Associate

Birketts is an ambitious full service, top 50 UK law firm, operating in East Anglia, London and the surrounding areas.  With a rich heritage spanning over 150 years we’ve built an enviable track record advising businesses, institutions and individuals in the UK and internationally.

Throughout our history, our ethos has remained simple: we provide clear legal advice, value, and insight to our clients.

We believe that through this approach and a combination of technical excellence and high quality service, we can develop long-lasting partnerships and become our clients' solicitor of choice.

You will join a highly successful, leading Dispute Resolution division, working specifically with the Contentious Trusts and Probate team, who are seeing substantial growth, resulting in the need for extra resource to take forward ambitious plans for the future.

You will form part of a nationally recognised and highly regarded Dispute Resolution Division with more than a dozen of whom are recommended in the latest Legal 500 (UK 2022) rankings.

With colleagues in Cambridge, Norwich and Chelmsford the team works as one, working collaboratively with a team focus at the heart of the success.

Birketts is now recruiting for an ambitious, driven and forward thinking Associate, ideally with 3-5 years PQE within a Contentious Trusts and Probate background, to come and join our growing team on a full time permanent basis in our Ipswich office which is located in the centre of Ipswich and a 5-minute walk from the train station. Flexibility can be given, but we are seeking the candidate to work either full time in the Ipswich office or a minimum of 4 days a week and 1 from home.

You will have some experience in acting for both claimant and defendant clients in the context of:

• Will validity claims;
• Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975;
• Estate administration disputes;
• PR and/or trustee disputes;
• Proprietary estoppel claims;
• Construction/rectification claims;
• Challenges to gifts made in lifetime;
• Trust disputes.

It would be advantageous if you are an existing member of ACTAPS. Alternatively, that you would be willing to study for the ACTAPS qualification.

You will need to have strong attention to detail skills to produce work/ documentation, which is consistently of a high standard. You will have a flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are always met and clients are communicated with on a consistent and regular basis and an interest in and aptitude for business development.

Prior experience of a Contentious Trusts and Probate background is essential with good quality experience of either commercial, corporate or real estate finance.

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 you’re preferred working patterns as part of your application.

We are committed to recruiting individuals on merits of suitability for each role, based on 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.

Benefits

One of the best things about joining Birketts is our rewards package. At Birketts, we are appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. You can expect to receive:

• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays rising with service / promotion
• 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 CSR day 
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Eye Care Voucher
• Agile Working Policy
• Dress for your Day Policy.