Sumaya Ali

• Management of Clinical Negligence pre-action cases for a number of NHS Foundation Trusts.

• Management and supervision of three Paralegals in the Clinical Negligence department.

• Responding to queries from the NHSLA, Claimant’s solicitors and Paralegals.

• Reviewing complex medical records and allegations of breach of duty and causation.

• Drafting Letters of Instructions, Letters of Response and Part 36 offers.

• Drafting Letters of Instructions for Supplementary reports and obtaining Causation, Condition and Prognosis evidence.

• Drafting letters to the NHSLA advising them on how to proceed with the case.

• Drafting witness statements.

• Assisting other fee earners with disclosure and drafting Orders.

• Conducting legal research as well as assessing quantum by applying JSB guidelines and case law.

• Other responsibilities include billing, attending court with counsel and secondments at NHS Foundation Trusts.

• Proposition and implementation of a media strategy for a Female Genital Mutilation seminar event and for the organisation as a whole. I structured the media strategy to fulfil the following objectives: raise awareness in the community and amongst professionals such as gynaecologists, obstetricians, nurses, community workers, counsellors and psychologists. Secondly, the media strategy was aimed at local authorities to help raise funds for educating and supporting families affected by FGM, including professionals who will be dealing with them.

• Designed, created and launched a new website as well as leaflets for upcoming events.

• Managed the workload of consultants within agreed KPIs and allocated new clients depending upon capacity and location.

• Introduced innovative processes to improve efficiency and consistency. This included the identification and integration of mapping software to create territories and sub-territories for the client allocation system. Meetings with clients were then booked dependent upon location and in a systematic manner so as to avoid consultants travelling to the same location on two consecutive days. As a result, the company reduced expenses on petrol and the consultants had more time in the office to do their paperwork. Due to its success, I was asked to implement the system for the Business Development Team.

• Managed client satisfaction and investigated the validity of complaints from dissatisfied clients.

• Created new processes by monitoring the areas in which we received complaints.

• Duties involved conducting legal research, creating jury bundles and e- filing. Demonstrating initiative, my role was broadened to encompass the responsibility of handling Clinical Risk Limited Instruction cases. Duties included analysing letters of claim, writing an expert enquiry to act, letters of instruction and summarising expert reports to assist with the preparation of letters of response.

• Assisted with the preparation of seminars including research and contacting potential attendees.

• Responded to queries from clients.

• Made travel arrangements.

• As the customer service representative, I took full responsibility for the quality of customer service delivered. I participated in business and team meetings regarding service planning in addition to assisting with the implementation and continual review of work systems.

• Handled petty cash and processed purchase orders for the Accounts department.

• As part of the Phoenix Committee, I organised social and sport activities for the office.

• Dealt with Court of Protection issues in Birmingham and Human Rights & Police Law in Sheffield.

• Conducted legal research.

• Drafted statements in support of legal aid forms and Letters before Action including grounds on Judicial Review.

• I was then hired to assist counsel at a number of Inquests whereby I developed an understanding of Prison Law and the duty of care owned to prisoners.

• Whilst working at Bevan Brittan Solicitors on a full time basis, I volunteered at Genesis Law Associates’ immigration legal clinic every weekend. Responsibilities included conducting legal research on European Union, National Immigration and Private International Law.

• Completed immigration forms and drafted Letters of Appeal.

• Fluency in Swahili and intermediate proficiency in Arabic enabled me to translate documents for clients.