HCR Law
Construction Solicitor

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About The Role
We have an exciting opportunity for a 0–4 PQE Solicitor to join HCR Law’s Construction and Engineering team, based in Cambridge. This is a growth hire within a well-established practice, offering an excellent platform for an ambitious junior lawyer to build specialist construction experience while working alongside experienced lawyers on high-quality matters.
The wider team advises across the full lifecycle of construction projects and acts for a broad client base, including developers, contractors, consultants, manufacturers, funders, research bodies and educational institutions. HCR Law’s Cambridge office is also home to Colin Jones, Partner and National Head of Construction and Engineering.
The Role
You Will Gain Exposure To a Varied Construction And Engineering Workload, With The Opportunity To Develop Across Both Transactional And Contentious Matters. Depending On Experience, Your Work May Include
- Supporting on construction agreements and professional appointments / terms of engagement
- Advising on standard-form and bespoke construction contracts
- Assisting with construction and engineering disputes and dispute-resolution matters
- Supporting work involving adjudication, arbitration, litigation and negotiated settlements
- Assisting with public procurement and related commercial issues
- Working on matters for clients across the public and private sectors
- Contributing to matters spanning sectors such as real estate development, education and energy
At this stage of your career, you will be given the support and supervision needed to develop strong technical foundations while having meaningful involvement in client work from an early stage.
About You
You will have up to 4 years’ PQE, with an interest in developing a career in construction and engineering law. Previous construction experience would be beneficial, whether gained during a training contract or post-qualification, but we are equally interested in candidates with strong transferable real estate, commercial or disputes experience and a genuine motivation to specialise.
You Will
- Be qualified in England and Wales with 0–4 years’ PQE
- Have strong drafting, research and analytical skills
- Be commercially minded and focused on delivering an excellent client service
- Communicate clearly and confidently with colleagues and clients
- Enjoy working collaboratively as part of a supportive team
- Be proactive, organised and keen to take ownership of your development
- Have a genuine interest in construction, engineering and the built environment
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I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
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You Can Expect
- A genuine growth opportunity within the Construction and Engineering team
- Exposure to a broad mix of contentious and non-contentious construction work
- The chance to work with a varied UK-wide client base
- Hands-on learning and support from experienced specialists
- Opportunities to build your technical knowledge, client skills and sector profile
- A collaborative and ambitious team environment
About Us
Benefits of working with us:
- Private Medical Insurance
- Sight tests / Glasses discounts
- Scottish Widows Pension Scheme
- 28 days annual leave (plus public holidays)
- Bonus scheme
- Electric vehicle scheme
- International secondments for 0-5 PQE
- Happy People / Perks at Work benefits portal
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Life Assurance
- 1/3 gym membership contribution
- Flu vaccinations
Is HCR the smart move for you?
HCR suits people who love a challenge and want to work in an environment where careers thrive on the back of hard work and personal merit. Our people enjoy feeling part of something bigger than themselves, and whilst our clients drive our development, it is our people who bring their energy, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurial mindsets together to solve problems and help our clients succeed.
Why HCR people love their jobs
Our people tell us they enjoy working on good quality, interesting matters from a wide variety of our clients, because they get the experience they want to develop their careers. We will give you responsibility early, the mandate to make things happen and we’ll back your good ideas. Our “Passion for People” lives and breathes every day throughout the firm as our peoples’ energy and sense of fun create a warm environment in which to thrive.
What career progression will HCR offer you?
HCR’s growth constantly creates opportunities for people who want to go places and make a difference, your career plan can become part of our growth plan. At HCR you can expect to work with friendly, energetic, ambitious people, who love getting stuck into a client problem, and enjoy celebrating a good outcome. Our people value the sense of community provided by the individual personality of each office and the collegiate approach across all our service and sector teams.
What does HCR believe, achieve and stand for?
As a Times Best Law firm, among the UK Top 50, we provide the full range of services that you would expect to organisations, business leaders and individuals. However, in our mission to give everyone the opportunity to experience a different kind of legal service we take an entrepreneurial approach. We’re flexible and responsive to the needs of our clients, delivering the best outcomes for them. We have more than 1000 lawyers and support staff, including more than 180 partners, and have been awarded the Law Society’s Lexcel quality mark in recognition of our compliance and client care standards.


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With 13 offices in England and Wales our well-established presence stretches from west to east, ensuring clients can access a full-service legal offering no matter where they’re located. We’ve expanded significantly across all our regions, and are well-respected as a regional firm with a strong London and international presence.
With solid connections in the communities we work in, and a track record of delivering legal advice to businesses and individuals throughout the areas we base ourselves in, our clients continue to value our approach to providing legal advice, in the way they need, when they need it.
As HCR is an equal opportunities employer, we don’t just accept differences, we celebrate them. We want to attract a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and skills to create a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and which works together to achieve the best outcome for our clients. We are privileged to be an armed forces-friendly organisation.
We also want you to achieve your absolute best during the recruitment process. Please let us know of any changes we can make at any point that will help support your application. If this opportunity sounds of interest to you, please make an application and submit your CV.
A note for recruitment agencies
The HCR Resourcing Team is responsible for recruitment across the firm, and where possible will use direct hiring methods. We do work with a Preferred Supplier List, and where appropriate, we will release vacancies to those agencies who we deem most appropriate to support us. Only those agencies will be invited to submit candidates via our recruitment portal. Any speculative or unsolicited CVs sent to any employee or Partner of HCR will not be considered an introduction, and no fees will be applicable. Furthermore, we retain the right to pursue these candidates without query of ownership.
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