Full job descriptionLocation: Plymouth, Devon
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience - Circa £65 to £75k
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Working Pattern: Office-based / hybrid
Contract: Full-time
Experienced Litigation Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive sought to join a well-established Plymouth practice as Head of Litigation & Disputes.
This is a senior opportunity combining a high-quality contentious caseload with responsibility for the leadership, development and growth of the firm’s Litigation & Disputes department.
The successful candidate will take a key role in shaping the future direction of the team, with responsibility for people management, business development and financial performance alongside their own complex and high-value litigation work.
Position Overview
You will manage a varied caseload of litigation and dispute resolution matters from instruction through to conclusion, including complex and higher-value disputes. Alongside your fee-earning work, you will lead and develop the wider Litigation & Disputes team.
Responsibilities will include:
*Managing a varied caseload of civil litigation and dispute resolution matters
*Handling complex and high-value disputes
*Providing commercially focused, practical legal advice to clients
*Conducting proceedings in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules and relevant pre-action protocols
*Drafting pleadings, witness statements, applications, settlement agreements and other litigation documentation
*Negotiating settlements and representing clients at mediations and settlement discussions
*Acting as a senior technical resource for the department
*Supervising and mentoring qualified fee earners, trainees, apprentices and support staff
*Supporting the allocation of work and professional development of team members
*Developing and implementing the department’s annual business plan
*Building relationships with existing clients, prospective clients and professional contacts
*Identifying opportunities to generate new instructions and increase departmental revenue
*Participating in networking, marketing and other business development initiatives
*Working collaboratively with other departments to develop cross-referral opportunities
*Monitoring billing, WIP, debt management and overall departmental financial performance
*Ensuring high standards of compliance, risk management and client care
This is a genuine leadership position and would particularly suit an experienced litigator who enjoys combining technical legal work with developing people and growing a successful department.
Requirements
*Qualified Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive with full practice rights
*Significant post-qualification experience in litigation and dispute resolution
*Extensive experience managing contentious matters independently from instruction through to conclusion
*Strong technical knowledge of civil litigation procedure and dispute resolution
*Experience handling complex and high-value disputes
*Strong commercial awareness and strategic thinking
*Demonstrable business development and client relationship management experience
*Experience supervising, mentoring or developing junior lawyers
*Excellent communication, negotiation and advocacy skills
*Ability to provide commercially focused and pragmatic advice
*Strong organisational and financial management skills
*Existing professional network and/or track record of generating new business would be advantageous
*Previous departmental leadership or management experience would be beneficial
Benefits
*Competitive salary and benefits package
*25 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays
*Additional gifted Christmas leave
*Gifted birthday leave
*Private health insurance
*Monthly wellness leave
*Regular staff social events and networking opportunities
*Cycle to Work Scheme
*Free indoor bike storage
*Genuine opportunity to lead and develop an established Litigation & Disputes department
*Significant scope to influence departmental strategy, growth and future direction
*Senior position within an established Plymouth practice
This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious and commercially minded Litigation Lawyer seeking a genuine Head of Department role with the autonomy to develop a team, grow the practice and play an important part in the firm’s wider success.