Position Description

Title: Recoveries and Third Parties Litigation Technician
Industry: Insurance
Reporting To: Legal Assistant Manager and Legal Manager
Location: East Rand

Summary:

Our client based on the East Rand are seeking a qualified, vibrant and driven RECOVERY AND THIRD PARTIES LITIGATION TECHNICIAN to be responsible for efficient processing of claims that have reached the litigation stage. You will act as the liaison between appointed attorneys and the legal team in conveying legal terms and processes

Minimum Requirements:

• Matric Certificate
• Regulatory Exam
• Formal Degree in Law – Preferential
• Higher Certificate in Short term Insurance – NQF 5 or Full Qualification NQF 4 – highly advantageous
• Class of Business certification (Personal Lines & Commercial Lines) – Highly advantageous
• Must be compliant with FAIS Fit and Proper requirements with track-record of working unsupervised
• Computer literate Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook essential
• Training or Understanding of the rules of the road, Law of Delict, Apportionments Act
• 3-5 years short term insurance experience.
• Work experience within a legal department dealing with recoveries, third party claims and litigation processes – highly advantageous.
• Work experience in client service (dealing with clients / brokers and other stakeholders)
• Claims experience – highly advantageous

Duties and Responsibilities:

Litigation portfolio

• Appointing attorneys on matters authorised for Instituted or Defended litigation
• In appointing attorneys to clearly communicate expected / acceptable settlement negotiations as directed by Management in both Instituted and Defended matters.
• Attending timeously to attorney / Key Clients requests for information, documents and tracing
• Request updates as required /specified from attorneys on record and deliver updates to Key Clients free from Jargon
• Manage expectations of Key Clients in relation to possible outcome of litigious matter
• Processing payments of attorney invoices in a timeous manner
• Monitoring Attorney invoices to ensure fair and reasonable
• Ensure that attorneys are in possession of all relevant and required documents / information to best represent the interest of Key Clients
• Summarising and Referring files to Management with opinion/ recommendations on settlement proposals as received from attorneys and relaying recommendations to Attorneys
• Monitoring legal costs on ongoing Instituted and Defended litigation matters
• Manage a large portfolio effectively, ensuring correct reserving as well as timeous and regular updates on matters that have turned dormant and matters that are coming up for trial
• Re-imbursement of Excesses on successful Instituted claims
• Timeous payment of Defended claims as agreed on Offer of Settlement
• Timeous signing and commissioning of Discovery Affidavits and communicating with Attorneys for collection of same

General departmental requirements

• Accurate updating of fields and activity on relevant claim on system A (TIAL) and Econorisk (TIAL)
• Accurate reporting on monthly and ad-hoc basis of current defended portfolio, reserves & possible exposure
• Accurate reporting on monthly and ad-hoc basis of the current instituted portfolio, reserves and settled matters awaiting payments
• Ensure all communication between Key Clients and attorneys is attached to relevant claim and clearly marked on System. (Internal communications to be marked as confidential)
• Adherence to Litigation Standard Operating Procedures
• Keeping all litigation tasks up to date (Externals)
• Keeping all litigation stats up to date (Manual until System Reports finalised)
• Keeping all filing and mail of litigation matters up to date

Broker standards/ client satisfaction

• Advising Key Clients of outcome of litigation files. (Should the outcome be abandoned before prescription, to inform Key Clients)
• Responding to broker update requests effectively without legal jargon
• Providing information to client and attorneys for RAF or SCC claims where necessary / requested

Management of own area of control

• Processed documentation is filed appropriately
• Annual archiving of documentation is done
• Minute taking during departmental meetings, one on one and other formal / informal discussions
• Ensure that an accurate record is kept of all new litigation matters received in the department
• Ensure that all scanning is done accurately and documents attached to correct claim on System
• Ensure that all email & telephonic communication is attached and labeled correctly to relevant claim
• Monitor turn-around times on both institute and defended matters settled to ensure payments made as per signed settlement agreement. Where institute payments are not received timeously, to instruct attorneys accordingly to proceed as required
• Maintaining professional behavior and work ethic
• Meet deadlines set out
• Be punctual and
• Exhibit the company’s core values

Competencies Required:

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills. Should be adaptable in style to the audience and context
• Driven, self-motivated and results oriented
• Committed to adhering to and delivering on internal and external turnaround times.
• Continuously Learning and committed to self-development
• Must have high inner values of Honesty, Integrity and Reliability
• Must be adaptable to change within own working environment and insurance/ legal environment
• Strategic and solution-based thinking
• Must be able to work effectively in a diverse team environment
• Effective Time management and planning
• Demonstrate high levels of client centricity
• Assessing of merits and applying of relevant case law to best represent client and company
• Attention to detail
• Strong listening skills
• Independent thinking and demonstrate initiative
• Legal documents drafting & commissioning of Discovery Affidavits
• Familiarity or experience with courts litigious processes and Legal Jargon

Package on Offer:

• Highly negotiable based on qualifications and experience