Solicitor

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Solicitor (0-4 years PQE) to join the Agriculture department in our Lincoln office.

Wilkin Chapman LLP is the largest law firm in Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire, with an unrivalled breadth and depth of expertise and experience.

We are distinguished by our approachability, innovation and commitment to providing the best service we can to our clients along with achieving and maintaining quality standards.

We believe that this quality, service-led approach is also reflected by the number of accreditations and recommendations that the firm regularly achieves with the UK's leading legal directories, such as Legal 500, Chambers UK and is ranked 111 in The Lawyer UK’s top 200 law firms by turnover.

The successful candidate will be joining a well-established team of specialist Agricultural property Solicitors who provide advice to landowners and tenants including on matters:

• Acquisition and sale of farms and farmland
• Lettings, licences and contract farming arrangements
• Renewable energy projects
• Tenancy matters
• Easements/wayleaves/utility and telecommunications leases
• Property finance
• Assisting other teams on project-based work for farming clients.

This role will suit an aspiring Solicitor who is looking to develop specialist skills within a supportive environment, gain more responsibility and prove themselves in an established team and Firm.

• To work collaboratively as part of a team including assisting and seeking assistance from your colleagues especially on those technical areas which are new to you.
• Conduct all matters in the client's best interest and in accordance with the highest professional standards and applicable "quality" standards at all times.
• Maintain files in a neat and orderly state and ensure that each file is reviewed and recorded as having been reviewed against the computer printout supplied by the Accounts Department every month, unless there is a valid reason marked on the file for not so doing.
• Maintain electronic time recording on client matters on a daily basis.
• Regularly update clients as to the current situation of their case.
• Deal with routine and difficult enquiries effectively and efficiently and ensure that any client complaints are dealt with both professionally and promptly.
• Be responsible for the quality of work produced for you by support staff.
• Understand the obligations relating to client accounts and ensure the preparation and service of bills comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules.
• Achieve financial targets agreed with the Department Head.
• Attend business development events as agreed with the Department Head.
• Be supportive towards and help your colleagues.
• Delegate appropriate work to junior colleagues
• Refer on work for which it would be more appropriate for other Departments to deal with.
• To ensure compliance with Law Society Training Regulations.

Successful applicants need to possess:

• 0- 4 years post qualification experience.
• Property experience is desirable, but full training will be given to newly qualified candidates.
• An interest in or a desire to work in the Agricultural sector.

Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate:

• Excellent teamworking and technical ability;
• A positive and proactive approach to tasks;
• Effective client relationship skills;
• Ability to adopt commercial as well as legal approach to client issues;
• Ability to business develop and network;
• Excellent IT skills;
• Understanding and adopting the Firm’s values and behaviours. 

Wilkin Chapman is an equal opportunities employer that values diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religious practice or any other perceived differences.  We are an armed forces friendly employer.

Our Values

All that we do is shaped by our five values: Service, Teamwork, Approachability, Innovation and Commitment to achieving results. These values are the bedrock of Wilkin Chapman, they define who and what we are - they underpin everything that we do. For more information on our values, please click here.

If you have any queries regarding this position, please contact recruitment@wilkinchapman.co.uk.