Senior Associate / Legal Director

Birketts LLP; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Healthcare with BUPA

Scottish Widows Pension Scheme

Staff Profit Share and Bonus Scheme

Life Assurance - 4 x salary

Job summary

Birketts LLP in Ipswich is seeking a Senior Associate/Legal Director to provide expert private client advice to high-net-worth individuals, families and trustees. You will lead on succession planning, trusts, wills and tax planning, draft complex documents and mentor junior lawyers within a collaborative team.

You will build client relationships, contribute to business development and help shape the Private Client Advisory team's strategy while working in a flexible hybrid model with a mix of

Qualifications

• Senior Associate: typically 6 years PQE; Legal Director: typically 8 years PQE.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to team development.
• Demonstrates strategic business development, winning new clients and cross-selling opportunities.
• Manages client relationships and matters to a high standard.
• Proactive risk and compliance management; Lexcel knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with high-net-worth clients.
• Provide tailored legal advice on succession planning, tax advice, wills and estate administration.
• Draft and review complex documents including wills, trusts and powers of attorney.
• Advise clients on mitigating tax liabilities and structuring estates effectively.
• Lead and mentor a team of junior lawyers; contribute to the firm's strategic plan.
• Support business development and marketing initiatives for client growth.

Skills

Mentor juniors

Legal expertise

Business development

Client relationship management

Risk & compliance

Attention to detail

Professional integrity

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Time recording software

Case management

Outlook

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.

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

Our Private Client Advisory team sits within the wider Private Client Division. The team work across all seven of our offices and act as trusted advisers to individuals, families, trustees, family or owner-run businesses and trust companies both in the UK and internationally.

They place particular priority on continuity and fostering close long-term relationships with contacts and clients in order to provide practical advice and commercial solutions on a very wide variety of tax, trust and estate planning situations that arise.

We are proud to be accredited as a STEP Employer Partner, demonstrating our commitment to the continuous professional development of our trust and estate practitioners.

The work you will be doing

The successful candidate will play a critical role in providing expert legal advice and services to high-net-worth clients. This position will involve acting for high-net-worth clients, offering guidance on succession planning, trusts, wills, tax planning and estate administration.

As part of your day to day role, you will:

• Build and maintain strong relationship with high-net-worth clients.
• Provide tailored legal advice on succession planning, tax advice, wills and estate administration.
• Draft and review complex legal documents including wills, trusts and powers of attorney.
• Advise clients on mitigating tax liabilities and structuring their estates effectively.
• Help lead and mentor a team of junior lawyers fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Contribute to the development and execution of the firm’s strategic plan, particularly within the Private Client Advisory Team.
• Participate in networking events, conferences and other business development activities to promote the firm’s services.
• Develop and implement marketing initiatives to attract new clients and retain existing ones.

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 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.

• Ability to mentor junior team members and contribute to team development
• Brings specialist legal expertise, aligns advice with clients’ commercial objectives, directs research effectively, and drafts clear, accurate complex documentation
• Manages time recording and billing effectively, prices work profitably, supports credit control, meets financial targets.
• Demonstrates strategic business development, winning new clients, driving high-profile pitches, building a strong regional profile, and identifying cross-selling opportunities across the firm
• Manages matters and client relationships to a high standard, maintaining regular contact, meeting expectations, and demonstrating deep understanding of clients’ businesses and strategic objectives
• Builds credibility and trust through strong relationships, continuous professional development, and championing positive change
• Proactively manages risk and compliance tasks, follows best practice, maintains practical Lexcel knowledge, and seeks feedback to drive continuous improvement
• 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:

• 30 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 re-assignment, 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 via [e-mail]