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: 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. 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 The team currently comprises over 50 specialist lawyers, including 15 partners amongst Private Client Advisory, International Private Client Advisory, Tax and Wealth Disputes, 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. We also work very closely with our large Agricultural team advising farming families and Landed Estates on succession and tax planning. Purpose of job If you are seeking a new, challenging role with a modern, forward-thinking firm with potential to qualify as a solicitor in the near future, then this could be the role for you You will be given early responsibilities, with the opportunity to manage your own small caseload (and fee-earn alongside the experts), and the chance to get involved in some really exciting and complex transactions Previous Private Client Advisory experience is essential. Accountabilities Technical ability To draft and amend documents with speed and accuracy To format, paginate, number and present documents in Birketts LLP house style To proof read all work, checking for spelling and grammar To proactively work with the fee earners to ensure relevant documentation is produced to meet clients’ expectations and deadlines Use of Isokon for the administration of estates would be a benefit Undertake fee earning under supervision Administrative skills: Manage diaries of allocated fee earners in Microsoft Outlook to include: Familiarity with the creation and management of datarooms and file management processes Making appointments Arranging meetings/conferences Sending and responding to invites Process expense claims, payment requisition forms, returned advances To process all forms including new client form, new matter form, money laundering form, training course booking forms etc. To ensure that all electronic filing and paper based filing is up to date and maintained at regular intervals To prepare narratives and bills and keep billing files up to date To carry out photocopying and scanning as required Professional Skills: To immediately clarify instructions from fee earners should they be unclear or if deadlines are not made explicit To respond to internal and external telephone enquiries politely and professionally and take accurate telephone messages (name /number /company), passing them on to the relevant fee earners etc. To proactively support other members of the team and to provide cover as and when necessary to ensure that work is completed to a high standard and meets the required deadlines To provide full support to all team member fee earners in the full range of activities that are performed and to carry out any other duties as reasonably requested General Approach: To show a positive approach and interest in the work Show initiative when responding to queries and actively try to seek solutions to problems To support your team members when clients are demanding the work product to be delivered To support and build working relationships with colleagues and to actively work for the interests of the whole team The candidate This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a dynamic and growing team dealing with high quality and varied property work. Previous Private Client experience is essential. 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.