Solicitor

Shakespeare Martineau is a Top 50 law firm that combines creativity, commerciality and clarity. We work with blue-chip companies, leading organisations, high street brands and individuals across the country.

As enterprising and original thinkers, we’re driven to create exceptional experiences for our clients and our people. We handle personal and business-critical issues and game-changing deals across many dynamic sectors. It’s stimulating and rewarding.

We’re hardworking and deeply ambitious about creating opportunities for our employees; to move forward and achieve our ambition together. We provide an environment in which you’re supported to reach your potential.

Our people have a blend of excellent technical and business skills with the talent to do things differently.

Here you’ll find top quality work, cutting edge training, high profile clients, and supportive colleagues. We think it could be time you joined us.

Our multi-disciplinary Real Estate group is highly regarded by our clients and within the sector. It comprises not only lawyers but also town and country planners. We’ve brought experts into our services in planning, development, investment, landlord and tenant matters, social housing, construction and litigation with a particular emphasis on energy, housing, education, finance and investment funds.

Our Property Finance team has extensive experience in advising banks, building societies and other funders including property investors and developers. We are one of the largest teams in the West Midlands with a team of around 30 people experienced in Islamic finance issues alone. We advise our clients on a variety of matters including development finance, facility letters, guarantees, investment finance, loan book management, LPA receivership, priority/subordination deeds, security documents and short-term lending.

The role:

We are looking for a Newly Qualified ‘NQ’-3yr PQE Solicitor to join our Birmingham-based Property Finance team. 

You will work within the team to provide a quality service to clients in Real Estate, specialising in Islamic Finance.

Your key duties will be:

• providing assistance to a team of experienced lawyers on a broad range of Property Finance work
• handling a caseload of large complex deals, alongside straightforward matters
• running cases efficiently and cost effectively and within strict service level agreements as required by the client
• dealing with clients and third parties in a professional manner, maintaining close and regular contact, as required
• maintaining good file management, including electronic and paper storage, archiving and filing
• assisting and supervising more junior fee earners within the team
• taking telephone calls, handling queries and enquiries, where appropriate
• photocopying, scanning and collating documentation
• opening and closing files, as required
• handling enquiries efficiently
• working to strict deadlines

Skills and experience you will have:

• up to 3yr’s previous experience in a similar role dealing with Property Finance matters (for Newly Qualified candidates, relevant experience gained during your training contract is essential)
• confidence with IT skills, particular Microsoft Word and Excel
• previous experience in using a case management system
• good file management
• an appreciation of office financial procedures

Key competencies you will need:

• a desire to exceed client expectations
• strong negotiation and communication skills
• the ability to build rapport with colleagues and clients alike
• a high degree of initiative and the ability to cope in a demanding environment
• excellent organisational and prioritising skills

About you – you will be:

• highly enthusiastic, willing to go the extra mile and be happy to go beyond the job description
• respectful towards others and have a positive, willing and ‘can do’ attitude
• keen to learn, interested in driving your own career progression and be proactive in taking ownership of this

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted. Details of the checks can be found here.

Shakespeare Martineau is a committed equal opportunities employer. We seek to attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. We value and respect individuality and encourage a culture within our business where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths and experiences. Everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.