Property Disputes Paralegal / Legal Executive / NQ Solicitor

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.

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

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to engage in high quality and specialist property disputes work within a leading UK firm and receive dedicated support from Partners and other senior lawyers both locally and across the national team.

Our lawyers come from a range of backgrounds, including major City practices, other major national and regional firms, industry and local government and include individuals with property, commercial landlord and tenant, residential lettings TOLATA, . The depth and range of expertise means the team can work together in major and complex transactions on cost effective terms, providing our clients with true value for money.

As a team, we have significant experience in contentious matters concerning:

• Commercial and residential landlord and tenant
• Strategic and development land
• Rights to lights
• Leasehold Enfranchisement
• Telecoms
• TOLTA
• Mortgage repossession
• Property related insolvency
• Restrictive covenants
• Private rights of way
• Property related professional negligence and
• Surplus property.

Purpose of job

Due to growth, we have an exciting opportunity to recruit a forward thinking Paralegal/lLegal Executive/newly qualified Solicitor. You will come and join our Residential lettings team which is a sub-team within the Property Disputes Team on a permanent basis, the role is Ipswich based.

You will be given early responsibilities, with the opportunity to manage your own caseload (and fee-earn alongside the experts) and the chance to get involved in some really exciting and complex matters.

• Support an active caseload with the aim of providing efficient and effective advice.
• Deal with incoming post and ensure systems are updated and operated correctly.
• Liaise directly with other Teams within the firm, clients, tenants, the Court and external third parties.
• Drafting Letters, notices and occupational agreements
• Advising clients regarding all aspects of residential lettings including, occupation arrangements, possession proceedings and tenancy disputes
• Provide support to fee earners in the Property Disputes Team.

The candidate

We are looking for:

• A Law degree or equivalent is welcome but not essential (for Paralegals)
• 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
• Ability to use discretion with a positive and enthusiastic approach to team work
• A flexible, highly motivated, proactive and ‘can do’ working style
• 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)
• 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.