Associate (3 - 6 years PQE)

Ashfords LLP; Exeter; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashfords LLP in Exeter is seeking an Associate (3-6 PQE) to join our public sector team, specialising in public procurement law. You'll work with local authorities, utilities and central government on major public sector projects across the UK, providing pragmatic, robust and commercially sound advice.

Reporting to a Partner, you will handle non-contentious matters, contribute to bid processes and support the disputes team with procurement challenges, developing your expertise while helping

Qualifications

• Experience of public sector procurement law is essential.
• Experience with public sector contracts and subsidy control desirable.
• Ability to work with clients across the public sector and internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide non-contentious advisory on public sector procurement rules and contracts.
• Advise on grant funding, subsidy control and local authority vires.
• Collaborate with partners across the firm on major public sector projects in the UK.
• Support the disputes team with procurement challenges when required.

Skills

Public sector procurement law

Job description

We are seeking to recruit an Associate (preferably with between 3-6years PQE) to join our well-regarded public sector team in Exeter specialising in public procurement law.

Having had consistently high rankings in both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners, you'll be part of a high performing team which provides pragmatic, robust and commercially sound advice to local authorities, utilities providers, central government and other public sector bodies on their major projects spanning sectors such as EV charging, telecommunications, regeneration, marine, social housing, social care, transport, energy and asset management.

As part of the public sector team, you will be involved in providing advice on a wide range of non-contentious matters concerning the application of public sector procurement rules, public sector contracts, grant funding, subsidy control and local authority vires, with the opportunity to work with individuals across the firm on some of the largest public sector projects across the UK. You’ll also support the disputes team with advice on procurement challenges.

Reporting to and working closely with a Partner in the team, you will play an integral part in delivering advice and furthering our public sector offering.

Who you are

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who has experience of working with public sector clients or has worked in-house for a public sector body. Experience of public procurement law is essential. Wider public sector contracts and/or subsidy control is desirable, but not essential.

As a strong communicator, you will gain the confidence of the clients you are working with and handle their matters proactively and diligently. You will have good drafting and analytical skills, and have excellent attention to detail. You will be able to communicate clearly with clients both in writing and face‑to‑face, exercising good commercial judgement in order to find the best possible outcomes for our clients. You will also have excellent awareness and understanding of the legal and political constraints and pressures faced by our public sector clients.

We will encourage you to take a high degree of responsibility for the matters you’re working on and to manage your own case load, with appropriate support and supervision enabling you to develop your skills and expertise within the team. This is a great opportunity to make a reputation for yourself in a highly regarded firm with a strong national public sector presence.

At Ashfords, we believe in more than just doing great work – we believe in building a great place to work.

When you join us, you become part of a team where everything we do is underpinned by our four core values: Be Open, Think Team, Make a Difference and Always Grow. These values shape who we are and how we work – they guide our decisions, influence our culture, and drive the way we support our people, clients and communities.

With a clear focus on innovation, community involvement, and supporting a healthy work‑life balance, we are committed to building an environment where our people can have a rewarding and meaningful career.

Whilst we recognise that every career journey is unique, we will be ambitious for you, giving you the tools, trust, and opportunities to develop your career, your way.

Our goal? To help you realise your full potential as part of a forward‑thinking team.

Our offer

We know that our people are at the heart of everything we do – and that’s why we’re committed to supporting your wellbeing, growth and work‑life balance.

Beyond our benefits package, you’ll be encouraged, no matter what your role or career level, to get involved in our Responsible Business programme, where you’ll support initiatives such as charity fundraising, environmental causes and our employee‑led diversity and inclusion groups.

You can find out more about our benefits by visiting the Reward & Wellbeing page on our website.

What’s next?

Our recruitment process typically involves two stages, which are designed not only to explore your skills and experience but also to give you a real insight into what it’s like to work at Ashfords. Throughout the process, our dedicated Talent Attraction team will be here to support you every step of the way.

We believe that building a firm with a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences drives innovation and strengthens our teams, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

To support your growth, we offer ongoing training and development opportunities to help you reach your full potential – so even if you don’t feel you match all the requirements of the job role, we’d still love to hear from you.

At Ashfords, we’re committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to succeed.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or would like to discuss anything regarding your application, please contact us at [e-mail].