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Solicitor Apprentice - Ipswich

52.0579 1.1528
Ipswich, United Kingdom
Posted: less than a week ago
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Description

Solicitor Apprentice - Ipswich

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 Birketts Real Estate Team is one of the best regarded and largest dedicated real estate teams within any firm outside of London, with over 200 lawyers across the firm as a whole. Our property lawyers are particularly experienced in dealing with development and investment, planning, secured lending and landlord and tenant matters. We are increasingly advising high value, high profile transactions and clients.

The Residential Real Estate Team comprises 60+ members operating out of each office but working together as one team.

You will work in a supported learningenvironmentto develop the skills and knowledgerequiredfor a Solicitor Apprentice. Please note that this role will commence September 2026, in line with the start of the course. We willassistyou to complete a Level 7 Solicitor qualification and progress in your future career.

Professional Skills

Undertake a development programme leading to a Level 7 Solicitor qualification aspart of an apprenticeship;
Activelyparticipatein your own development plan under the supervision of your line manager and the training provider;
To respond to internal and external telephone enquiries politely and professionally and takeaccuratetelephone messages(name/number/company), passing them on to the relevant fee earners etc.immediately;
To work under supervision to manage a case load of legal files, to answer client queries and respond to correspondence ina timelyfashion, as well asadvisingclient departments and attending court/tribunal as required;
Toimmediatelyclarify instructions from fee earners and the client should they be unclear or if deadlines are not made explicit;
To provide full support to fee earners in the full range of activities that are performed and to carry out any otherduties as reasonably requested;
To liaise with fee earners, clients, agents,intermediariesand solicitors to progresstransacations;
Constructively take part in meetings, supervision,seminarsand other events designed to improve communication andassistwith your own development and thatof your role;
Undertake other duties compatible with your learning and development asrequired including attending site visits when necessary;
To attend relevant training courses in line with the Law Societys recommendation for Continued Professional Development. Toparticipatein training seminars for client departments, including preparation and presentation;

Administrative skills:

To work under supervision to learn office/administration skills including filing, photocopying, data entry, ICT programmes/systems;
Assistinmaintainingcompliant andaccuratefile management and office systems and develop andmaintaina good levelof understanding of firm policy and process.

General Approach

Interest and motivation to work within legal services;
Show initiative when responding to queries and actively try to seek solutions to problems;
To support your fee earners when clients are demanding the work product to be delivered including be willing and able to work in other office locations when required;
To support and build working relationships with your own fee earners as well as other members of the wider firm;
To effectively liaise with staff from other departments and external contacts asrequired.
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.

5 GCSEs, including mathematics & English - grade C / level 4 or above(or equivalent level qualifications)

3 A Levels* atminimumgrade C or above (or equivalent level 3qualification)*Applicants who are currently undertaking theirA levels or an equivalent level qualification are welcome to apply, but please note any offer will be subject to you achieving the course entry requirements.
The ability to meet the entry requirementsof the level 7 Solicitor course attached to this apprenticeship and to attend and undertake the studying and courseworkrequiredto complete the course.

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 20% working days for study and 4 days working as a requirement to be in the office whilst you are developing in the role.

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.

As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of benefits: