Associate/Senior Associate - Litigation

Setfords; Guildford; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative law firm is on the lookout for an ambitious Litigator to join their dynamic team in Guildford. This role offers a unique opportunity to build a strong practice in dispute resolution, supported by a dedicated in-house litigation team. The firm prides itself on a refreshing approach to legal services, prioritizing work-life balance and professional growth. With a commitment to nurturing talent and leveraging cutting-edge technology, this position promises to be both challenging and rewarding. If you're ready to transform the legal landscape and make a real impact, this is the place for you.

Benefits

Genuine work life balance

Private medical

Life assurance

Pension via NEST

Cycle to work scheme

Free breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks

Free onsite gym

Employee Assistance Programme

22 days annual leave, increasing to 27

Christmas closure pay

Qualifications

• 5+ PQE with extensive experience in litigation and dispute resolution.
• Ability to manage own caseload and maintain excellent client communication.

Responsibilities

• Manage and cultivate a rich caseload with team support.
• Build relationships with key stakeholders and engage in business development.

Skills

Litigation

Dispute Resolution

Client Communication

Time Management

Negotiation Skills

Organizational Skills

Attention to Detail

Team Player

Education

Qualified Solicitor

Excellent Academics

Job description

Associate/Senior Associate - Litigation

Guildford based

Permanent

Full Time

£65,000 - £75,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Who we are

We believe traditional law firms are outdated. Long hours and punishing billing targets mean that lawyers often don't have the time or capacity to do their best work. Which, in turn, means client satisfaction and customer care suffer.

At Setfords, we do things differently.

We treat people like people, not casework. Our pioneering and award-winning consultant-led model is disrupting a centuries-old market, allowing us to put our lawyers and clients’ best interests at the heart of everything we do. We are building a team that uses rich datasets, cutting-edge tech and industry-leading marketing smarts to deliver our vision: to be a law firm for everyone.

Purpose

We are seeking an ambitious Litigator who wishes to grow their own strong practice in dispute resolution with the full support of the department head and in-house litigation team. The team works in a broad range of areas including general commercial litigation, banking and insolvency litigation, property and landlord & tenant disputes, media and data privacy disputes and employment disputes.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Managing and cultivating a rich caseload with the support of the wider team;
• Building relationships with key stakeholders throughout the business;
• Become immersed in business development, marketing and practice development opportunities;
• Supporting head of department/General Counsel in internal legal function;
• Becoming a crucial part in this ambitious and growing organisation.

Regular supervision and support from the head of department and support from paralegals, trainees and secretarial team will be available as appropriate.

Skills and Experience

• Qualified solicitor with 5+ PQE with extensive experience in litigation and dispute resolution;
• Proven excellent academics;
• Must have the ability to run your own caseload - specifically diary, time and budget management whilst maintaining excellent client communication with corporate and individual clients;
• Excellent communication skills – ability to succinctly summarise an argument and be capable of presenting complex legal concepts to clients;
• Demonstrate strong organisation and time management skills;
• A keen eye for detail;
• Strong negotiation skills;
• Determination – you must have the strength to maintain composure and remain calm when cases become chaotic or complicated;
• Must be adaptive, proactive and a team player.

Benefits

• Genuine work life balance
• Private medical
• Life assurance
• Pension via NEST
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks from our onsite Bistro
• Free onsite gym with access to a Personal Trainer
• Employee Assistance Programme
• 22 days annual leave, increasing after 2 days service 1 day per year to a total of 27 days
• Christmas closure pay
• Occupational Health
• Lots of free company events

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity, equity and inclusion are incredibly important to us at Setfords.

We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries and we are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that you may require for a successful application process.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if we can assist in making your application process and experience as positive as possible.

Our values

One team

At Setfords, we believe the only way we will deliver on our business’ amazing potential is by working together. We share in each other’s successes, and help each other out when things don’t go to plan – and we do so with a total absence of ego, blame, or internal competition.

Here to help

We help our clients and our consultants succeed because we are always happy to go the extra mile. Our first thought is always “I’m here to help”, not “is it my job to?”, and we relish the opportunities that this brings: to go beyond our comfort zone, and to learn new skills.

Smart problem-solvers

We work with thousands of clients and hundreds of lawyers every year – and every year we get better at understanding what those clients and lawyers need. We use cutting-edge tools, data analytics and subject-matter expertise to inform all of our judgements, and bring an entrepreneur’s mindset to work every day, always looking for ways to improve our offering.

Break new ground

Setfords is transforming a centuries-old industry, and we are doing it fast. We love the challenges and opportunities that our high-growth, dynamic culture generates, and we are always on the lookout for a new technology or interesting new perspective that will allow us to get to our destination even faster.

Nurturing talent

Whether you are a lawyer who has been qualified for decades or a new hire embarking on the first steps of your career, we believe in giving everyone within our business the opportunity to reach their full potential. We have a proven track record of promoting from within, and many of our leaders and future leaders have started their working journeys at Setfords. For our consultants, we provide the platform, coaching and support that allows our lawyers to provide legal services the way they want.