While the cumulative value of the personal injury market in the UK may have declined through 2020, it was still worth an estimated £3.92 billion.
This is a vast and competitive market in which there is an almost constant demand for legal representation and an incredibly high turnover of challenging and often complex cases.
But how can you pursue a career in the lucrative personal injury sector? Here are some ideas to keep in mind:
#1. Understand the role of a personal injury lawyer
Simply put, a personal injury lawyer will provide actionable advice and representation to clients who have incurred a physical or psychological injury and subsequent financial loss.
To pursue a viable claim with the best possible chance of success, you’ll need to help your client demonstrate the impact of their injuries while linking these to an employer or third party and proving that they’re at least partially responsible.
As a personal injury lawyer, you’ll handle the process of proving your client’s case and collating all relevant evidence before overseeing any negotiations with the third party in question and delivering a settlement on behalf of your client.
As a result, you’ll require advanced skills in communication and negotiation while demonstrating empathy to clients and remaining patient as they struggle to come to terms with their injuries.
#2. What qualifications do you need?
There are two main academic routes to becoming a personal injury lawyer. Firstly, you can complete a three-year Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree in law, the most common pathway toward a career in the profession.
Secondly, you could complete an undergraduate degree in a relevant field (such as healthcare) before undertaking a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).
Regardless, you’ll have to undertake a Legal Practice Course (LPC), combining academic studies with practical workplace experience.
During this time, you can seek a potential training contract within a specialist personal injury law firm, guaranteeing a relevant outlet for your skills and enabling you to find a job role in which you can add optimal value.
#3. Consider professional skills courses and training modules
Ultimately, working as a personal injury lawyer involves many facets, with many of the skills required relatively transferable and applicable to a broad range of industries and professional applications.
So, undertaking Professional Skills Course and Training modules can add genuine value and boost your career prospects as an individual, enabling you to enhance your existing skills in communication, negotiation, and relationship building.
These skills are central to understanding your client’s needs and delivering a desirable outcome to their claim, whether you consider the need to keep your client updated at all times or the importance of negotiating an amicable settlement that reflects an individual’s loss of earnings.
