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
The Residential Property team comprises 70+ members operating out of each office but working together as one team.
Purpose of job
To work as part of the Residential Property team to provide professional, pro-active support to the fee earning team.
Accountabilities
Playing an important role within the Residential Real Estate Team you will be responsible for:
Dealing with on-boarding new clients including dealing with conflict searches and identification checks together with assisting
Updating IT systems with all required data
Liaising with clients, third parties, banks and agents as necessary
Preparing reports for team leaders
Preparing for completion on sale and purchase transactions to include undertaking pre-completion searches, submitting Certificates of Title, requesting final redemption statements and reparing all required finance forms
Strictly complying with all deadlines
Processing bills and attending to financial management following completion
Dealing with file closures and scheduling and managing deeds to ensure recordsare kept up to date
Maintaining spreadsheets to ensure that all matters are fully updated at the end of each working day
Ability to work efficiently and effectively under pressure and to deadlines
The candidate
Educated to GCSE or standard or equivalent
The ideal candidate for the role will be an enthusiastic team worker looking for an opportunity to join a dynamic market leading firm. Previous administration experience within a residential conveyancing/legal environment would be advantageous but is not essential and full training will be given
You will be enthusiastic and well organised individual with a positive attitude and excellent communication skills. Excellent IT ability will be required, with good knowledge of MS Office products (Word, Excel, Outlook). You will have strong time management skills, able to manage a varied workload and work efficiently and effectively under pressure and to deadlines
To show a positive approach and interest in the work that your fee earners are undertaking
Show initiative when responding to queries and actively try to seek solutions to problems
To support and build working relationships with your own fee earners as well as other members of the team and to actively work for the interests of the whole team
To support and build working relationships with your colleagues in the team and to actively get involved in working activities within the 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.