Solicitor – Agriculture & Estates Litigation-Bristol-0-3 PQE – Bristol

Ruth Wagstaff Recruitment Ltd; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays

Private healthcare (after probation)

Pension scheme

Staff profit share

Job summary

Chadwick Nott is seeking a Solicitor with 0-3 years PQE to join its Agriculture & Estates Litigation team in Bristol. This permanent, full-time role offers hybrid working and a salary up to £70,000 depending on experience.

You will handle a range of rural disputes for farmers, landowners and agri businesses, from early case assessment through to court proceedings, with excellent opportunities for growth within a leading national practice.

Qualifications

• Completion of a recognised training contract or equivalent qualifying experience.
• 0-3 years’ PQE gained at a reputable legal practice.
• Demonstrable interest in Agriculture & Estates work.
• Strong drafting and client care skills.
• Excellent communication and professional integrity.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload of agricultural and rural disputes with supervision.
• Draft statements of case, witness statements and other litigation documents.
• Undertake disclosure and prepare cases for hearings and trials.
• Advise on farming partnership and succession disputes.
• Handle tenancy, landlord/tenant and rights of way issues.
• Advise on covenants, boundary issues and public law challenges.
• Participate in mediation, arbitration and other dispute resolution.
• Collaborate with Agriculture & Estates team and support BD initiatives.

Skills

Agriculture & Estates law

Litigation

Drafting

Client care

Case management

Communication

Education

Training contract or equivalent qualifying experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

Case management systems

Dictation software

Job description

Solicitor – Agriculture & Estates Litigation – Bristol – 0-3 Years PQE
Location: Bristol (Hybrid Working)
Type of Role: Permanent, Full-time
Salary: £55,000 to £70,000 (dependent on experience)

A leading national Agriculture & Estates team is seeking a Solicitor (0-3 years PQE) to join its Litigation sub team in Bristol. This is an excellent opportunity to work within one of the largest and most respected agricultural practices in the UK, advising farmers, landowners, landed estates, developers and agri businesses on a wide range of rural disputes.

The Role

You will join a specialist team of rural litigators with deep sector knowledge, supporting clients from early case assessment through to mediation, arbitration and court proceedings. Responsibilities include:

• Managing a varied caseload of agricultural and rural disputes with appropriate supervision
• Drafting statements of case, witness statements, applications and other key litigation documents
• Undertaking disclosure exercises and preparing cases for hearings and trials
• Advising on farming partnership and succession disputes (including proprietary estoppel)
• Handling AHA/ATA tenancy issues, landlord and tenant disputes, rights of way and other property matters
• Advising on restrictive covenants, boundary issues, contract claims and public law/judicial review challenges
• Participating in mediation, arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution
• Working closely with colleagues across the wider Agriculture & Estates team
• Supporting marketing, networking and business development initiatives

This is a hands on role offering exposure to high quality rural litigation work and the support of a strong national bench of agricultural specialists.

Candidate Requirements

This role is suited to a motivated and detail driven lawyer with:

• Completion of a recognised training contract or equivalent qualifying experience
• 0-3 years’ PQE gained at a reputable legal practice
• Demonstrable interest in Agriculture & Estates work
• Strong attention to detail and consistently high quality drafting skills
• Excellent communication and client care skills
• Professional integrity and a commitment to delivering excellent service
• Competence using Microsoft Word, Excel, case management systems, Outlook and digital dictation

PQE is provided as a guide only – candidates will be assessed on individual merit.

Benefits

• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
• Long service holiday awards
• Private healthcare (after probation)
• Pension scheme (5% employer / 5% employee)
• Staff profit share and performance bonus scheme
• Salary sacrifice options
• Life assurance (4x salary) and permanent health insurance
• Paid CSR day
• Enhanced maternity/paternity leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Dress for your day policy
• Hybrid working and flexible working options

The firm is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

At Chadwick Nott, we are committed to developing a diverse and inclusive culture as well as supporting our large client network achieve the same. We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications of all qualified candidates regardless of their age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, disability, culture or anything other personal characteristic. We champion and celebrate diversity in the workplace. Where a level of experience is indicated, please note that this is only a guideline.

Job Tenure: Permanent and Full-Time
Salary: £55000 – £70000 per annum
Location: Bristol, Bristol