Trainee Solicitor - NHS Wales Shared Service Partnership

Application deadline: 15 September 2024

Job overview

This post is fixed term/secondment for 24 months to meet the needs of the service.

Legal & Risk Services is a division of the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, based in Cardiff, which provides a litigation and comprehensive legal advisory service to the NHS in Wales.

We are seeking to recruit up to two trainee solicitors who, working closely with Solicitors and Legal Executives, will have the opportunity of gaining experience within some of the following areas of law: Clinical negligence; Inquests; Personal injury; Employment law; Commercial law; General advice on healthcare related issues.

The available positions provide a unique opportunity to develop your skills in a supportive but challenging environment. We are looking for people who have an interest in litigation and healthcare issues and who have relevant previous experience within a work environment. 

The successful candidates will work under the close supervision of a Senior Lawyer and will undertake a variety of tasks such as reviewing documents including medical records, identifying and instructing medical and non-medical experts, drafting pre-action documents and court documents, undertaking legal research, attending courts or tribunals, entering relevant information on to the case management system and drafting advice to clients.

The ideal candidate for the above position must have good communication skills, a confident approach to work, and be able to demonstrate our core values: Listening and learning; Working together; Taking responsibility and Innovating.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Working for our organisation

At NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership we have high standards and expect everyone to embrace our values of Listening & Learning, Working Together, Taking Responsibility & Innovating, whilst ensuring trust, honesty and compassion are implicit in everything that we do.

We are adaptable, agile and flexible and pride ourselves on being a learning organisation - one where it is safe to make mistakes, where blame is replaced by opportunity, learning and improvement.  Innovation is built into everything that we do.

We recognise our people regularly and have an Appreciation Station, to encourage staff to applaud exemplary behaviour in one another, alongside an Annual Staff Recognition Award ceremony aligned to our values.

We respect and value our people and strive for a culture of compassion and inclusivity.  We are a bilingual organisation, and we have a team of Change Champions who advocate ‘This is Our NWSSP’ our principal change programme. Similarly, PROUD is our new staff network welcoming LGBT+ colleagues and allies to come together in a safe space for discussions, event planning and the opportunity to build supportive networks.

We have a comprehensive benefits package where there is something for everyone, supporting health, engagement and wellbeing and includes an Employee Assistance Programme. We have over 30 Mental Health First Aiders and work in partnership with local and national organisations to ensure the well-being and resilience of our people.

We are committed to flexible working and equal opportunities.

If you are short listed for interview you will be contacted by email using the email address with which you registered. Please ensure that you check your email account regularly.

Prior consideration for this vacancy will be given to staff awaiting redeployment. We therefore reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any stage.

When applying for this post it is essential that you read the Job Description and Person Specification (where available) and demonstrate how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the person specification. Only candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted.

To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa, unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK.  If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Willing to undertake further professional development

Desirable criteria

• Welsh Speaker

Values and Personal Qualities

Essential criteria

• Conscientious
• Team Worker
• Ability to prioritise work and good time management

Desirable criteria

• Friendly and flexible approach to work

Aptitude and Abilities

Essential criteria

• Ability to write in plain English
• Analytical negotiating ability
• Good client handling
• Computer literate
• Team worker
• Ability to recognise own capabilities
• Ability to prioritise work
• Relevant legal knowledge

Desirable criteria

• Document drafting
• Knowledge of courts and litigation process
• Structure of NHS

Experience

Essential criteria

• Work experience within a legal setting.

Qualifications and/or knowledge

Essential criteria

• Law degree or equivalent
• LPC or equivalent

Desirable criteria

• NHS background