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
You will join a nationally recognised and highly regarded Public Sector team who is ranked as Tier 1 in Chambers and Legal 500. Advising organisations across the public sector the represents clients in central and local government, the NHS, education, police authorities, registered providers of social housing, not-for-profit organisations and charities.
Purpose of job
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a growing and friendly team, where you will work alongside the Head of Public Sector and other team members to provide professional and dedicated secretarial and administration support to fee earners and the wider team.
Key accountabilities will include:
- Administration including (but not limited to) file opening/closing, preparing client care letters, dealing with client on-boarding, ID documentation, Lexcel compliance requirements and anti-money laundering procedures, expense claims, photocopying/scanning and invoicing.
- Client relationship administration, including managing client instructions, setting up and maintaining management spreadsheets and reports.
- Corresponding with clients regularly, taking internal and external telephone enquiries and seeking solutions to problems.
- Ensure electronic filing is up to date and maintained at regular intervals and assist the team in maintaining compliant and accurate file management.
- Proof reading work, checking for spelling and grammar.
- Understanding a variety of software packages such as Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel, to produce correspondence and documents to a high standard to meet clients’ and fee earners’ expectations.
- Format and present documents in Birketts LLP house style.
- Deal with land registry searches and preliminary title research.
- Assisting with the promotion of technological solutions to improve team efficiency.
- Managing diary appointments and arranging/following up in relation to business development initiatives.
This list is not exhaustive and the duties may vary from time to time, according to circumstances.
Accountabilities
The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic, efficient and well organised individual with a strong desire to deliver excellent client service. You will also be expected to have the following skills:
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to communicate with a wide variety of people.
- A positive and enthusiastic manner and professional approach.
- Excellent administrative and organisational skills across a broad range of tasks and a strong attention to detail.
- Excellent IT skills. Knowledge of using Excel spreadsheets would be desirable.
- Self-motivated with an ability to use own initiative with a desire to learn.
- Typing Speed - 50+ wpm.
- Solid understanding of key IT packages to include Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
- Good spelling and punctuation.
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.
