Client services assistant

About us

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 and over 600 staff 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. 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 6th best law firm to work at in 2026.

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 45% of our partnership.

The team you will join

Our Operations team sits within our wider Business Services Division. The team provide strategic and operational management across all sites to ensure the delivery of an industry leading, client-focused facilities management service (hard and soft services) including building and estates management, front of house, reception, cleaning services, catering, records and archive management, reprographics, health and safety and ESG.

The work you will be doing

Reporting to the Office Manager, you will help deliver a highly professional and proactive facilities and reception service, ensuring the office operates smoothly and efficiently on a day-to-day basis.

Main Accountabilities:

* Ensuring the office is always presented to a high standard particularly the communal and client facing areas.
* Assist with effective liaison, support and assistance between the client services team and the rest of the firm.
* Provide business service support across all departments in the office and assist, where appropriate, with any office related issues.
* Deliver excellent client service to clients across the firm, ensuring all enquiries are handled promptly, professionally, and courteously in person, by email, or by phone.
* Book, prepare and clear meeting rooms and organise refreshments as required.
* Assist with preparing for large conferences and events.
* Maintain and monitor office supplies.
* Mail and DX duties cover, including all incoming and outgoing couriers.
* Ensure the appropriate Health & Safety procedures are followed such as the fire procedure and first aid.
* Assist with general administration tasks.

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.

What we are looking for

* Proven experience of working in a customer facing environment.
* Ideally have front of house customer service experience.
* Experience of handling tricky situations whilst interacting with others (members of public, customers, colleagues).
* Effective communication and organisational skills.
* Good understanding and use of Microsoft Office applications.
* Maintain a motivational and proactive approach at all times.
* Adaptable to change and innovative ideas.
* Flexible to meet business requirements.
* Excellent planning, time management and organisational skills.
* Team player.
* Ability to remain focused and decisive when working to specified targets in a pressured environment.
* A physically active, hands-on role, ideal for someone who thrives on staying busy and maintaining a high level of productivity.

Hybrid Working

Due to the nature of work required, this role is fully office based.

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.

Benefits

As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of 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
* Dress for your Day Policy

You can find out more on our website: https://recognition-reward-benefits/

Inclusivity and Culture

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.

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.

If you require this advert in an accessible format, please visit https://company/birketts/

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Artificial Intelligence (AI)

At Birketts, we recognise the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession and recruitment. We welcome innovation and understand that candidates may use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we expect all applicants to use AI responsibly and ethically.

Our expectations regarding AI use in applications: