Overview
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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. 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. We are committed to delivering our ESG objectives and diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 40% of our partnership.
The department
Our Employment Team is vibrant and experienced, handling both contentious and non-contentious matters for a broad range of clients. The team comprises nearly 40 specialist employment law solicitors, including 10 partners across six offices. We provide technical quality, practical advice and timely service. We act for sector-leading clients nationwide and for high-profile businesses and institutions across key sectors. Our clients benefit from a well-developed in-house employment client training offering, HR consultancy, workplace investigations, an employee incentives group, a team of accredited mediators and an immigration team.
Purpose of job
Our Chelmsford office has a highly experienced employment team and is recruiting a Solicitor or Associate (ideally 0-3 and 3-6 years PQE). Sectors include education, financial services, construction, transport and private client/agriculture, charities and the public sector. Areas of expertise sought include:
* General employment issues from maternity rights to contractual matters
* Drafting service agreements, contracts of employment and staff handbooks
* Drafting and reviewing employment policies (performance, sickness, misconduct, maternity and parental leave)
* Transactional corporate support work
* Wrongful and unfair dismissal
* Restrictive covenant enforcement and defence
* Advice to Executives on joining and exiting appointments
* Redundancy and restructuring
* Transfer of Undertakings
* Boardroom disputes awareness and severance claims
* Employment litigation in the employment tribunal
* Discrimination (sex, race, disability and age)
* Trade union work for employers
* Professional discipline and fitness to practice panels
The candidate
We are looking for an individual with drive and commitment to contribute to Birketts’ Employment practice and become an essential core team member. You will engage in business development activities, including attending networking events, supporting tenders/pitches, and drafting sector-relevant articles. The role offers future career progression opportunities for the right candidate who demonstrates a strong business case.
* Excellent training seat or PQE gained within a strong regional, national, or city firm
* Interest in and aptitude for business development and growth opportunities
* Strong drive to produce high-quality work
* Flexible approach to meet client deadlines and maintain client communications
* Knowledge of clientele within Essex/London and surrounding areas, as well as nationally
Qualifications/Experience
The successful candidate will have exceptional legal knowledge, commercially and analytically minded to provide accurate and practical advice to a range of clients, with the ability to think clearly under pressure and write concisely. You will be expected to contribute to marketing and practice development and provide a high level of service to existing clients. This is an excellent opportunity to join an established and friendly team in our Chelmsford office.
Equal opportunities
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 promote equality of opportunity and welcome diverse candidates, with selection based on merit.
Benefits
* 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 30 days
* Long Service holiday award — 1 extra week every 10 years of continuous service
* Private healthcare with BUPA (post-probation)
* 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
Birketts supports a hybrid working model and offers flexible, agile and part-time roles. We are open to discuss preferred working patterns during the application process.
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