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 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 team you will join
Birketts is delighted to be recruiting for an ambitious, driven, and forward-thinking individual to join our newly established Adoptions & Infrastructure Team, based in our modern, fully refurbished offices at Brierly Place, just a short walk from Chelmsford City Centre.
As part of our continued growth, Birketts is centralising some of it established adoptions and infrastructure work, creating a dedicated team to support our expanding client base and future strategic ambitions. This is an exciting opportunity to join the team at its inception and play a key role in shaping its development.
The team’s expertise covers a diverse range of infrastructure matters, including:
*Service media deeds of grant of easements
*Substation, gas governor, and pumping station transfers and leases
*Road and sewer adoption agreements
*Utility wayleave agreements
*Public open space transfers
*Works licences and related documentation
The work you will be doing
In this role, you will support a fee earner within a specialist team acting for major developers and registered providers, supporting them with a broad range of adoption agreements and infrastructure related conveyancing transactions. You will gain exposure to a unique and varied workload within a niche practice area that is increasingly in demand across the sector.
*To provide support and assistance to the lead fee earner and to help expand the team’s work load
*To support with the standardisation of reports, documentation and processes
*To arrange file opening and to assist with ensuring that anti money laundering processes are adhered to
*Assisting with the negotiation of draft transfers, deeds and leases, wayleave and adoption agreements, works licences and related documentation
*Reviewing titles and attending to additional enquiries
*Obtaining draft indemnity policies
*Interpreting Land Registry restrictions and preparing Land Registry certificates of compliance, consents and releases
*Updating clients and intermediaries on transactional progress
*Producing reports on documents for clients
*Examining Land Registry Day List entries and search results and acting accordingly
*Producing and sending out engrossments
*Completing documents via DocuSign
*Helping to monitor financial hygiene to ensure fees remain within scope
*Track and manage case timelines from initial instruction to final completion to ensure timely progression and avoid unnecessary delays
*Completing transactions and dealing with post completion requirements and requisitions
*Completing checks before file closure
*Provide an efficient and friendly service to clients
What we are looking for
We welcome applications from experienced Paralegals, candidates with a background in the property industry, law graduates, and those with conveyancing or related experience.
We are equally keen to hear from highly motivated individuals with a strong interest in developing a career in this specialist area, who can apply their skills effectively within this niche field.
Birketts offers excellent opportunities for career progression, and we are looking for someone who is keen to train, grow, and advance within the firm.
Hybrid Working
During 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.
Benefits
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
https://recognition-reward-benefits/
Inclusivity and Culture
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 b