Solicitor/Associate

Licensed sponsor Bristol or Cambridge Posted 3 hours ago

About us

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning over 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 and opportunities 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.

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 Responsible Business strategy. Birketts is a certified B Corporation™, and diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 45% of our partnership as of 1 April 2026.

The team you will join

Our multilingual International Private Client team sits within the wider Private Client Division.

The team specialises in tax advisory work for international clients (including a fast-growing sub-team dealing with US / UK matters), cross-border succession planning, Wills and estates and international trust work. The team also has a sub-team dealing with work for Spanish clients and a Sharia private client offering.

We work closely with the other international teams in the private client division, including international family, immigration and private wealth disputes. We collaborate with the international teams in other divisions as part of our firm-wide international committee.

The team is experiencing rapid growth and is actively engaged in business development and team PR activities. All team members participate in this.

The work you will be doing

The successful candidate will primarily assist our colleagues in the US / UK team focussing on complex tax advisory work. The candidate will also assist the team more generally (except for the Spanish work

The candidate will also

Act as a key point of contact for clients, building trusted relationships, and identifying opportunities to add value
Participate in marketing and networking initiatives
Supporting an active caseload with the aim of providing efficient and effective advice
Take responsibility for personal financial performance, demonstrating accountability and a commercial mindset

What we are looking for

Birketts has designed a 'Talent Management Framework' which provides a career structure that will help us develop, retain and reward talented people. As a Solicitor, we typically expect candidates to have between 0–3 years PQE. As an Associate, we typically expect candidates to have between 3-6 years PQE.

Applies strong legal and commercial judgement, researches precedents effectively, and drafts complex documents with appropriate senior guidance
Manages time recording, billing support and workload efficiently to meet financial targets and maximise fee recovery
Actively supports business development through events, pitches and networking, building profile and identifying opportunities via firm and client relationships
Delivers high-quality client service with minimal supervision, providing timely, accurate advice and demonstrating strong understanding of client needs and priorities
Manages time reliably, communicates proactively, embraces feedback, and demonstrates a collaborative, adaptable and positive “can-do” approach
Consistently meets compliance requirements by completing reviews and reports on time, adhering to risk management best practices, understanding Lexcel standards, and completing all mandatory training
Strong attention to detail to produce work documentation which is consistently of a high standard
Professional integrity and a commitment to providing excellent client service
To be competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation

Hybrid Working

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. This role attracts a split of 80% office days and 20% working from home days per week.

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://www.birketts.co.uk/recognition-reward-benefits/

Inclusivity and Culture

As a B Corporation, 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://diversityjobsgroup.com/company/birketts/

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

Your application should reflect your own voice, experiences, and insights. AI may assist in structuring or refining your responses, but it must not replace your personal input.
Do not use AI to misrepresent your qualifications, experiences, or skills. Any form of exaggeration or fabrication may result in rejection from the process.
If you have used AI tools to assist with your application, be prepared to discuss how and why you used them during the interview process.
Do not submit content generated by AI tools that may include personal or sensitive data not intended for public disclosure.
AI-generated content should be reviewed and edited by you to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with the role and our firm’s values.

We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices. The use of AI should enhance, not compromise, your application. We encourage candidates to demonstrate critical thinking, commercial awareness, and a genuine interest in our firm.

If you have any questions about our expectations or the use of AI in your application, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team via talent@birketts.co.uk