Barrister / Solicitor Advocate – Experienced Practitioner (in the region of at least 5 years experience)

About Us

Express Chambers operates as an integrated chambers model within Express Solicitors, an award-winning law firm currently ranked 64th in The Lawyer UK 200. We comprise barristers, pupil barristers, court advocates, and clerks; the core operation of the department is closely aligned to that of a traditional barristers’ chambers. We are instructed by the wider business to provide specialist advisory and advocacy skills across all of the firm’s practice areas. This innovative and collaborative structure ensures continuity of litigation strategy, efficiency, and the highest standard of representation at every stage.

Express Chambers has a clear and achievable growth strategy. This is an exciting opportunity to join at a pivotal stage and contribute to its continued development.

Role

Following growth in the wider business, Express Chambers is looking to recruit an experienced barrister or solicitor-advocate (in the region of at least 5 years of experience, but we are open to considering an applicant’s individual circumstances).

Applications are invited from candidates based anywhere in England and Wales. Candidates must hold, or be eligible to hold, a practising certificate.

The role reflects that of a typical civil barrister, with instructions to undertake advocacy and written work across a broad spectrum of civil litigation. The core practice areas are personal injury, clinical negligence, and costs. We are also instructed in matters relating to civil liberties, housing disrepair, and consumer claims litigation (we would be particularly interested in hearing from applicants who have experience in these areas).

The successful candidate will be supported by our experienced clerking team. We make significant efforts to ensure that workloads remain manageable within core working hours, with preparation time diarised appropriately.

Whilst nationwide travel is required, this is carefully managed to ensure a healthy balance with home/office working. Reasonable travel and subsistence expenses will be borne by the business, as will the cost of renewing your practising certificate. Separate professional indemnity insurance is not required.

You will be fully supported within Chambers. We are a collegiate and approachable team, encouraging of open discussion of legal issues and ideas. You will receive mentoring from an experienced barrister, will have access to comprehensive training materials and legal resources, and will be provided with IT equipment and support. Clear policies are in place to ensure that instructions and papers are received in a timely and organised fashion.

We are seeking candidates who are motivated to contribute to the continued growth of Chambers while developing their own practice.

The nature, complexity, and value of the work you undertake will reflect your level of experience. However, there is sufficient intermediate and multi-track work available to sustain a substantial and varied practice from the outset.

We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates who have experience of supervising pupils or who are willing to undertake the necessary training to be able to do so in the near future.

Responsibilities

• Court advocacy.
• Attendance at conferences, settling papers.
• To keep up to date with procedural changes, case law, and developments in legislation.
• To assist with the training and mentoring of less experienced advocates.
• Provide a high-quality service.

Person Specification

Essential

• Current practising certificate.
• Higher Rights of Audience (if applicable).
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• The ability to work both independently as well as part of a team.
• Resilience.

Desirable

• Experience of personal injury litigation.
• Working knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules.
• Experience as a pupil supervisor.
• Good level of IT literacy.

Salary, hours & benefits

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience, but at least £85,000+.
• Flexible working hours.
• Pension contributions.
• Practising certificate renewal, travel/subsistence costs, and professional indemnity insurance.
• 28 days of paid annual leave, plus Bank Holidays.
• An extra day of annual leave for your birthday after 2 years’ service.
• 3 annual leave ‘buy backs’ per year after 1 year of service.
• Private medical insurance after 2 years of service.
• Enhanced maternity leave payment after 1 year of service.
• Death in service.
• 24/7 onsite gym access.
• Netball/football team, 10km Manchester team, running club, and more.
• Active social committee with generous departmental and firm-wide social budget.
• A thriving EDI Network.
• Other benefits including an Employee Assistance Programme, and an annual (optional) flu jab.

Recruitment Process

To apply, send a CV to recruitment@expresssolicitors.co.uk or visit our careers page on www.expresssolicitors.co.uk/careers

Interviews will be conducted by MS Teams and will include scenario-based questioning.

Our employees are our most important asset; we rate skill and ability above all else and our recruitment policy encourages applications from all.

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