidates outside this level of qualification will also be considered.
• Learn new areas of law quickly and develop new areas or work for the firm.
• Demonstrable knowledge in conduct of cases from initial advice through to trial.
• Substantial experience in calculating losses in Schedule of Loss (often large and complex).
• Relevant experience in analysing complex factual and legal situations and advising clients in accordance with their aims.
• Substantial experience in dealing sensitively with clients and experts, providing solutions, and managing difficult situations and conversations.
• Analyse complex factual and legal situations and advise as to the critical path that should be followed.
• Some relevant experience in creating new business opportunities.
• Solid experience using a variety of IT packages (MS Word, Excel, Case Management Systems and Outlook).
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
• Excellent time management skills, organising and prioritising a complex workload and working to tight deadlines.
• Experience working and contributing to a team environment.

Desirable

• Experience in or knowledge of any of these areas will be an added advantage: personal injury, clinical negligence, consumer law, environmental protection, data protection law and group claims.

About Leigh Day

We are a top 100 law firm committed to claimant only cases, ensuring that individuals have the same access to justice as the UK Government and large corporations. We are not afraid to take on difficult and challenging cases involving medical negligence, serious personal injuries, discrimination in the workplace, defective products and human rights abuses in this country and overseas.

Benefits

29 days holiday per annum inclusive of 4 days compulsory leave to be taken during the Christmas office closure, plus all public and bank holidays; two weeks of working elsewhere; contributory pension scheme; life assurance (4 times annual salary); private medical insurance; interest free season ticket loan; childcare vouchers; cycle to work scheme; electric vehicle scheme.

Hybrid working policy: three days in the office and two at home. Free breakfast and lunch every day for those coming into the office. Annual social activities and supportive and friendly culture.

Commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Leigh Day is committed to the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We value the diversity of our colleagues, clients and third parties. We seek to create an environment where everyone feels included and valued for their unique characteristics, skills and abilities and supported in their needs and responsibilities.

We welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status.