Senior Associate / Legal Director

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 500 lawyers and legal professionals based in 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.

The team currently comprises over 50 specialist lawyers, including seven partners, making us one of the largest Private Client Advisory teams in the East of England. We have the strength and depth of expertise to ensure we deliver the service you would expect in respect of technical quality, practical approach and timeliness of advice. We act as trusted advisers to individuals, families, trustees, family or owner-run businesses and trust companies both in the UK and internationally. We place particular priority on continuity and fostering close long-term relationships with contacts and clients in order to provide practical advice and commercial solutions on a very wide variety of tax, trust and estate planning situations that arise.

Having opened a brand new office in Sevenoaks, Kent (Apr 2023), we are looking to recruit an experienced Senior Associate/ Legal Director to come and join our highly ambitious team. Primarily to support and work alongside our Team Leader in Kent but also the other partners and the wider team.

Manage a varied caseload involving all aspects of wills, trusts, tax, estate and succession planning. You will be acting largely autonomously, albeit with other team members where appropriate. Where relevant, you will also be supervising/mentoring the junior associates and trainee.

Taking ownership of interaction with clients, their other advisers and intermediaries generally to grow your and the department’s practice.

Take client’s instructions and advise on the law, tax and legal practical commercial issues.

Draft relevant deeds, documents, advice notes, letters and correspondence tailored to the client’s individual needs and requirements.

Draft relevant deeds, documents, advice notes, letters and correspondence tailored to the client’s individual needs and requirements.

Reporting to the Head of Team the role includes delivering high quality legal services to clients, performance and risk management and business development activities. The role requires management and control of varied caseload, workload, and risk management in relation to the role. It includes helping to develop relationships across departments and offices, as well as interaction with other law firms and professionals. The role also involves working with the leadership team from time to time, assisting in the design, delivery and implementation of system changes, workflow and process improvements, as well as being involved in business development activities to promote the office and the business as a whole.

We are see seeking a Senior Associate / Legal Director with a minimum of 8 years PQE who ideally has gained experience within a regional, national or City firm with a well-developed knowledge in all areas of Private Client Advisory.

You will have management experience to supervise a team, with the technical ability to run and manage your own full caseload of files from initial instruction through to post completion. You will be advising on all areas of private client advisory work.

You will be active in marketing and business development in order to expand this area of work and gain new clients, building good relationships with referrers in the local area.
The understanding to have a flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are always met and clients are communicated with on a consistent and regular basis.

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.

We are committed to recruiting individuals on merits of suitability for each role, on the basis of qualifications and experience. All applications are treated fairly and equally regardless of sexual orientation, race, disability, religious beliefs and any other protected characteristic, ensuring that there are equal opportunities at all stages of the recruitment process.

Core Benefits 

• 30 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 / Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance   - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid ESG day (Environmental, Social and Governance)
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Paid parking
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Eye Care Voucher
• Agile Working Policy
• Dress for your Day Policy