Agricultural & Rural Property Solicitor

William James Recruitment; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Offices across North West

Career development

Job summary

William James Recruitment is seeking a Senior Fee Earner in Agricultural and Rural Property for a leading North West law firm with offices across Lancashire and beyond. The role offers hybrid working, autonomy over matters and influence on the team’s direction.

You will advise landowners and investors on rural property, manage a personal caseload, and contribute to business strategy while delivering excellent client service.

Qualifications

• 7+ years' PQE in property
• Experience advising on rural land and agricultural property
• Strong knowledge of Farm Business Tenancies, grazing licences, sporting rights and easements
• Experience of first registrations of unregistered land and security work
• Confident managing own caseload and financial performance
• Excellent client-facing communication and IT skills
• Well organized with strong attention to detail and planning ability
• Demonstrable business development track record
• Self-motivated team player able to supervise and support others

Responsibilities

• Advising landowners, estate owners, investors, lenders and developers on agricultural and rural property matters
• Negotiating and drafting transactional documentation including Farm Business Tenancies, grazing licences and easements
• Handling first registrations of unregistered land and security work
• Taking financial responsibility for the management of your own matters
• Supervising and supporting more junior team members
• Collaborating with tax, succession planning and property litigation teams on cross-departmental matters
• Building and developing client relationships across the firm
• Contributing to business strategy and growth of the team
• Delivering excellent client service and promoting the firm's values

Skills

Rural property

Farm Tenancies

Grazing licences

Sporting rights

First registrations

Client relationships

Caseload management

Business development

Team supervision

Education

Solicitor/Legal Executive

Job description

Senior Fee Earner – Agricultural & Rural Property – North West – 7+ PQE – Competitive Salary + Hybrid Working

A market-leading North West law firm is looking to recruit a Senior Fee Earner into its agricultural and rural property team. This long-established practice, founded in 1901, has offices across Lancashire, Cumbria, Manchester, Merseyside and Staffordshire, and has been named one of the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For on five occasions.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced agricultural property lawyer to advise landowners, estate owners, investors, lenders and developers on high-quality rural land and agricultural property work, with the backing of a genuinely well-regarded regional firm.

Offering hybrid working, real autonomy over your own matters and the chance to shape the direction of a growing team, this role is ideal for a senior property lawyer seeking quality rural work, client ownership and clear influence within the business.

The Role

• Advising landowners, estate owners, investors, lenders and developers on agricultural and rural property matters
• Negotiating and drafting transactional documentation, including Farm Business Tenancies, grazing licences, sporting rights and licences and easements
• Handling first registrations of unregistered land and security work
• Taking financial responsibility for the management of your own matters
• Supervising and supporting more junior members of the team
• Working alongside the tax, succession planning and property litigation teams on cross-departmental matters
• Building and developing client relationships across the firm
• Contributing to business strategy, direction and the continued growth of the team
• Delivering excellent client service and promoting the firm's values

The Candidate

• Solicitor or Legal Executive with a minimum of 7 years' PQE within a property department
• Proven experience advising on rural land and agricultural property
• Strong technical knowledge across Farm Business Tenancies, grazing licences, sporting rights and licences and easements
• Experience of first registrations of unregistered land and security work
• Confident managing your own caseload and the financial performance of your matters
• Excellent client-facing, communication and IT skills
• Well organised with strong attention to detail and planning ability
• Demonstrable business development track record
• Self-motivated team player able to supervise and support others

Benefits

• Competitive salary depending on experience
• Hybrid working
• Choice of offices across the North West, including Preston, Lancaster, Kendal, Clitheroe, Garstang, Lytham, Southport and Manchester
• Market-leading firm with over 120 years' history and a Top 100 Best Companies to Work For record
• High-quality rural and agricultural work for landowners, estates, investors and lenders
• Genuine cross-departmental collaboration with tax, succession planning and property litigation
• Ongoing investment in training and career development
• Supervisory responsibility and real input into business strategy
• Supportive, people-focused culture with relationships at its heart