Associate

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.  RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 5th best law firm to work at in 2024.

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 team currently comprises over 50 specialist lawyers, including eight partners, making us one of the largest Private Client Advisory teams in the East of England. We have the strength and depth of expertise to ensure we deliver the service you would expect in respect of technical quality, practical approach and timeliness of advice. We act as trusted advisers to individuals, families, trustees, family or owner-run businesses and trust companies both in the UK and internationally. We place particular priority on continuity and fostering close long-term relationships with contacts and clients in order to provide practical advice and commercial solutions on a very wide variety of tax, trust and estate planning situations that arise.

We also work very closely with our large Agricultural team advising farming families and Landed Estates on succession and tax planning.

Manage a varied caseload involving all aspects of wills, trusts, tax, estate and succession planning. You will be acting with other team members where appropriate.  You would manage your own smaller, simpler files and liaise with other team members on larger or more complex matters.

Taking ownership of interaction with clients, their other advisers and intermediaries generally to grow your and the department’s practice.

Take client’s instructions and advise on the law, tax and legal practical commercial issues.

Draft relevant deeds, documents, advice notes, letters and correspondence tailored to the client’s individual needs and requirements.

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Running and managing files
• Interacting directly with clients and managing their expectations
• Drafting documents
• Assisting senior members of the team as required
• Business development

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a dynamic and growing team dealing with high quality and varied Private Client Advisory work.

• Associate Solicitor 3 - 6 years PQE
• You will have high attention to detail to produce work/ documentation which is consistently of a high standard with a flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are always met and clients are communicated with on a consistent and regular basis
• You will have an interest in and aptitude for business development
• Excellent computer/technical skills in particular working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of software including Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to communicate with colleagues at all levels of seniority and liaise effectively with other internal departments and external contacts
• Good organisational skills, able to prioritise, make decisions and work effectively within a sometimes pressurised environment
• Commitment to ongoing learning and development

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 

• 25 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