Solicitor

About us

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The team you will join

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Our Property Disputes Team sits within our wider Dispute Resolution Division and acts for a wide range of clients including corporate clients, partnerships, trusts, registered social landlords and individual clients in both the public and private sectors.

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The work you will be doing

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We are seeking a Solicitor / Associate (NQ - 3 years PQE) to join our growing Property Disputes team in our Sevenoaks Office.

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The strength and depth of our team means you will gain exposure to high-value, high-profile, strategic regional and national matters, with excellent opportunities for career development.

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In this role you will:

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• Advise and support a wide array of high-profile commercial clients including national and regional commercial property owners, landlords and tenants, investors, developers, promotors, education providers, charities and other stakeholders.
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• Work across a broad range of contentious property matters, for example disputes concerning development land and property contracts; commercial landlord and tenant matters such as lease renewals and termination, disrepair and dilapidations, break notices, forfeiture and breach of lease covenants including consent issues and service charge disputes and exposure to professional negligence matters.
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• Assist with property disputes in the energy and renewables and real estate development sectors including title and ownership issues, securing appropriate land rights for projects and developments, interpretation and enforcement of agreements for lease or purchase, options and overage, land rights (including easements and restrictive covenants) and trespass and nuisance claims.
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• Play an important role in networking and business development.
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• Build and manage your own caseload of matters.
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• Direct communication with clients, advisers and other relevant stakeholders
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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.

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What we are looking for

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We have 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.

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• Completion of a recognised training contract or equivalent qualifying experience
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• Demonstrable interest and foundational knowledge in chosen practice area
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• Strong attention to detail to produce work documentation which is consistently of a high standard
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• Professional integrity and a commitment to providing excellent client service
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• To be competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation
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Any information provided in relation to PQE should be used for guidance only and will not be determinative in the recruitment decision. Applicants will be considered on their individual merits.

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Hybrid Working

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Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. During your 6 month probation period, there will be a requirement to be in the office full time whilst you are developing in the role. Once you have successfully passed probation, this role attracts a split of 60% office days and 40% working from home days per week.

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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.

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Benefits

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As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of benefits:

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• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
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• Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
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• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
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• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
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• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
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• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
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• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
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• Paid CSR Day
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• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
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• Subsidised gym membership
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• Electric car scheme
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• Dress for your Day Policy
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You can find out more on our website: https://recognition-reward-benefits/

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Inclusivity and Culture

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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.

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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.

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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.

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