Senior Fee Earner - Rural Business & Agricultural Law

Clear Legal & Financial Recruitment; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Clear Legal & Financial Recruitment seeks a qualified solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive with rural property experience to join our Rural Property team. You will handle a varied caseload, advise on agricultural matters, draft transactional documents and build strong relationships with farmers, landowners and lenders.

Working closely with colleagues across related practice areas, you will develop professionally in a collaborative setting, with potential for remote work and flexible office

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor or CILEX with experience in agricultural and rural property law.
• Experience in agricultural and rural property law.
• Strong technical knowledge and commercial awareness.
• Excellent communication and client relationship skills.
• Ability to manage a caseload independently and prioritise competing demands.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Collaborative approach across practice areas.
• Interest in networking and business development.
• Confidence using case management systems and IT applications.

Responsibilities

• Managing your own caseload and monitoring financial performance.
• Advising clients on a broad range of agricultural and rural property matters.
• Drafting and negotiating transactional documentation.
• Providing commercially focused advice and maintaining excellent client service.
• Building and developing long‑term relationships with clients, professional contacts and referrers.
• Supporting and mentoring junior colleagues where appropriate.
• Contributing to business development, networking and the growth of the team's profile within the rural sector.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across Private Client, Tax and Succession Planning, and Property Litigation.

Skills

Communication skills

Client relationship management

Caseload management

Attention to detail

Collaboration across practice areas

Business development

IT / case management software

Education

Solicitor or CILEX qualification

Job description

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a qualified legal professional to join a growing Rural Property team, advising clients across the agricultural, rural business and landed estates sectors.

This role offers the opportunity to handle a varied caseload of rural property matters, work alongside experienced legal professionals and build strong relationships with farmers, landowners, estate owners, rural businesses, lenders, investors and developers.

The team is open to candidates with different levels of experience who have a background in agricultural and rural property law and are keen to develop their careers within a collaborative and ambitious environment. Applications from professionals based at different office locations are welcomed, with some remote working potentially available. Applications are welcomed from qualified Solicitors, Chartered Legal Executives (CILEX) or equivalent legal professionals with experience in agricultural and rural property.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing your own caseload and monitoring financial performance.
• Advising clients on a broad range of agricultural and rural property matters.
• Drafting and negotiating transactional documentation.
• Providing commercially focused advice and maintaining excellent client service.
• Building and developing long‑term relationships with clients, professional contacts and referrers.
• Supporting and mentoring junior colleagues where appropriate.
• Contributing to business development, networking and the growth of the team's profile within the rural sector.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across Private Client, Tax and Succession Planning, and Property Litigation.

Experience & Technical Expertise

• Acquisitions and disposals of farms, estates and agricultural land.
• Farm Business Tenancies (FBTs).
• Grazing licences and agricultural occupation agreements.
• Sporting rights and licences.
• Easements and rights of way.
• First registration of unregistered land.
• Security and lending transactions.
• General rural property and land ownership matters.

About You

• Relevant qualification as a Solicitor, Chartered Legal Executive or equivalent professional.
• Experience in agricultural and rural property law.
• Strong technical knowledge and commercial awareness.
• Excellent communication and client relationship skills.
• The ability to manage a caseload independently and prioritise competing demands.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• A collaborative approach to working with colleagues across different practice areas.
• An interest in networking, business development and developing professional relationships.
• Confidence using case management systems and other IT applications.