Solicitor - Professional Indemnity (Construction)

DAC Beachcroft – Solicitor – Professional Indemnity (Construction), Bristol

Are you looking for a role where you will be intellectually challenged, but treated with respect? Or an environment where you can enjoy industry-leading work quality without compromising on client contact and business development? Or a position that offers genuine flexibility to allow you to meet your personal and work commitments? An opportunity in our Professional and Commercial Risk team in Bristol may be for you.

We provide expert legal advice to clients across the construction, engineering and energy sectors. We act for construction professionals such as engineers, architects, design and build contractors and surveyors and their insurers. We also have a growing practice acting for parties to construction disputes on a direct commercial basis. We encourage cross-working across locations so colleagues have genuine variety in their work and can use their rounded expertise to provide creative, bespoke solutions for our clients.

So, why should you be excited about a career with us? Our team are empowered to develop their own client contacts and relationships from the start of their careers; you will see how your contribution directly impacts on your clients and understand how the service you provide helps them. We are also very proud of our client base, who provide us with top-quality instructions. We have the backing of a truly international firm with over 2,500 colleagues across 9 countries and with a myriad of international associations further bolstering our capabilities.

We aim to encourage diversity by offering the opportunity to bring your whole self to work, underpinned by our employer brand of A Life That Works. Our team are very busy and work hard, but we offer genuine flexibility to allow you to meet your personal and work commitments. All across our team, from our emerging talent to our senior leadership, you won’t find a closed door, real or virtual. Read on for more information about our specific vacancy and the firm as a whole.

Main Responsibilities

The firm has over 50 construction lawyers in the UK in London, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle who undertake professional indemnity and commercial construction disputes work. In Bristol we are looking to recruit a 1-8 PQE solicitor to continue to grow our construction disputes team (which is currently 14 in number). The role will involve defending professional indemnity claims against construction professionals as well as providing coverage advice to insurers.

As part of the team you will have:

• Interest and appetite for professional indemnity and/or contentious construction work.

• Be prepared to run Technology and Construction Court cases in technically complex matters.

• Handle a varied workload in accordance with client protocols. Act as a point of contact for clients and experts, demonstrating a level of knowledge and skill commensurate with experience.

• Exercise full compliance with DAC Beachcroft protocols on billing and credit control and demonstrate a high level of financial management in respect of own files.

• Aim to achieve a minimum budgeted annual target of 1440 (1500 for bonus purposes) chargeable hours per year.

• Support marketing and business development activity within the team eg attending marketing events and client training.

• Build an awareness of the Firm's other services. Build effective internal and external networks.

• Maintain an awareness of the firm's strategies and plans.

• Maintain and develop technical knowledge through attendance at training sessions, reading appropriate publications and exceeding Law Society CPD requirements.

• Handle confidential information in line with the firm's data security protocols.

The Ideal Candidate

• Qualified solicitor with 1-8 years PQE (or equivalent) in professional indemnity / construction litigation.

• Excellent relationship and client handling skills. Able to deal confidently and professionally with clients on day to day issues. Able to demonstrate a reasonable level of self-sufficiency, combined with an awareness of the boundaries of own competence/authority.

• Change oriented with a positive, flexible approach towards the implementation of new initiatives.

• Team oriented and collegiate with a willingness to share knowledge with and support other members of the team.