Head of Litigation Department

Norwich (2-3 days each week), Loddon, Ipswich, Halesworth or Great Yarmouth

Are you an experienced litigator who enjoys leading people as much as running cases? This is an opportunity to take responsibility for an established Litigation Department within a fast-growing East Anglian law firm where culture, personality and leadership ability genuinely matter. Are you someone who can confidently run their own litigation caseload, support and develop others and take day-to-day responsibility for the department?

• A genuine Head of Department role: This isn't simply a senior fee earning position with a management title attached. You will have responsibility for the day-to-day running of the department, its people, performance and continued development.
• An existing team to lead: You will provide day-to-day leadership and particularly support the solicitor as they develop towards handling increasingly complex matters.
• A broad litigation practice: The intention is to maintain and grow a broad civil and commercial disputes offering rather than build the department around one particular specialism.
• Choice of office base: You can be based from Norwich, Loddon, Ipswich, Halesworth or Great Yarmouth. As the existing Litigation team is based in Norwich, there will be a requirement to spend a minimum of 2-3 days each week in the Norwich office. Being visible and accessible to the team is an important part of this leadership role. There is also flexibility to work from home when needed.
• A growing firm where you can have an impact: The firm has grown rapidly in two years, but is very conscious of protecting the culture that has developed alongside that growth.

The role

This is a combination of hands-on litigation, people management and departmental leadership. You will continue to run your own caseload while taking responsibility for the performance, people and standards of the Litigation Department. The firm's approach is that a Head of Department should run their area almost as a small business within the wider firm, while still having the support and oversight of the Directors.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Running your own civil and commercial litigation caseload
• Day-to-day management of the team
• Supervising, supporting and team development
• Monitoring workloads, chargeable hours and targets
• Overseeing departmental billing, WIP and fee income
• Working with Credit Control on aged debt
• Maintaining and developing professional referrer relationships
• Representing the department at networking and business development events
• Working with the firm's Business Growth Team on new opportunities and lead conversion
• Overseeing file standards, compliance, complaints and risk
• Reporting regularly to the Directors on departmental performance, staffing, pipeline and risk

The role carries a personal billing target, alongside responsibility for the wider performance of the department.

What kind of litigation background?

There is quite a lot of flexibility here. The current practice includes work across:

• Commercial and civil disputes
• Contract disputes
• Debt recovery
• Construction disputes
• Landlord and tenant matters
• Consumer rights claims

Experience of property litigation could also be particularly interesting. There is already strong landlord and tenant knowledge within the existing team, so you certainly don't need to specialise in that area yourself. Similarly, contentious probate isn't required, as this work is covered by a separate team. What is more important is having a solid litigation background, being comfortable with a varied disputes practice and having the ability to lead and develop the department.

Experience?

Previous Head of Department experience would certainly be useful, but isn't essential. The role is ideal for someone who can demonstrate that they are ready to step into leadership. You might therefore already be a Partner, Head of Department or senior lawyer managing a team. Alternatively, you could be an experienced litigator who already supervises junior colleagues, you are used to getting involved in departmental decisions and are ready to take the next step.

About you

We are more interested in the person than an exact PQE number. Cultural fit, maturity and capability are more important than simply counting years since qualification. You will need to be a Solicitor qualified in England and Wales, with a track record of running your own litigation caseload with minimal supervision. You should also be comfortable with the commercial side of running a department, including billing, WIP and aged debt. You won't, however, be expected to make significant financial decisions alone, with the Directors retaining oversight and sign-off. Existing referral relationships in East Anglia would be useful but are desirable rather than essential.

A leadership role with support

Although you will have genuine responsibility for the day-to-day running of the department, this isn't a situation where you are handed the team and expected to deal with everything alone. The Directors retain close oversight of significant people decisions, financial matters and risk, while the Head of Department manages the everyday operation and development of the team. That could make this particularly attractive to someone taking their first formal Head of Department role, as well as an established manager who prefers a collaborative leadership structure.

The culture

This is probably one of the most important parts of the appointment. We are ambitious, honest and human. Expectations are high and the pace is real, but that doesn't translate into an expectation of long hours or weekend working.