Legal Help Manager

Role Overview:

Our client is seeking an experienced Legal Help Manager to oversee the legal help claims process, manage a team, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. This role requires a detail-oriented professional with strong leadership and technical expertise in legal help and civil billing.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Legal Help Claim Approval & Compliance
   • Review and approve all legal help claims prepared by fee-earners prior to submission.
   • Ensure that ledger rates, funding evidence, and supporting documentation are accurate and fully compliant with regulations.
   • Minimise rejections, appeals, and lost costs through meticulous review and continuous process improvements.
2. Billing & File Management
   • Monitor and action dormant file reports to ensure timely billing of legal help files upon case conclusion.
   • Oversee the submission of EC claims within required timeframes.
   • Work closely with the Head of Civil Billing to enhance billing processes and maximise profitability.
3. Team Management & Development
   • Lead and support a small team, with the potential to recruit additional staff as the department grows.
   • Develop and implement training programs to improve efficiency, compliance, and overall team performance.
   • Provide ongoing guidance and support to fee-earners (approx. 115 civil and family team members) on legal help-related queries.
4. Strategic Planning & Reporting
   • Collaborate with the Head of Civil Billing to set and meet departmental targets.
   • Contribute to the development and execution of the strategy for legal help claims and civil billing.
   • Identify and implement process improvements to drive operational efficiencies.
5. Process Development & Expansion
   • Over time, expand the team and manage additional staff to handle legal help billing, thereby freeing up fee-earner capacity.
6. Compliance & Audit Preparation
   • Ensure full adherence to relevant regulations, including:
     • Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012
     • Standard Civil Contract and Specification
     • Costs Assessment Guidance (2018/2024)
   • Support the firm during Legal Aid Agency audits and assist with audit preparations.

Required Experience & Skills:

• Extensive experience in legal help, EC claims, and associated funding regulations.
• Prior management experience in a legal billing environment.
• Strong understanding of Legal Aid Agency requirements and audit processes.
• Excellent organisational skills and a keen eye for detail.
• Proven ability to train, manage, and develop a growing team.

Due to the high volume of applications, Aspire Recruitment can only contact short-listed candidates for the role. However, we encourage you to apply for future positions placed by Aspire Recruitment.