Professional Support Lawyer

Your role is to work alongside the current Corporate Team PSL servicing the needs of the Corporate Team by:

• Keeping fee earners informed about the latest developments in law and practice.


• Further developing the internal precedent bank, best practice guides and knowledge resources.


• Ensuring that fee earners receive regular training, both in areas of general corporate law and, where relevant, in more specialist areas.


• Producing articles and relevant client bulletin materials and generally promoting the profile of the firm as a leading commentator on corporate law developments


• To work with our Knowledge Management Team to develop and implement new client facing tools/ways of working to enhance our client offering.


Accountabilities (working alongside the current PSL)

• Monitoring and keeping the Corporate Team updated on relevant developments in corporate law to ensure fee earners are up to date with current law and practice.


• Working to review existing precedents and identify gaps in provision. Coordinate the collection and re-use of existing knowledge developed in teams to ensure best practice is shared and duplication of drafting reduced.


• Support the existing training programmes including the Corporate Learning Plan for our 0 - 2 PQE fee earners and provide more specialist training as required.


• Developing client briefing and bulletin materials to enhance our client service offering.


• Working with Knowledge Management team to assess, and where appropriate assist with the adoption by fee earners, of new technologies and innovative ways of working to create greater efficiencies in our work, and to enhance our client experience.


• Assist fee earners with research including advising on technical legal issues.
  
  Significant corporate transactional experience from a well-regarded City, national or regional law firm.


• Excellent drafting and research skills.


• Well-developed organisation and communication skills.


• An understanding of different methods of training and learning processes.


• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with people at all levels within the firm.


• A firm grasp of a range of IT skills including Microsoft Office suite and an enthusiasm to adopt new tools to enhance efficiencies and the delivery of services to our clients.


Importantly, the successful candidate must be pragmatic, self-motivated and a good team player.

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 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

The Corporate Team is part of the wider corporate practice group, which is divided into five teams: corporate, banking and finance, tax, employment and charities. The PSL post on offer sits within the Corporate Team.

You will join a highly successful, Corporate Team of 16 partners and 50+ other fee earners, who have enjoyed substantial growth in recent years.

Ranked Tier 1 in the Legal 500, our Corporate Team give first class legal advice, with a depth of resource and range of experience that allows us to successfully deliver a wide range of transactions - in value, complexity and commercial impact. We advise on all aspects of mergers, acquisitions and disposals, acting for sellers and buyers, management teams, and private equity and venture capital funds, as well corporate reorganisations and restructurings, shareholder arrangements, joint ventures, and share incentives.

The Corporate Team plays a leading role in several firm wide sector specialisms, including, our Energy and Infrastructure Team, Food and Beverage Team, Healthcare Team, Financial Institutions Team, Insurance Team, International Team and Motor 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.

• 30 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays


• 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. We are proud to offer a competitive total rewards package designed with our colleagues, health, and wellbeing in mind.