Purpose of job
Birketts is recruiting for an ambitious, driven and forward-thinking environmental lawyer to come and join our growing Planning and Environmental Team on a permanent basis. The team is spread over four of our offices currently and is expanding so an ability to work across offices and travel from time to time to other offices is part and parcel of how the Team functions. However, it is anticipated you would have a home office in Either Cambridge, Ipswich to enable adequate supervision and a good diverse range of work.
You will provide professional, proactive, high level legal support to an allocated group of fee earners and to the wider fee earning team. The role is within a team that manages a diverse caseload of all types of planning and environmental work. In the main, the role will focus on delivering high quality environmental law advice to our varied clients.
Experience of planning law as well as, environmental law would be beneficial, but it is acknowledged that these areas are both broad, wide-ranging but also complex and detailed such that many candidates may only have experience of environmental law. Willingness to learn about planning law and the planning system so far as it is relevant to the environmental work would be required but experience is not essential.
Accountabilities
1. To support the Planning and Environmental team in delivering on its strategy for growth and client service excellence
2. To work with colleagues in a productive and collaborative way, supervising those more junior and seeking supervision from those more senior
3. To be competent in a variety of software packages such as Microsoft Word and Excel to produce correspondence and documents, spreadsheets and presentations to ensure relevant documentation is produced to a high standard to meet clients’ expectations and deadlines
4. To be, or become expert in legal software such as Hi Q, Expert Time Recording and Compare Docs
5. To prepare advice and documentation to a high standard and deliver to client demands and deadlines
6. Updating the client on progress when required
7. To proof read all work, checking for spelling and grammar
8. To be involved in business development activities for the Planning and Environment team and the wider firm
The candidate
This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a highly regarded, dynamic and growing team dealing with high quality and varied property work.
We are looking for:
9. A qualified lawyer with experience in environmental law commensurate with PQE
10. The candidate will be a solicitor, barrister or legal executive
11. Good computer/technical skills in particular working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of software including Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint
12. Strong written and oral communication skills
13. Ability to communicate with colleagues at all levels of seniority and liaise effectively with other internal departments and external contacts
14. Ability to use discretion
15. Positive and enthusiastic approach to teamwork
16. A flexible, highly motivated, proactive and ‘can do’ working style
17. Self-motivated, ability to use initiative
18. Ability to pay attention to detail and check own work
19. Good organisational skills, able to prioritise, make decisions and work effectively within a sometimes pressurised environment
20. Commitment to ongoing learning and development for yourself and for colleagues
Professional Skills
21. To uphold the professional standards set for all lawyers by SRA
22. To adhere to Birketts own Brand Signatures and Values
23. To deliver high quality legal advice
24. An ability to learn the complex and ever-changing law, policy and guidance surrounding environmental law
25. To be responsive, a team player and deliver personal billing and time recording targets.
General Approach
26. Show initiative when responding to queries and actively try to seek solutions to problems;
27. To support your colleagues when clients are demanding the work product to be delivered;
28. To support and build working relationships within your own team as well as other colleagues;
29. To effectively liaise with staff from other departments and external contacts as required.
Equal opportunities
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.
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. A competitive salary and benefits package is given but you can also expect a great team and supportive colleagues, a strong focus on diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities, a programme of wellbeing and mental health support and structured career development and study support.
30. 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays rising with service. (SA + 30 days)
31. Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
32. Private Healthcare - BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
33. Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
34. Staff Profit Share / Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
35. Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
36. Paid ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) day
37. Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
38. Season Ticket Loan
39. Gym Flex membership
40. Electric car scheme
41. Dress for your Day Policy
42. Agile Working Policy
43. 35 hour working week
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.