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
Our Shipping Team works with its clients to avoid disputes but where a dispute does arise, we have the skill, expertise and experience to achieve a positive resolution as swiftly as possible. Our specialist team act for clients based in the UK and abroad - owners of ships, charterers, cargo owners, and marine insurers, as well as transport and logistics businesses.
Our lawyers routinely conduct litigation in the High Court and the Court of Appeal as well as engage in commercial arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Our opponents are typically major London and international law firms. We have strong links with proven junior and leading counsel in leading London commercial chambers.
The shipping team at Birketts is ranked nationally.
Purpose of job
This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious Administrator to join our successful Shipping team in Ipswich. We are seeking someone who will work within the team to support the lawyers (based in Ipswich, Cambridge and Bristol) in all aspects of their work. We are looking for the right person for this role, and all applicants will be considered on their individual merits, regardless of their prior experience - we are as happy to work with someone at the start of their career as we are someone with decades of experience; what matters to us is your ability to work effectively and efficiently as part of a team, supporting others and being supported by them.
Accountabilities
- Client file opening/ closing
- Obtaining and completing AML / UBO information
- Running Creditsafe/ AsiaVerify reports for UBOs
- Running conflict reports
- Manage the admin inbox
- Electronic Payments - assist with billing - producing and processing invoices
- Sending invoices to clients
- Diary management
- Keep Intapp up to date
- Update CE-filing spreadsheet
- Supporing with Lexcel reviews
- Manage Quarterly inactivity for the team
- Chrome River expenses for partners & LDs
- General office duties such as printing, scanning, meeting minutes
The candidate
You will have the ability to contribute at an operational level, with excellent communication skills and can demonstrate general skills in:
- Strong administration experience;
- Positive, enthusiastic and professional approach;
- Strong attention to detail, high level organisational skills and reliable;
- Self-motivated with an ability to use own initiative with a desire to learn.
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.
