Professional Support Lawyer - Real Estate (ref 1193)

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: property, corporate services, litigation and private client advisory.

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.

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.

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 Knowledge Management department comprises 7 full and part-time Professional Support Lawyers and a part-time librarian providing knowledge support resources to several different teams across the firm. This role is to work alongside the current Head of Knowledge Management (who is also a PSL) supporting the Real Estate Division, the largest unit in the firm. We have one of the best regarded and largest dedicated Real Estate teams in the country, numbering over 200 specialists.

Purpose of job

Our Real Estate teams continue to experience impressive growth in business, as well as winning a substantial number of new instructions for clients with increasingly sophisticated legal needs. There is an increased need to support those teams in:

• Keeping informed about the latest developments in law and practice.
• Maximising value and use of current awareness updates.
• Creating and maintaining well-organised and comprehensive precedent banks, best practice guides and knowledge resources.
• Ensuring that lawyers receive regular training, both in areas of general Real Estate law and developing more specialised training content for sector and practice specialist groups.
• Producing articles and relevant client bulletin materials and generally promoting the profile of the firm as a leading commentator on Real Estate law developments.

Accountabilities

• Monitoring and keeping the Division updated on relevant developments in Real Estate and landlord and tenant law to ensure lawyers are up to date with current law and practice
• Working with teams to review existing precedents and identify gaps in provision. Coordinate the collection and re-use of existing knowledge developed in teams to ensure best practice is shared and duplication of drafting reduced
• Supplement the existing training programmes for junior lawyers and develop regular team training sessions on a variety of topics. Look to support provision of more specialist training in sector or practice specific areas.
• Work with fee earners on developing client-facing tools, updates and training programmes to enhance our client service offering
• Assist fee earners with research including advising on technical legal issues and suggesting novel solution on transactions

The candidate

The successful candidate will have:

• Experience of practising as a Real Estate lawyer for a well-regarded City, national or regional law firm.
• Significant Real Estate subject-matter expertise – substantial experience in one or more of the following areas would be of particular interest: real estate development, real estate investment and property management, real estate finance, social housing, enfranchisement, strategic land.
• Excellent drafting and research skills.
• Well-developed organisation and communication skills.
• Understanding of different methods of training and learning processes.
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with people at all levels within the firm.
• Pragmatic, self-motivated and a good team player.
• A firm grasp of a range of IT skills including Microsoft Office suite and an enthusiasm to adopt new tools to enhance the delivery of services to our clients.

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 with service up to a maximum of 30 days).
• 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.