Associate / Senior Associate - Administrative and Public Law Disputes

Birketts LLP; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Private Healthcare

Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5%/5%)

Staff Profit Share and Bonus Scheme

Gym membership subsidy

Dress for your Day Policy

Electric car scheme

CSR Day

Job summary

Birketts LLP in Ipswich seeks an Associate for Administrative and Public Law disputes. You will run files, supervise trainees, and support Partners on high-stakes matters, including High Court litigation and mediation. Strong client service, budgeting, and business development are essential in a flexible hybrid setup.

The role invites flexible, part-time patterns and demands excellent drafting, regulatory understanding, and collaboration with senior colleagues across offices.

Qualifications

• 3–6 years PQE with focus in Administrative and Public Law disputes.
• Strong legal and commercial judgement and ability to draft complex documents.
• Efficient time recording, billing targets, and budget management are required.

Responsibilities

• Manage files, delegate to trainees and paralegals as appropriate.
• Handle High Court litigation and mediation; provide advocacy where needed.
• Support Team Head and Partners on large, complex matters.
• Deliver excellent client service, manage client expectations and fees.
• Contribute to business development and marketing initiatives.

Skills

Legal judgement

Business development

Client service

Time management

Billing support

Communication

Collaboration

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

Time recording software

Case management software

Digital dictation

Job description

About Us

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 and over 600 staff 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: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

The team you will join

Administrative and Public Law Disputes advise on claims involving interactions between Corporates / Individuals / Groups and the State / Public Bodies. Work areas include Procurement Challenges, Judicial Reviews (all areas), Student Issues and Education Disputes generally and including SEND Tribunal Claims, Safeguarding Investigations, Charity Board Disputes and Investigations, Local Authority Disputes especially dealing with persistent and vexatious individuals and Equality Act claims.

The work you will be doing

This role is available from any of our office locations, Ipswich, Cambridge, Norwich, Chelmsford, London, Sevenoaks and Bristol with a flexible hybrid working model.

• Running and managing files and delegating to trainees and paralegals as appropriate.
• High Court Litigation as well as mediation. Advocacy, where appropriate.
• Supporting the Team Head and Litigation Partners and team on larger and more complex matters.
• Excellent client service delivery skills needed. Interacting directly with clients and managing their expectations. Managing Budgets and Fees.
• Business Development.
• Drafting and negotiating on relevant contracts, deeds, documents, advice notes, letters and correspondence tailored to the client’s individual needs and requirements
• Acting as a key point of contact for clients, building trusted relationships, and identifying opportunities to add value
• Participating in marketing and networking initiatives
• Ownership of personal financial performance, demonstrating accountability and a commercial mindset

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

What we are looking for

Birketts has designed a 'Talent Management Framework' which provides a career structure that will help us develop, retain and reward talented people. As an Associate, we typically expect candidates to have between 3-6 years PQE.

• Applies strong legal and commercial judgement, researches precedents effectively, and drafts complex documents with appropriate senior guidance
• Manages time recording, billing support and workload efficiently to meet financial targets and maximise fee recovery
• Actively supports business development through events, pitches and networking, building profile and identifying opportunities via firm and client relationships
• Delivers high-quality client service with minimal supervision, providing timely, accurate advice and demonstrating strong understanding of client needs and priorities
• Manages time reliably, communicates proactively, embraces feedback, and demonstrates a collaborative, adaptable and positive "can-do" approach
• Consistently meets compliance requirements by completing reviews and reports on time, adhering to risk management best practices, understanding Lexcel standards, and completing all mandatory training
• Strong attention to detail to produce work documentation which is consistently of a high standard
• Professional integrity and a commitment to providing excellent client service
• To be competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation

Any information provided in relation to PQE should be used for guidance only and will not be determinative in the recruitment decision. Applicants will be considered on their individual merits.

Hybrid Working

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. This role attracts a split of 60% office days and 40% working from home days per week.

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.

Benefits

As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of benefits:

• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Long Service holiday award - 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid CSR Day
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Dress for your Day Policy

You can find out more on our website: https://www.birketts.co.uk/recognition-reward-benefits/

Inclusivity and Culture

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth.

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.

If you require this advert in an accessible format, please visit https://diversityjobsgroup.com/company/birketts/

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

At Birketts, we recognise the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession and recruitment. We welcome innovation and understand that candidates may use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we expect all applicants to use AI responsibly and ethically.

Our expectations regarding AI use in applications:

• Your application should reflect your own voice, experiences, and insights. AI may assist in structuring or refining your responses, but it must not replace your personal input.
• Do not use AI to misrepresent your qualifications, experiences, or skills. Any form of exaggeration or fabrication may result in rejection from the process.
• If you have used AI tools to assist with your application, be prepared to discuss how and why you used them during the interview process.
• Do not submit content generated by AI tools that may include personal or sensitive data not intended for public disclosure.
• AI-generated content should be reviewed and edited by you to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with the role and our firm's values.

We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices. The use of AI should enhance, not compromise, your application. We encourage candidates to demonstrate critical thinking, commercial awareness, and a genuine interest in our firm.