Associate (Construction - NQ)

Michelmores; Exeter; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Michelmores LLP in Exeter (also Bristol or Cheltenham) invites applications for an Associate (NQ) in its Construction and Engineering team. The role offers exposure to high‑value, high‑profile regional and national projects across healthcare, real estate, energy and infrastructure, with both contentious and non‑contentious work and a supportive environment.

You will work closely with partners and senior associates, manage a caseload under supervision, and develop client relationships while

Responsibilities

• Advising on pre-action, adjudication, litigation and arbitration in contentious construction matters.
• Reviewing contracts and documents and advising clients on dispute resolution during and after projects.
• Drafting and negotiating contracts, appointments and ancillary documents (e.g., using JCT/NEC, IChemE, MF/1).
• Managing your own caseload under supervision of senior solicitors and partners.

Job description

Why start your qualified career with us?

Our priority will always be to nurture and retain the trainees we have invested in over the past two years. However, we are also keen to hear from those approaching qualification and considering options outside their current firms.

Michelmores Academy Launchpad NQ Training Programme

Our Launchpad NQ Training Programme, delivered through Michelmores Academy, supports newly qualified lawyers as they transition into their NQ role, helping you build a strong foundation of skills, confidence and role clarity in your first year's post‑qualification.

The programme includes a development centre and tailored workshops aligned to our strategic pillars. It is designed to clarify expectations, support your development in practice, and smooth the move from trainee to NQ through a blend of structured learning and on‑the‑job experience.

Why Michelmores?

Michelmores is the destination law firm for the ambitious, the imaginative and the distinctive. We help enterprises and individuals navigate change to find a positive future.

We are a flexible, friendly and inclusive organisation with as clear a focus on fresh thinking as we have on growth and success. We value and nurture our people’s potential and inspiration and give them a creative, open and collaborative environment in which to develop a career and succeed.

Wherever you have begun your career in law, we think that you’ll find Michelmores different. From day one, we encourage our solicitors to forge direct client relationships and expand their understanding and knowledge of areas that interest them— developing an understanding of commercial challenges and opportunities, rather than just knowing the law. We nurture creative and commercial thinking to help in your long‑term career success – it mirrors our approach to ensuring the very best outcomes for our clients too.

Finally, our culture really is something special to us. At Michelmores we take pride in how we all work together, whatever our role or seniority, and you’ll really grow and thrive because we encourage people to develop in areas that excite them or makes them different. That’s how we nurture the brightest and best lawyers.

What sort of work?

Right now, our highly regarded Construction team is looking for an Associate (NQ) to join them in our Exeter, Bristol or Cheltenham office.

This position offers an opportunity to broaden your knowledge and progress your career in a supportive team environment.

Working alongside Partners Anna Wood, Ashley Pigott, Maria Greener and Managing and Senior Associates across the team, you will act for both public and private sector clients across the construction supply chain, primarily on the employer/client side. Your workload will be a mixture of contentious and non-contentious construction and engineering work. Your files will relate to high value and often high profile regional and national developments across a broad range of sectors including healthcare and infrastructure, real estate development, real estate finance, consumer brands, renewable energy, and high net worth individuals. Your cases will be highly varied and often fast‑paced, providing an exciting and stimulating working environment, in which you will be well-supported by colleagues.

Our successful candidate will join a busy team and their day-to-day work will include:

• Contentious work:
• Advising in relation to pre‑action, adjudication, litigation and arbitration
• Assisting with all stages of dispute resolution including mediation and in the TCC
• Reviewing contracts and documents and advising clients in relation to resolution of disputes both during and following the completion of construction projects
• Preparation of correspondence with clients, opponents, adjudicators, Courts etc
• Assisting with the instruction of barristers and experts
• Non‑contentious work:
• Reviewing and advising on contract terms proposed to our clients including preparation of due diligence reports
• Drafting and negotiating contacts, appointments and ancillary documents primarily using JCT and NEC contracts, as well as IChemE, MF/1 and bespoke forms
• In all cases:
• Interacting with clients and their other advisors both in person and on Teams calls
• Providing high‑quality legal advice to clients.
• Managing your own caseload under the supervision of senior solicitors and partners.
• Collaborating with colleagues across different practice areas to ensure the best outcomes for clients.
• Developing and maintaining relationships with clients, building trust and credibility.
• Participating in business development activities and contribute to the firm’s growth.

Why this team?

Our experienced Construction and Engineering practice advises regional, national and international clients on a wide range of issues across the supply chain providing first rate and solutions‑driven advice at all stages from the outset of a project through procurement and beyond. Clients include owners and occupiers, developers, main contractors, project managers, members of the professional design team, funders and public sector authorities, at both local and central government level.

On the transactional side, the practice complements the work of the wider Firm, particularly in relation to its developer and public sector clients, advising on the complexities of multi‑million pound multi‑stakeholder procurement on prestigious regional and national projects.

The team also has a busy construction dispute resolution caseload including both employer and contractor‑side cases, whether in adjudication, Pre‑Action Protocol, TCC or arbitration proceedings

How do we work?

We take a flexible, agile approach to working patterns. As a team we agree together on the best working arrangements that will enable each of us to provide exceptional client service, to collaborate and connect with colleagues, and to achieve the right home/work balance.

We pride ourselves on our high‑performance culture whilst offering a good work/life balance. As a Firm we are committed to supporting our people across all levels to achieve the balance they need. We are open to talking about flexible working and empower any candidate to put forward a flexible working pattern to meet their needs.

We work hard to create and sustain an open and collaborative environment. We embrace change and constantly evolve to meet our people’s diverse needs, in the same way that we help our clients to navigate and stay ahead of developments, to move forward together.

Michelmores LLP is an Equal Opportunities Employer

We do not discriminate on grounds of race, gender, marital status, age, religion, colour, nationality, ethinc origin, disability or sexual orientation in the selection, recruitment and treatment of our staff.

View our Inclusion and Belonging pages for more information.

As part of our recruitment policy our candidates are subject to pre‑employment screening checks. The Employee Screening Process includes DBS screening, adverse media checks, financial screening, and will also involve verification of employment history, your right to work in the UK and any relevant qualifications and memberships. If you would like further information around this, at this stage, please get in touch with our recruitment team ([e-mail])