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. 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
We have one of the best regarded and largest dedicated Real Estate divisions within the country, numbering over 200 specialists across seven offices. Our property lawyers are particularly experienced in dealing with development and investment, planning, secured lending and landlord and tenant matters. We are increasingly advising high value, high profile transactions and clients.
Birketts’ Agriculture and Estates Team is an award-winning team which is one of the best qualified and largest agricultural teams in the UK market.
Our team brings together lawyers with a wide range of professional and life experience, including solicitors from farming backgrounds, those with experience in commercial development, residential transactions, equine trading, mines and minerals and agricultural tenancy disputes.
Purpose of job
You will work as part of an administration team to provide professional, proactive, high level administrative support to an allocated group of fee earners and to the wider fee earning team.
You will support the wider Real Estate department, including our Commercial, Residential Development and Agricultural teams.
Accountabilities
* Produce and amend documents with speed and accuracy
* Assist in maintaining compliant and accurate file management and office systems
* Format, paginate, number and present documents in Birketts LLP 'house style'
* Process all forms including new client form, new matter form, money laundering form, training course booking forms etc
* Ensure that all electronic filing and paper-based filing is up to date and maintained at regular intervals
* Respond to internal and external telephone enquiries
* Manage diaries in Outlook and make all necessary travel arrangements
* Use the HMRC and HMLR portals for submitting Stamp Duty Land Tax returns and HM Land Registry applications
* Able to communicate with a wide variety of different people from first time buyers to multi-million pound investor clients, buying and selling agents and mortgage brokers
The candidate
We are seeking a highly organised and detail-oriented Legal Secretary to provide support to the team. Ideally you will have the following skills and experience:
* Strong administration experience
* Positive, enthusiastic and professional approach
* Strong attention to detail and high-level organisational skills
* Excellent spelling and punctuation
* Self-motivated, ability to use initiative and provide pro-active support to fee-earners
* Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadline
* Prior experience working in a legal environment is preferred
* Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and professionalism
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/