Birketts LLP
Solicitor / CILEX - Property Disputes (TOLATA)
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About Us
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.
The Team You Will Join
We are looking for a qualified solicitor or chartered legal executive to join our specialist Home Ownership Disputes Team. The Home Ownership Disputes Team sits within our wider Property Disputes Team and forms part of our Dispute Resolution Division.
The Home Ownership Disputes Team, headed by Laura Tanguay, consists of a team of dedicated lawyers specialising in resolving cohabitation and property trust disputes, principally under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA). While such disputes frequently arise in the shadow of relationship breakdown, the team also advise on disputes arising between friends and other family members.
The team is based in Ipswich, Cambridge, Bristol and Chelmsford and act for clients nationwide.
The Work You Will Be Doing
The successful candidate will exclusively support the Home Ownership Disputes Team in relation to TOLATA and other equitable claims. Typical cases include advising clients on orders for sale, the quantification of beneficial shares, and equitable accounting. We also draft cohabitation agreements. You will manage your own caseload under supervision, as well as supporting the senior members of the team with their cases.
Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
- Running and managing files and delegating to junior lawyers and trainees as appropriate.
- Interacting directly with clients sensitively and empathetically.
- Responding to new enquiries.
- Assisting senior members of the team with their cases.
Business development and helping to grow the firm’s TOLATA practice, including writing regular articles for the firm’s website and other external publications.
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.
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.
- Some experience advising on property trust disputes under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA)
- Completion of a recognised training contract or equivalent qualifying experience
- Demonstrable interest and foundational knowledge in chosen practice area
- 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
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.
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 60% office days and 40% 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
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.
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
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