Associate / Senior Associate

About us

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals based in Bristol, 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: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

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 you will join

The Residential Property team is a team of 65+ members operating out of six offices but working together as one team.

Within the team there are various specialist sectors. We have a vacancy to fill in the team which will involve acting on routine residential property transactions as well as more complex and the high end matters with a focus on the Norwich marketplace.

The Norwich team currently comprises seven fee earners and three assistants working alongside team-wide support pools (file opening and completions).

The work you will be doing

You will provide fee earning support for a rapidly growing sector with a focus on technical excellence and business development.

The role will suit a candidate with a following and marketplace presence and who is able to actively and effectively grow the Norwich-based practice.

The candidate will need to be forward-thinking with an ability to embrace new technologies with a particular focus on AI

Accountabilities:

• Acting for a range of clients from from high net worth individuals to corporate entities on a diverse range of residential real estate matters
• Acting on the purchase, sale and financing of routine and complex freehold/leasehold and high value properties
• Working alongside and developing relationships with local agents including high end property finders and estate agents
• Acting on main stream residential conveyancing to support the wider practice
• Providing technical support to the local team members including overseeing and training of junior team members as the need arises
• Being actively involved with developing and implementing the Norwich team business development plan
• Instil the Birketts’ culture and brand signatures and values throughout the team
• Working with the Norwich Team Leader to explore new work types and opportunities for diversification

What we are looking for

• Solicitor, Legal Executive (with practicing rights) or Licensed Conveyancer with at least six years' PQE gained at a strong regional or City firm
• Experience of all aspects of work as outlined in this profile is required
• A proven ability to meet the demands of high value residential real estate matters
• An ability to actively market within this specialist sector and to focus on growing new relationships
• To be competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, Outlook and digital dictation

Inclusivity and Culture

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth. Alongside a flexible and inclusive work environment, we offer the following core benefits:

• 25 or 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

https://recognition-reward-benefits/

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.