This is an opportunity to work within a market-leading, internationally recognised team, acting on high-profile, high-value and complex claims arising from life-changing injuries and fatalities overseas and in aviation contexts.

The Aviation and International Injury department has a premier reputation in the UK and internationally, acting for claimants in some of the most prominent aviation and cross-border injury cases in the sector.

• The Aviation team represents severely injured passengers and the families of those killed in aviation accidents worldwide.
• The International Injury team represents UK residents injured overseas and foreign nationals seriously injured in the UK.

The department has more senior lawyers ranked in Chambers and Legal 500, and more APIL-accredited partners in Accidents Abroad, than any other firm, offering an exceptional environment for professional development and collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

Case management and litigation

• Take initial instructions, assess merits and suitability, and undertake preliminary legal research.
• Manage complex, high-value international injury and fatal accident claims, including those involving jurisdictional and choice of law issues.
• Conduct litigation from inception to conclusion, including pre-action and post-issue stages.
• Draft pleadings (including schedules of loss), witness statements, reports and detailed advice.
• Select, instruct and manage experts, counsel and, when applicable overseas cocounsel.
• Prepare disclosure lists and trial bundles.
• Appear at procedural hearings including undertaking advocacy when appropriate.
• Utilise ADR where appropriate.

Client care

• Maintain regular, sensitive and professional communication with seriously injured clients and bereaved families, including families resident overseas and/or with those who do not speak English.
• Explain fee structures clearly and keep clients informed of costs and any changes to estimates throughout the life of the case.

Costs and  financial management

• Work closely with the in-house Costs team to prepare budgets, estimates and
  schedules.
• Maximise cost recovery through negotiation and costs assessment proceedings.
• Record time accurately and manage WIP, billing and cash collection effectively.

Supervision and leadership

• Delegate effectively to junior solicitors, trainees and paralegals, setting clear boundaries and expectations.
• Provide supervision, support, mentoring and constructive feedback.
• Conduct performance appraisals and support development and progression within the team.
  • Take responsibility for day-to-day conduct of matters, pro-actively seeking input
  from the supervising partner in accordance with our supervisory procedures and
  on an ad hoc bases including in relation strategic decision-making on complex
  cases.

Business development and profile

• Demonstrate strong commercial awareness and contribute to the growth of the
  practice.
• Build and maintain effective client and referrer relationships.
• Contribute to marketing initiatives, publications, seminars and public speaking.
• Participate in and, where appropriate, lead business development pitches.
• Develop a personal profile and reputation within the aviation and/or international injury market including via annual attendance at an international injury themed conference.

Knowledge sharing

• Actively contribute to internal know-how and training.
• Share expertise across the department and wider firm.
• Support innovation and the effective use of technology, including AI, to enhance client service

Apply today

To apply for a vacancy, please email our Recruitment team at careers@stewartslaw.com with a covering letter and full CV. Please also include where you have seen our listing.

Please note, we are happy to receive speculative applications. If you are interested in any of Stewarts’ departments that are not listed below, please submit an application and our Recruitment team will be in touch should they identify a suitable position for you.

Equal Opportunities Statement

The principles of inclusion, equal opportunity and diversity are important to us, and we aim to recruit and retain the best people at all levels of the firm. We aim to create an inclusive culture that respects people’s differences and gives everyone a chance to excel at what they do. The ability, dedication and technical excellence of our people are critical to the successes we achieve for our clients. Therefore, we welcome all applications from potentially suitable candidates.

Reasonable Adjustments for Interviews

We are happy to support with any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. We appreciate the thought you will have given to how your disability might impact your ability to participate in the recruitment process and welcome any information on potential adjustments that may be of help. We would like to remind candidates of the Access to Work scheme should this be of assistance.

Experience and qualifications

Essential

• Minimum 6 years’ PQE largely or exclusively in serious/catastrophic or international injury claims.
• Strong academic background: minimum 2:1 law degree (or non-law degree with relevant postgraduate qualification) and LPC (or equivalent).

Desirable

• Experience of claims involving international elements (jurisdiction and/or applicable law).
• Additional languages.
• APIL Accreditations in Accidents Abroad, Spinal, Brain and /or Fatal claims
• LLM in Private International Law.
• Dual qualification in US or Europe.

Personal attributes

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage sensitively with injured clients and their families.
• Sound judgement, strong analytical ability and practical problem-solving skills.
• High attention to detail and strong organisational skills.
• Collaborative, supportive and committed team player.
• Demonstrates professionalism and reflects the firm’s culture and values.