Solicitor / CILEX Litigator – Specialist Liability

Our client, a prominent law firm, is seeking a Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive (3–8 years PQE) to join its Specialist Liability team. This is a fast-growing and intellectually demanding area of law, focused on claims involving child abuse (including negligence, vicarious liability, and Human Rights Act matters), inquests, and claims against social services (children's and adults' services).

The firm acts on panels for leading insurers and their insureds, and receives instructions from local authorities, the police, housing and residential care providers, healthcare specialists, schools, universities, religious and sporting organisations, and other public and corporate clients. The caseload includes both pre-litigated and litigated claims, offering interesting work and substantial responsibility.

Key responsibilities include:

• Handling a caseload of complex claims and providing timely, commercially aware and sensitive advice.
• Attending conferences and trials, and attending inquests while advising on the coronial process.
• Proofing witnesses and preparing/supervising disclosure of sensitive documentation.
• Drafting court documents and attending applications with counsel.
• Assisting team partners on complex, high-profile cases and gaining exposure to leading defendant lawyers.
• Achieving a minimum of 1,440 chargeable hours per year.
• Supporting marketing and business development, and contributing to the team's quality control and knowledge management.

Essential skills and experience:

• Strong litigation experience and a keen interest in specialist liability work.
• Ability to manage both high-value and sensitive cases.
• Capability to analyse factually and legally complex matters to extract key evidence.
• Proven client relationship skills and empathy for public sector clients.
• Excellent attention to detail, commercial awareness, and ability to work under pressure.

Preferred: experience running fast-paced child abuse and social care claims, inquest experience, and a track record of delivering excellent client service.

Highly desirable: inquest expertise, a clean driving licence, and experience advising on alleged breaches of the Human Rights Act.

• Litigation experience
• Interest in Specialist Liability work
• Ability to handle high-value and sensitive cases
• Strong analytical and evidence-gathering skills
• Collaborative and independent working style
• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure
• Detail-conscious and client-focused
• Commercial awareness
• Empathy for public sector clients