NQ Solicitor +

Birketts LLP

NQ Solicitor +

Salary Not Specified

Birketts LLP, Chelmsford

  • Full time
  • Permanent
  • Onsite working

Posted 2 days ago, 28 Jun | Get your application in today.

Closing date: Closing date not specified

job Ref: 4c48d9ddd6eb46aea0a827c8cd217bc6

Full Job Description

Our office in Chelmsford has a highly experienced and dynamic employment team and due to growth we are now recruiting for NQ-3 years PQE Solicitor.

Sectors in which we work include education, health, energy, construction, transport and private client/agriculture, motor retail and public sector. Particular areas of expertise sought include:

  • General employment issues ranging from maternity rights to general contractual issues

  • Drafting service agreements, contracts of employment and staff handbooks

  • Drafting and reviewing employment policies ranging from performance, sickness and misconduct procedures to maternity and parental leave schemes.

  • Transactional corporate support work

  • Wrongful and unfair dismissal

  • Redundancy and restructuring

  • Transfer of Undertakings

  • Awareness of boardroom disputes and severance claims

  • Employment litigation in the employment tribunal

  • Discrimination (including sex, race, disability and age)

  • Trade union work for employers., The information provided in relation to PQE is provided for guidance only and will not be determinative in the recruitment decision. Any applicant with more PQE than that mentioned in the vacancy details will be considered on their individual merits. However, the team is keen to recruit someone who will initially undertake work referred down from the Partners and senior team members to provide clients with good value services.

  • Equal opportunities

    We are committed to recruiting individuals on merits of suitability for each role, on the basis of qualifications and experience. All applications are treated fairly and equally regardless of sexual orientation, race, disability, religious beliefs and any other protected characteristic, ensuring that there are equal opportunities at all stages of the recruitment process.

    To join our Employment team we are seeking a qualified solicitor at NQ level or above who has ideally completed a seat in the employment team within a well-regarded city, regional or national firm.

    The successful candidate will have an excellent knowledge of the law yet be able to think commercially and analytically so as to provide accurate and practical advice to company clients and high net worth individuals which is tailored to their needs, with an ability to think clearly under pressure and write concisely. You will also be expected to play an active role in marketing and practice development as well as providing a high level of service to existing clients. The ability to work collaboratively with a dynamic team is key.

    Birketts has designed a career structure that will help us develop, retain and reward talented people. Promotion is based on assessment of your performance, competency and achievements. Our Talent Management Framework will see you joining as a Solicitor with the opportunity to be promoted to Associate at 3+ years PQE, at 6+ years PQE to Senior Associate and Legal Director / Partner over 10 years PQE.

    This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated self-starter to join a successful and friendly team in our Ipswich office in a growing firm which enjoys an excellent reputation.
    Qualifications/Experience
  • Qualified Solicitor

  • Strong academic background.

  • A high attention to detail to produce work/ documentation which is consistently of a high standard.

  • To have a flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are always met and clients are communicated with on a consistent and regular basis.

  • Interest in and aptitude for business development.

    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: property, corporate services, litigation and private client advisory.


  • 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 department

    Our vibrant, energetic Employment Team boasts some of the best lawyers in the business specialising in all aspects of employment law facing a company's board or the HR professional - from everyday operational challenges through to advising on strategic issues.

    The team currently comprises over 30 specialist qualified employment law solicitors, including seven partners in six offices, making us one of the larger employment teams in the country. We have the strength and depth of expertise to ensure we deliver the service you would expect in respect of technical quality, practical approach and timeliness of advice.

    Birketts employment law team has experience in all areas of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters, representing clients from a broad range of public and private organisations as well as individuals and senior executives and we are proud to act for sector leading clients nationwide and some important and high profile businesses and institutions across a number of key sectors.

    Ranked 1 tier in Chambers and Legal 500, you will join a highly successful Employment team who is seeing consistent and continuous growth and which works and collaborates closely as a supportive team of colleagues. Our employment advice is supplemented by a well-developed in house employment client training offering, a HR consultancy service, a workplace investigations service, an employee incentives group and an immigration team.

    One of the best things about joining Birketts is our rewards package. At Birketts we are appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. A competitive salary and benefits package is given but you can also expect a great team and supportive colleagues, a strong focus on diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities, a programme of wellbeing and mental health support and structured career development and study support.
  • 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays rising with service

  • Long Service holiday award - 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service

  • Private Healthcare - BUPA (offered after probation is passed)

  • Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)

  • Staff Profit Share / Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)

  • Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance

  • Paid ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) day

  • Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave

  • Season Ticket Loan

  • Gym Flex membership

  • Electric car scheme

  • Dress for your Day Policy

  • Agile Working Policy


  • Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. 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.