Why Join Us?
The Vehicle Damage Pre-Litigation Team is an exciting, dynamic department that provides a solid first step into our organisation, and a range of exciting opportunities to progress.
A supportive department, we’re ready to help you learn andthrive in your career.
Working in the legal sector, and getting ahead with career progression, is extremely competitive; we understand this and seek to give chances wherever possible to the right candidate to expand their skill-set and enhance their vocational prospects.
Training contracts, SQE Apprenticeships and plenty of role-dependent training are available. We’ve had a host of employees join us just out of university, taking their first employment steps before progressing in the legal profession and into upper, senior positions that they enjoy tothis day.
Damian
Junior Paralegal
1- What do you enjoy most about working at Winn Solicitors/ Vehicle Damages Pre-Litigation?
I enjoy the community of people and being part of a team where everyone works together to improve. Management has an open-door policy when having an issue and you will feel supported.
2. How do you find your role as a Junior Paralegal in the Vehicle Damages Pre-litigation Department?
I enjoy the development, and it is different on a day-to-day basis. I also enjoy learning about the legal practice of credit hire. I like the contact with clients and explaining how the law is so critical to put the client in the position they were beforethe accident. Winn solicitors gave me pride.
3. What motivated you to apply to the Vehicle Damages Pre-litigation Graduate Paralegal Role at Winn Solicitors?
I discovered Winn Solicitors at a graduate fair. They have explained how Winn Solicitors was established back in 2002 and introduced the one stop shop process. I liked that we are client focused and achieve the best outcome for clients. I liked that Winn Solicitors is a community and does charity events and employees’ social events.
4. What do you enjoy the most about being a Paralegal?
I enjoy the day-to-day contact with clients, helping them progress their claims who are unfamiliar with the law, ease their worries and take away their stress from them. I enjoy helping my colleagues with their cases and developing and boosting the department to meet the monthly targets.
5. How do you manage your key responsibilities in your role? (i.e. communicating with clients, achieving targets, managing a healthy work/ life balance)
At the start of each month, I organise my cases on a spreadsheet and review them, I understand the client/ business requirements from the case. I make sure all the emails are kept orderly and write a list of clients who need updates and complete it by the end of the day. I created a list of third-party insurer's correspondences that I need to go through. I try to use my supervision with my team leader to the best it can be.
6. What impact do you hope to have on your clients and caseload?
I hope I can relieve clients from any stress related to their claims, support them, help them claim back their losses and progress their cases to settlement. I hope I can develop the business growth and claim back all the costs from the third-party insurers.
7. What feedback and advice would you give to others aspiring to apply for the Graduate Paralegal Vehicle Damages Pre-Litigation role here at Winn Solicitors?
My advice to people who are looking to work at Winn Solicitors within our department is not to be afraid to ask questions and understand case laws and the reasons behind them. I advise them to make a lot of friends and integrate themselves within the community. My advice to them for their interviews is to research the area of law and how this benefits our clients, and do some research on our work and why it is important.
Sophie
Junior Paralegal
1. What do you enjoy most about working at Winn Solicitors/Vehicle Damages Pre-Litigation?
Working at Winn Solicitors is very rewarding due to the encouragement and support of the team. Working towards targets and achieving them and having a team to support you is very rewarding.
2. How did you find the change from being a Junior Paralegal in Pre-Litigation to being a Junior Paralegal in Post-Litigation?
It took time to get used to the change in roles, however, it was exciting to learn new things. It was a progress to learn about litigation and I look forward to attending hearings.
3. What motivated you to want to progress to work within Post- Litigation at Winn Solicitors?
What motivated me to change role is career progression, wanting to do the SQE and to learn about litigation.
4. What did enjoy most about being a Paralegal?
During my Paralegal role, I have enjoyed seeing the cases from start to finish and being a support network for clients.
5. How do you manage your key responsibilities in your role? (i.e. communicating with clients, achieving targets, managing a healthy work/ life balance)
I manage my responsibilities in my role by organising i.e. looking at what is due, taking screenshots and printing them out and keeping on top of the workload. I try to make sure everything is done before the deadline so I can go home and enjoy it. I also help my team members if anyone needs support and try to hit the team target.
6. What impact do you hope to have on your clients, caseload and department?
I hope clients believe that I am supportive and can help, be there for my team and support them if anything is needed and progress for caseload.
7. What feedback and advice would you give to others aspiring for the role within the Vehicle Damages Post-Litigation department?
My advice for people who are aspiring for a role within the post-litigation department is to keep on top of the workload, learn to manage your time well and hit your targets.
Sophia
Advocacy
1. What do you enjoy most about working at Winn Solicitors/Vehicle Damages Pre-Litigation?
I enjoy the collaborative and friendly environment at Winn Solicitors. Everyone is helpful. I also enjoy the individual caseload and the responsibilities we take on when handling our caseload.
2. What techniques are you going to utilise to navigate the change of role from a Vehicle Damages Pre-Litigation Paralegal to working in Advocacy?
When changing roles, I will utilise my time management and handling of my caseload skills. I will be speaking to clients on the spot and convey any legal reasoning to any audience and I will adapt to different styles of legal drafting.
My line manager pushed me to apply for this role, she believed in me and wanted me to achieve the best.
3. What did you enjoy most about being a Paralegal?
I enjoyed seeing how the process works and learning the legal requirements for litigation as law degrees do not teach litigation, however, Winn Solicitors provided that. I enjoyed being friends with other paralegals who shared the same experiences.
4. How do you manage your key responsibilities in your role? (i.e. communicating with clients, achieving targets, managing a healthy work/ life balance)
We have individual and team targets which I always try to prioritise and being in a team makes the process easier as we have gained a lot of transferable skills. Targets made me gain organisational skills and more responsibilities. I usually do quick file reviews and make a schedule. Work/Life balance is easy at Winn Solicitors, it is a very sociable office, very inclusive for events and suitable to make good friends. Work week always goes fast!
5. What impact do you hope to have on your department and clients in your role?
I am a good team member in my current role, love the people I work with and will input that energy on my future team.
I will continue with a high standard of work with clients in my new role.
6. What feedback and advice would you give to others aspiring for a role within another department in the Winn Group?
My advice to others who are looking to apply for a different role within the company is to always apply if interested, believe that you will gain more experience and try to progress. I advise them as well to get feedback from the interview.
Colm
Team Leader
1. What do you enjoy most about working at Winn Solicitors/Vehicle Damages Pre-Litigation?
What I enjoy the most about Winn Solicitors is the cultural collaboration and support, everyone is willing to help and see each other succeed which creates a positive environment. I appreciate the company’s commitment to helping us grow both professionally and personally. From day one, I was encouraged to develop new skills and take on further responsibilities. It is empowering to work at a company that invests so much in its employees. Being Winn Solicitors has enabled me to work with people from different backgrounds and perspectives which I think is rare to find!
2. How did you find the change from being a Legal Assistant to being a Paralegal?
The change from being a Legal Assistant to being a Paralegal was challenging. As a Legal Assistant, I was primarily focused on administrative tasks, however, moving into a Paralegal role required me to dive into legal research, case preparation and client interaction. The change also meant taking on higher-level responsibilities and needing a stronger understanding of legal concepts. Everyone was supportive and the support allowed me to quickly adapt to the more complex tasks.
3. How did you find the change from being a Paralegal to a Team Leader and what motivated you to progress?
The change from Paralegal to Team Leader was the biggest challenge of my career so far. As a Paralegal my focus was on my caseload and tasks while becoming a Team Leader meant developing an entirely new skill set such as managing others, coordinating multiple caseloads and motivating the team. What motivated me to take this step was the chance to make a broader impact.
4. What do you enjoy most about being a Team Leader?
What I enjoy most about being a Team Leader is supporting others to reach their full potential. It is rewarding to see my team members grow in their roles and develop themselves as legal professionals.
5. How do you manage your key responsibilities in your role? (i.e. communicating with clients, achieving targets, managing a healthy work/ life balance)
Managing my key responsibilities requires a mixture of organisation, empathy and adaptability. I believe motivating my team is the most important responsibility as everything else feeds from this, by giving clear guidance, acknowledging individual efforts, providing growth opportunities and creating a positive environment. When it comes to achieving targets, I believe in setting realistic and actionable goals and tracking our progress closely. Regular process checks allow us to address obstacles early. I also provide constructive feedback and a supportive approach.
6. What impact do you hope to have on your team and the department?
I hope to create a lasting positive impact on my team by integrating a culture of collaboration, accountability and professional growth and building an environment where each team member feels supported. In the long term, I want our team to be consistent high performers that set the standard in the department.
7. What feedback and advice would you give to others aspiring for the role of a Team Leader in Vehicle Damages Pre-Litigation?
My advice to people who are aspiring for the role of a Team Leader is to throw themselves at the opportunity and its challenges, take yourselves out of your comfort zones and be adaptable.
Beth
Solicitor and Trainer
1. What do you enjoy most about working at Winn Solicitors/Vehicle Damages Pre-Litigation
What I enjoy most about working at Winn Solicitors is the supportive management and people, the friendly competition which ensures everyone strives to do better, the collaborative work, dealing with challenges/ objection handling and the sense of pride and job satisfaction.
2. How do you find opportunities for progression at Winn Solicitors?
We have a variety of career progression opportunities within the departments and between the departments. The management is supportive of progression and growth and building up for a new role. You will feel recognised, and you will find a place for your progression. I was encouraged to apply for the Training contract and did get it and once I qualified as a solicitor was encouraged for the role of trainer and did get it.
3. How did you find the change from being a Paralegal, to a trainee Solicitor and now a newly qualified solicitor?
I started my career journey at Winn Solicitor as a paralegal and then as a senior paralegal, trainee and now newly qualified trainer. Every step had new challenges. Winn Solicitors supports you to learn new skills and acquire new knowledge. I enjoy being down rabbit holes and finding bits of knowledge.
4. What motivated you to want to become a Solicitor at Winn Solicitors?
Winn Solicitors was my first legal role, I learned everything here and built up here. I only need to prove I can do this. I was trusted and signed off as a solicitor and it was nice to feel appreciated for my work.
5. Please tell us what your route to qualification has been like.
My route to qualification has been hard, however, it was worth it and it was rewarding. I got a lot of support, and it was the longest but shortest two years of my life, and I was lucky to be recognised.
6. What did you enjoy most about being a Trainee Solicitor?
While I was a Trainee Solicitor, I have enjoyed working with all the different departments, liked being in the court and working with directors and I am grateful they trusted me to work with them.
7. How do you manage your key responsibilities in your role? (i.e. communicating with clients, achieving targets, managing a healthy work/ life balance)
I manage my responsibilities using my communication skills which I gained from speaking to clients
over the years and I am now better equipped to deal with these conversations. I use my organisational, and task management skills as well and I work well under pressure.
8. What impact do you hope to have on your department and clients in your new role?
As a trainer, I want to lead by example. I want to continue to succeed even though I am qualified and have a new role. I hope people will keep pushing to be the best version of themselves and keep progressing and developing new skills every day.
9. What feedback and advice would you give to others aspiring to become a Solicitor in the Winn Group?
My advice for people who are aspiring to become a solicitor in the Winn Group is to work on yourselves and progress yourselves. Let your work speak for itself and be an example to look up to. It is worth it if you work hard, it will be rewarding, and you will be recognised.
Ben
Senior Paralegal
1. What do you enjoy most about working at Winn Solicitors/Vehicle Damages Pre-Litigation?
I enjoy working alongside my colleagues and with management. People at Winn Solicitors have a nice collective spirit; everyone is willing to help and communicate challenges in the role and is always happy to assist.
2. How did you find the change from being a Junior Paralegal to being a Senior Paralegal?
The change from Junior Paralegal to Senior Paralegal was very rewarding. It is nice to be recognised for the hard work and commitment. I was supported throughout this transition, and it made it easier.
3. What motivated you to progress to a Senior Paralegal role within the VD Pre-litigation department?
I wanted to progress to a Senior Paralegal to gain more experience, work on further complex files and challenge myself. I wanted to be able to support the team in an official capacity.
4. What do you enjoy most about being a Senior Paralegal?
What I enjoy most about being a Senior Paralegal is having more complex files to work on, working with aged debt files and finding solutions for new challenges.
5. How do you manage your key responsibilities in your role? (i.e. Communicating and assisting your team, achieving targets, managing a healthy work/life balance)
I manage my key responsibilities in my role by staying organised and managing a balance between those different responsibilities. Being organised means that I can support others without decreasing the quality of my work.
6. What impact do you hope to have on your team and department?
I want to demonstrate the correct processes while working on each file. I also want to support the team. Once they reach the correct knowledge within their role, they will be able to assist others which ensures the department they are meeting their full potential.
7. What feedback and advice would you give to others aspiring for the role of a Senior Paralegal in Vehicle Damages Pre-Litigation?
I would advise my colleagues to take on challenges. If management asks you to do a certain task, it can be an interesting challenge you are rewarded for. Focus on the experience you can get.
Pre and Post-Ligation Teams
Discover what it's like to be part of our Pre and Post-Ligation Teams
First steps – A training plan in VD Pre-Lit team
We understand that working in the VD Pre-Lit team may be something new; we’ve got a dedicated five-week training program where staff are employed as a group, enjoying support and guidance throughout this time.
There is a mix of classroom sessions, practical learning, group exercises, and activities to assist the development in your roles.
Our learning and development team are embedded in the process, seeking to elevate your skills and confidence, allowing you to blossom in the role.
Progression opportunities
Progression is actively encouraged in this role, with Team Leaders and Senior Management keen to see you evolve and grow with the company, whatever the route.
Progression meetings are an important, and frequent, part of the process as we work with you to map out career progression based on your circumstances.
Here’s an example of how your career could evolve with us:
- Candidate employed as graduate junior Paralegal in VD Pre-Lit
- Candidate undertakes a five-week training program with the Training and Development team to develop soft skills, legal knowledge, and understanding of the process
- Candidate receives progression meeting three months into the role to discuss where they see their future at Winns
- Six-month probation takes place Candidate can then progress into any of the
- following roles: Senior Paralegal VD Pre-Lit; Management/Team Leader; Move to VD Post-Lit; Move to another department completely like Advocacy or Personal Injury; Qualification route via SQE or TC
Sourcing the best talent and giving them a chance to shine, Winns is the ideal organisation to work for. We can’t wait to welcome you to the team!
The Pre-Lit Team
The Pre-Lit team prepares litigation claims, seeking to recover outstanding heads of claim and readying files for court proceedings that may lie ahead.
There are a range of skills you’ll become proficient in including:
- Drafting particular claim and witness statements
- Engaging with clients and building your client care style
- Financial assessments File reviews, including reviewing evidence
- Negotiating settlement Readying files for transfer to our VD Post-Lit team
The Post-Lit Team
When working in the Pre-Litigation department, experience brings the opportunity to move into the Post-Litigation Team, an area of the organisation that is linked to Pre-Lit in the process but covers various skills.
After court proceedings are initiated, this team takes over a file. The majority of claims are vehicle damage only claims but our Official Injury Claims Portal also handles personal injury claims associated with lower value accidents.
The VD Post-Lit team will handle the claim from the beginning of court proceedings until the end, whether that is a trial or a negotiated settlement with the third party, but will usually involve the following skills:
- Drafting court documents to file and serve, with examples being witness statements and replies to defence
- Negotiating with third party solicitors
- Taking instructions from clients when drafting documents and negotiation
- Prepare bundles of documents for trial and brief our representative barrister
Apply Now
To start the application process, please complete the form below, upload your CV and include a covering letter
*Please note that by completing this form, you are agreeing to allow us to use your personal data according to our privacy policy which can be viewed here.
Winn Group is one of the country's leading claims management companies taking care of no win no fee accident claims from start to finish.