Senior Associate / Legal Director

Birketts LLP; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Long service holiday

Private healthcare

Staff profit share

Pension salary sacrifice

Life assurance

Job summary

Birketts LLP in Cambridge is seeking a Senior Associate/Legal Director to join the Agriculture team within Private Client. You will handle drafting, negotiation and client-facing work across rural real estate, agribusiness and related matters, contributing to the firm’s growth in agricultural services.

The role offers a hybrid working model (60% office, 40% home) and opportunities to lead a team, mentor junior lawyers and develop client networks.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 6 years PQE in a professional legal environment.
• High attention to detail to produce work/documentation of a high standard.
• Flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are met and communication is regular.
• Experience in business development and establishing a presence in new markets.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills to build and maintain client relationships.
• Competence in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation.

Responsibilities

• Drafting and negotiating on relevant contracts, deeds, documents, advice notes, letters and correspondence tailored to the client’s needs.
• Maintaining and growing client relationships and contributing to the strategic direction and success of the firm.
• Leading and mentoring a team of junior lawyers, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Participating in networking events, conferences and other business development activities to promote the firm’s services.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Client relationship management

Flexibility/adaptability

Business development awareness

Leadership/mentoring

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Time recording software

Case management

Outlook

Digital dictation

Job description

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.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 6th best law firm to work at in 2026.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 45% of our partnership.

The team you will join

The Agriculture team sits within the wider Private Client division.

Sitting within that division is our award-winning team of agricultural specialists which is one of the best qualified and largest agricultural teams in the UK market, providing a comprehensive range of legal services to farmers, landowners and agri-business specialists. The team advises both UK and international clients on all aspects of UK legislation affecting rural real estate investment - including farm acquisitions and disposals, renewable energy projects, planning issues, natural capital, investment in equestrian and rural estate, rights of way, environmental liabilities, rural finance, landlord and tenant issues, agri-tech, partnerships, farming succession planning and natural capital.

The team is ranked in ‘Band 1’ in Chambers and ‘Tier 1’ in Legal 500

The work you will be doing

You will be responsible for:

• Drafting and negotiating on relevant contracts, deeds, documents, advice notes, letters and correspondence tailored to the client’s individual needs and requirements
• Ensuring client needs are met with the highest standard of professionalism and efficiency
• Maintaining and growing client relationships and contributing to the strategic direction and success of the firm.
• Leading and mentoring a team of junior lawyers, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.

Participating in networking events, conferences and other business development activities to promote the firm’s services.

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

• A minimum of 6 years PQE in a professional legal environment
• A high attention to detail to produce work/ documentation which is consistently of a high standard.
• To have a flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are always met and clients are communicated with on a consistent and regular basis.
• Previous experience in business development and establishing a presence in new markets.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain client relationships.
• To be competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation

Birketts has designed a 'Talent Management Framework' which provides a career structure that will help us develop, retain and reward talented people.

As a Senior Associate, we typically expect candidates to have a minimum of 6 years PQE.

As a Legal Director, we typically expect candidates to have a minimum of 8 years PQE.

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

• Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance

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.

If you have any questions about our expectations or the use of AI in your application, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team [e-mail]