Senior Associate

Location

Chelmsford, Essex | United Kingdom

Job description

PQE:

8 years +

Permanent

Full-time (37.5 Mon to Fri (or Part time considered))

Family

Chelmsford

The firm

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 500 lawyers and legal professionals based in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: property, corporate services, litigation and private client advisory.

We are defined by our next level law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 40% of our partnership.

The department

The highly regarded family team, ranked in Chambers and Legal 500, specialising in Divorce and Financial Provision, private Children Act Matters, pre and post nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements and Family Law Act applications.  The team has a strong stream of work including High Net Worth and complex Children Act issues.

Purpose of job

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a dynamic market leading family department dealing with high quality work. We are looking for a Senior Associate Solicitor or Legal Director who is a trained Mediator or who is willing to train as a mediator.Extensive experience or interest in High Net Worth matters or complex private Children Act matters an advantage.

Accountabilities

The team has grown in recent years and they are looking to expand further in the next 12 months.They are seeking a Senior Associate or Legal Director who is keen to contribute to that growth in Chelmsford and beyond, whether they have previously practiced locally or further afield.The ideal candidate will work in a team helping to supervise and grow junior lawyers whilst maintaining a caseload and contributing to the expansion of the client base.

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Running and managing files and delegating to junior lawyers and trainees as appropriate
• Advocacy, where appropriate
• Running larger/more complex matters
• Interacting directly with clients and managing their expectations
• Assisting with business development

The candidate

• A Solicitor / Associate of 8 years PQE + gained within a strong regional or City firm
• Strong academic background
• A high attention to detail to produce work/ documentation which is consistently of a high standard
• Experience of all aspects of family law, with a particular skill in dealing with corporate/commercial clients
• Strong understanding of Company law  an advantage
• To have a flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are always met and clients are communicated with on a consistent and regular basis
• Interest in and aptitude for business development

Equal opportunities

We are committed to recruiting individuals on merits of suitability for each role, on the basis of qualifications and experience. All applications are treated fairly and equally regardless of sexual orientation, race, disability, religious beliefs and any other protected characteristic, ensuring that there are equal opportunities at all stages of the recruitment process.

Core Benefits 

• 30 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share / Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance   - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid ESG day (Environmental, Social and Governance)
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Eye Care Voucher
• Agile Working Policy
• Dress for your Day Policy

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where ourcolleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile and part time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.

Job tags

Salary