A Huddersfield-based law firm, First4InjuryClaims, announced that it has employed 10 local graduates and apprentices in less than two years since its inception.
Focusing solely on Road Traffic Accident (RTA) cases, First4InjuryClaims has secured over £3 million in compensation for claimants.
The firm’s growing caseload has driven the expansion of its dedicated team, entrusted with overseeing cases from the initial inquiry phase to final settlements. Among the recent additions to the team are nine graduates hailing either from Huddersfield or the town’s university. Additionally, three team members have advanced their careers through internal promotions, taking on greater responsibilities.
Andrew Wild, the head of legal operations at First4InjuryClaims, traces his commitment to supporting local young talent back to the inception of his own legal journey.
Wild recounts, “I started a business degree but soon realised it wasn’t for me and quit after two weeks. Instead, I sent my CV off to a load of law firms, one of which decided to take a chance on me and gave me a job for a year.
“I went back to university to do law but ended up working there in the summer, training and qualifying and progressing right through to being an associate.
“I was given that opportunity and so I’ve always been very passionate about doing the same, giving someone those first steps in their legal career.”
First4InjuryClaims was set up in 2021 to deal with the RTA enquiries that continued to come through the First4Lawyers group, despite it ceasing marketing activity in that area following the whiplash reforms. The firm specializes exclusively in RTA work and, for cases with lower claim values, boasts settlement times approximately 100 days faster on average compared to the 250-day duration faced by claimants using the government’s Official Injury Claim portal (OIC).
Commenting on the firm’s trajectory, Andrew Wild remarks, “Our success is partly attributable to our status as a new firm, which spared us the task of overhauling old systems. This allowed us to construct novel approaches that harmonized with those of the OIC.”
He concludes, “This juncture presents an intriguing opportunity for newcomers to learn about the functioning of a thriving RTA practice post-reform, and we take pride in supporting the upcoming generation as they step into the legal profession.”
Image: First4InjuryClaims
Josie Geistfeld
Josie Geistfeld is Editor of Yorkshire Legal News. She welcomes comments and questions.