Healthcare Litigation Solicitor (NQ to 3 years PQE)

Healthcare Litigation Solicitor - NQ to 3 Years' PQE

Leading NI Commercial Law Firm -Tier 1 Healthcare Team

Belfast, Hybrid - Competitive salary + benefits

Conekt Legal is currently working with a leading NI Commercial Law Firm to recruit a litigation solicitor into their Tier 1 Legal 500 ranked healthcare practice. This is a really exciting opportunity for a solicitor who is NQ to 3 years to specialise in a very technical area of law with real court exposure from the outset.

This role would suit a litigation solicitor with previous experience in any area of litigation who is keen and interested in specialising in healthcare. We will also consider a strong NQ with a previous seat in any litigation area.

Why this one

• Specialise early, in a field where deep technical knowledge is genuinely valued and hard to replicate
• Court and tribunal exposure from the start, inquests, fitness to practise hearings and litigation, not just paperwork
• A Tier 1, independently recognised practice with a reputation that carries weight in both the legal and medical professions
• Complex, high-stakes cases with real client contact
• Cross-jurisdictional work across NI and Ireland
• Structured supervision and clear progression in a team that has been building this expertise for decades
• Hybrid working and a competitive package

The team

One of the largest and most established healthcare teams on the island of Ireland, and the go-to practice for defence and regulatory work in the sector. The team acts for medical defence organisations, malpractice insurers, private clinics, health and social care providers and care home operators, as well as individual practitioners across medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and optometry. The work spans both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The work

A varied contentious and advisory caseload, with responsibility built up as you develop:

• Defending clinical negligence and medical malpractice claims for insurers, defence organisations and practitioners
• Fitness to practise proceedings before the GMC, GDC, NMC and the equivalent regulators in Ireland, plus regulatory appeals and PSA references
• Regulatory enforcement and registration matters, including RQIA action
• Inquests, public inquiries and disciplinary investigations by Trusts or commissioning bodies
• Serious incident investigations, complaints handling and Ombudsman referrals
• Information governance, data protection, confidentiality, FOI and subject access requests
• Policy reviews and medico-legal training for clients

Expect early exposure to hearings and inquests, close work with medical experts, and direct contact with clinician and insurer clients under proper supervision.

About you

Strong NQs are actively encouraged to apply. A seat in any area of litigation is enough, clinical negligence, personal injury, insurance, commercial, employment, regulatory, public law or general disputes. Healthcare experience is genuinely not required. What matters is:

• Qualified, or due to qualify, up to around 3 years' PQE (NI or ROI qualified)
• Some grounding in contentious work from a training seat or early PQE role
• An appetite to specialise properly rather than stay a generalist, this is a technical, evidence-heavy area where expertise compounds year on year
• Previous experience of managing busy caseloads and strong organisational skills
• Excellent communication skills and able to work effectively with clients
• High levels of attention to detail and good legal drafting skills

Interested, or just curious?

All conversations are confidential and you don't need a CV to start. Happy to share the full spec and salary guidance so you can make an informed decision.

Lindsey McCracken, Founder & Director, Conekt Legal

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