Solicitor - Specialist Liability

DAC Beachcroft is looking to appoint a Solicitor / Chartered Legal Executive to join our Claims Solutions Group Specialist Liability team.

Working within the Specialist Liability team involves advising insurers, public sector and corporate clients in the defence of complex claims. We specialise in claims involving abuse, the HRA, discrimination and Equality Act claims, deprivations of liberty, misfeasance and other linked areas. We are on panel and act for a number of leading names in the insurance industry and their Insureds and receive instructions from a range of Local Authorities as well as the Police, Housing and Residential Care providers, specialist Healthcare providers, Schools, Colleges, Universities and a range of public sector organisations and household name corporates.

The work comprises giving detailed pre-emptive advice on relevant issues to clients and where necessary preparing a defence through to Trial. Caseloads comprise a mixture of pre-litigated and litigated claims.

We are presently looking to recruit a suitable experienced candidate who is keen to assist and run a caseload of civil claims in this area (as well as assisting with the broader spectrum of our team’s work). Many of our cases hit the headlines, and you are assured of an interesting case load, as much responsibility as you can handle.

• A well-rounded remuneration package (which includes private medical insurance, income protection insurance and discounted gym membership, amongst many other benefits)
• Opportunities for growth and progression including professional funding
• In person and remote social events
• Opportunity to get involved in a range of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) activities

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, which aligns closely to our cultural principles (Determined, Clear, Creative and Supportive). If you are excited about this role and being part of our culture, but your past experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles

What you will do

• Handling a caseload of complex claims
• Providing timely, astute, commercially aware and sensitively drafted advice to clients
• Attending conference, trials, proofing witnesses
• Preparing and supervising disclosure of sensitive documentation;
• Drafting of Court documents;
• Attending upon Trials and Applications (with Counsel);
• File management of complex and sensitive cases;
• Achieving a minimum budgeted annual target of 1,440 chargeable hours per year;
• Developing paralegals within the team;
• Supporting marketing and business development activity within the team;
• Assuming responsibility for quality control and benchmark compliance on work including accurate and timely preparation of management information;
• Maintaining and developing technical knowledge through POD online learning, attendance at training sessions, seminars and perusal of appropriate publications;
• Handling confidential information in line with the firm’s data security protocols.

This position is ideal for someone who would like the opportunity to grow and develop in the role and the wider business.

Initial responsibilities will include your own file handling and assisting Partners in all aspects of the claims handled by the Team.

Full training will be given as needed by specialist and highly rated Partners.

Who you are

• A keen interest and enthusiasm in Specialist Liability work (as described above)
• The ability to dig into document-heavy, complex cases in order to extract relevant evidence and data
• A desire to handle particularly high value, complex and sensitive cases
• Able to work on own initiative as well as to work with and learn from supervisors and other members of the department
• Able to work under pressure and in order to meet required deadlines
• Detail-conscious and able to produce work to a high standard for demanding and knowledgeable clients
• Track record of developing and maintaining good client relationships
• A sympathy and empathy for the public sector who comprise a large number of our clients
• Commercial /industry awareness
• A team player with a flexible and self-motivated approach
• Experience of Inquests, civil Equality Act claims, Police and discrimination claims
• Demonstrates alignment with the Firm’s Cultural Principles (Clear, Creative, Determined and Supportive)

The successful candidate would join a friendly, supportive and expert team lead by Partners who always offer support and guidance where needed.

About DAC Beachcroft

We are a leading international legal business with over 2,900 colleagues and a diverse range of capabilities. We have 11 offices in the UK as well as offices in Dublin, Madrid, Paris, Milan, Rome, Singapore, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Miami. We also have associations/alliances with firms in Malaysia, Brazil, Peru, Central America, the USA, Australia and Germany.

We are a broad-based commercial firm with a strong heritage in insurance, health and real estate. This is complemented by a fast-growing Business Advisory capability. We represent a wide range of clients, ranging from household names to government departments and NHS bodies. We act for all of the UK’s top-ten insurers, we are market leaders in the provision of strategic, commercial and regulatory advice to providers and commissioners in the health sector, and in real estate we advise all of the UK’s top-12 housebuilders.

We have an impressive legal pedigree, with 142 Chambers UK 2021 practice area and individual lawyer rankings. In Legal 500 UK 2021, the firm received a top tier ranking for 37 of its practice areas, and 58 DACB lawyers were singled out in the ‘Leading Individual' rankings.

Our successes have been recognised by the legal industry and the markets in which we operate. These accolades include two top prizes in the ‘Excellence in Business Development’ and ‘Excellence in Technology & Innovation’ categories of the 2020 Law Society Excellence Awards – the highest accolade for law firms in England & Wales. Our health sector team won the ‘Crisis Management Team of the Year’ award at the 2020 British Legal Awards for its support to the NHS at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our Cyber & Data Risk team received the ‘Business Development Innovation Award’ at the 2020 Legal Innovation Awards, as well as ‘Cyber Law Firm of the Year’ at the prestigious Insurance Insider Cyber Rankings Awards, for its market-leading suite of digital tools to help our clients prepare for and respond to cyber and data risk crises.

Our vision is to be leading business advisers, recognised for our insight and our outstanding commitment to clients, and for being the place where talented people want to work. For further details on our work and our culture, please visit

What you need to know about applying

At DAC Beachcroft, we don’t just accept your differences we celebrate them. From bespoke solutions for our clients, to treating you like an individual. Our strength comes from your diverse ideas and bringing the whole you to work. So if you’re good at what you do, come as you are. We welcome direct applications and are happy to talk flexible working.

We also want you to be at your very best. Please feel free to let us know of any changes we can make at any point in the recruitment process that will help support your application. If this opportunity sounds of interest to you, please make an application and submit your CV. Your application will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence.