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
Birketts is now recruiting for an ambitious, driven and forward thinking Paralegal to come and join our growing team on a full time permanent basis in Ipswich with a view to qualifying as a solicitor into the team via the legal apprentice route, subject to performance and on completion of probationary period. Our office is in the heart of the town centre and a 5 minute walk from the train station.
This is a great opportunity to be a key member of a highly successful and ambitious Employee Incentives team at Birketts who are looking for extra resource to meet the demands of their successful niche team. Presently the Employee Incentives team includes 1 Partner and 4 dedicated fee earners.
The Employee Incentives team forms part of the wider nationally recognised and highly regarded Corporate team, which includes a further over [40] corporate fee earners, and 14 partners, more than a dozen of whom are recommended in the latest Legal 500 (UK 2022) rankings.
Purpose of job
If you are seeking a new, challenging role with a modern, forward-thinking firm, then this could be the role for you! We are looking for a Paralegal to work closely with the senior members of the Employee Incentives team assisting the team on Employee Ownership transactions, and employee incentive schemes.
You will be assisting with the drafting of the necessary legal documents, preparing corporate ancillary documents, liaising with HMRC, and working with team members to co-ordinate the signing of documents. You will work proactively with fee earners to ensure relevant documentation is produced to meet client expectations and deadlines, file management, digital documentation downloads/uploads, and working with DocuSign.
You will be given training and support and the chance to get involved in some really exciting and complex transactions and subject to performance, have the opportunity to become a qualified lawyer in this team via the legal apprenticeship route.
Accountabilities
- To provide support to the fee earners in the team and assist in the work of the department
- Running files
- Supporting the Team Head and team and Partners
- Interacting directly with clients and managing their expectations
- Business Development
- Provide an efficient and friendly service to clients.
The candidate
We are see seeking a candidate who ideally has a Law degree and looking to start a career with a prestigious law firm, or you may have gained experience within a regional or City firm and looking for that next step[LH1] .
You will need to have strong attention to detail skills to produce work/ documentation which is consistently of a high standard. You will have a flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are always met and clients are communicated with on a consistent and regular basis and an interest in and aptitude for business development.
Previous Paralegal experience would be advantageous, but not essential, especially candidates with experience of either corporate, employment or private client work or who have a desire to specialise in employee incentives would be suitable for the role.
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
- 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
- Agile/Hybrid Working Policy
- Dress for your Day Policy
https://www.birketts.co.uk/recognition-reward-benefits/
Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.
Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.
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.
