London Job Description
The Senior Aviation Solicitor is responsible for providing leadership and management to the Aviation Department, and for providing expert legal services to its clients. The Senior Aviation Solicitor personally conducts litigation on behalf of the Department’s airline clients and also supervises the conduct of litigation by the other lawyers in the Department. The Department’s work principally consists of defending money claims in the County Court, brought on the basis of Regulation (EC) 261/2004, but also includes a variety of other litigation and advisory work. The Senior Aviation Solicitor takes personal responsibility for litigating the more complex and strategically significant cases. S/he also has primary day-to-day supervisory and management responsibility for the Department’s other solicitors and staff, including paralegals and claims coordinators. The Senior Aviation Solicitor maintains close personal contacts with the Department’s airline clients, building strong relationships with in-house legal personnel and ensuring that the Department’s services fully meet each client’s particular needs. The Senior Aviation Solicitor manages the development and improvement of internal processes, templates and training systems. S/he also assists in promoting the work of the Company generally and of the Aviation Department, in particular, contributing to the acquisition of new business.
Core Skills (Should Have)
• A current SRA practising certificate entitling the candidate to practise as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales is an essential and non-negotiable requirement. Applications from those not immediately eligible for such a certificate cannot be considered.
•Relevant law degree or postgraduate law qualification in the UK or EU
•An excellent level of spoken and written English
•A minimum of 5 years’ post-qualification experience in litigation/dispute resolution
•Strong leadership skills
•Computer literacy
•Ability to multi-task and prioritise
•Highly organised; able to be productive, flexible and comfortable in a performance-driven environment
•Superior research skills
•Strong client relationship skills; the ability to establish positive, cooperative and professional relationships, both internal and external
•Being highly trustworthy, discreet, and able to show good judgement
•Able to work well under pressure, without sacrificing a high attention to detail
•Excellent oral and written communication skills
•Ability to work autonomously
•Self-aware, with a commitment to using feedback to learn and develop as a professional.
Core Skills (Nice to Have)
• Experience in Aviation law and/or familiarity with the aviation industry
•Prior managerial/supervisory experience
•Second language