Associate (Private Client Advisory)

The firm

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 department

The team currently comprises over 50 specialist lawyers, including seven 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.

Now opening a brand new office in Sevenoaks, Kent (Apr 2023), we are looking to recruit an experienced Associate/Senior Associate to come and join our highly ambitious team. Primarily to support and work alongside our Team Leader in Kent but also the other partners and the wider team.

Purpose of job

Manage a varied caseload involving all aspects of wills, trusts, tax, estate and succession planning. You will be acting largely autonomously, albeit with other team members where appropriate. Where relevant, you will also be supervising/mentoring the junior associates and trainee.

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.

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

Accountabilities

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Running and managing files and delegating to junior lawyers and trainees as appropriate
• Interacting directly with clients and managing their expectations
• Assisting senior members of the team as required
• Business development

The candidate

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

• Qualified Solicitor with 4+ 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

Equal opportunities

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 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays rising to 30 days with service
• 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 and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid CSR Day
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Dress for your Day Policy