As a new business advisor in the commercial litigation and dispute resolution team at Stephensons, my role revolves around being the first point of contact for clients who have potential disputes or legal issues involving their businesses. My job involves taking full details of their potential case, providing a quote where appropriate, obtaining the relevant documents and referring their case to the team.
Morning: starting the day with new enquiries
My day begins at 8.30am when I log in to check the latest emails and review my to do list. Our new enquiries are split into two inboxes: dispute resolution and commercial litigation. These enquiries can come from many sources from existing clients, referrals from other professionals, other departments within Stephensons or via our website enquiry form.
One of the first things I do every morning is review any new enquiries that have come in overnight. These could range from contract disputes, debt recovery, insolvency, or consumer disputes. Each enquiry involves speaking with potential new clients to understand the nature of their issue and determine whether it’s something that our team can assist with.
The initial conversation with the potential new client is all about gathering key information. Our team needs to understand the basics of the dispute: when did it arise, what led to it, who is involved. The aim of this conversation is to gather a clear timeline of events and identify the key issues, allowing the potential case to either be quoted or be sent to the team for further a deeper assessment.
Mid-Morning: gathering information and initial assessment
By mid-morning, I am usually diving deeper into the specifics of these new enquiries. Commercial litigation or commercial disputes often require a lot more detail, so I spend this time gathering supporting documents such as contracts, emails, or correspondence that clarify the potential case. This helps our team to assess the case thoroughly and decide if it is something our team can assist with.
Once a quote has been provided and accepted by the client, I ensure the client’s file is fully updated, including all relevant correspondence. This enables the team to have a comprehensive view of the case and ensures they are fully informed about the client’s situation. Once full instructions have taken place, the updated file is sent to the team for a thorough review. After a solicitor is assigned, the client is promptly contacted. If, for any reason, we are unable to proceed with a case, we always provide a clear and valid explanation.
Afternoon: dealing with new enquiries and preparing for tomorrow.
After lunch, I am often sifting through new enquiries that have come in throughout the day. There are always new enquiries coming into the boxes as well as incoming calls from either new clients or existing clients looking for assistance with their legal issues. This will start the process again allowing me to gather information and provide quotes when appropriate.
Before I finish for the day, I take time to update case files and ensure all client details are recorded accurately. As a new business advisor, attention to detail is critical – I ensure that all notes, timelines, and documents are in order, so the legal team has everything they need to assess and act on the case. I also review my to-do list for the following day, prioritising any clients that require a follow-up. This could mean reaching out to clients for further information, setting up meetings, or reviewing documentation, making sure we have everything we need to assess the potential claim.
By Kimberley Knapper, new business advisor
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