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.
Purpose of job
The Partnership Administration Officer provides dedicated administrative and project support to the Business Services Directorate and senior leadership, ensuring the effective coordination of key activities and partnership-related matters.
This role is responsible for managing critical documentation, supporting governance processes, and maintaining accurate records and systems. It also plays a pivotal role in coordinating meetings, taking minutes, and ensuring operational continuity during peak periods and staff absences.
Accountabilities
* Provide high-level administrative and personal assistant support to the Business Services Directorate, Heads of Division, and senior leadership on key projects, annual initiatives and committee meetings.
* Coordinate the formatting and distribution of partnership documentation, including New Partner induction packs, Members' Agreements, resolutions, and formal notices.
* Support quarterly Partner and Divisional meetings, including scheduling, logistics, agenda preparation, and minute-taking.
* Attend key meetings to capture accurate notes and ensure timely follow-up on action points.
* Request, collate, and distribute Partnership Board Papers in advance of scheduled meetings, ensuring all contributions are received on time, documents are formatted consistently, and final packs are shared with relevant stakeholders in a timely and secure manner.
* Support the Remuneration Committee (REMCO) by coordinating the collation, formatting, and secure distribution of meeting materials, ensuring confidentiality and timely access for all committee members.
* Maintain and develop the Partnership SharePoint site to ensure user-friendly access to key materials, records, and governance information, regularly reviewing content for accuracy, relevance, and ease of navigation.
* Maintain and update internal systems such as SharePoint with current and accurate partnership-related records.
* Support the onboarding and offboarding of partners, ensuring all documentation, meetings and system updates are completed efficiently.
* Maintain up-to-date records of partnership agreements and changes in partner status.
* Liaise with internal teams (e.g. HR, Finance, IT) to facilitate smooth execution of partnership-related processes.
* Maintain and promote the annual calendar of partnership and governance events, ensuring key dates and deadlines are communicated and supported across relevant teams.
* Work closely with PAs and secretaries in the CEO's office and across the organisation to ensure smooth communication, aligned schedules, and consistent support across shared responsibilities and initiatives.
* Provide interim administrative support to the CEO and Senior Partner during busy periods or periods of absence.
* Handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
* Assist with ad hoc projects and strategic initiatives led by the directorate or Partnership Board.
The candidate
* Proven experience in a legal or professional services environment, ideally in a secretarial or administrative support role.
* Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise effectively.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
* Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and in particular advanced SharePoint, Word and PowerPoint skills
* High attention to detail and accuracy.
* Discretion and integrity in handling sensitive information.
* A flexible and collaborative approach to work, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively as part of a team.
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
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.