HR Administrator - 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.

Our HR team sits within our wider Business Services Division. The team provide expert guidance and advice to managers and employees to support the effective delivery of HR processes across the firm.

The HR Administrator provides essential administrative support to the Human Resources function, ensuring the smooth delivery of HR processes and services throughout the employee lifecycle. The role includes:

• Responsible for the administration of employee onboarding including drafting contracts, conducting right to work checks and pre-screening process, liaising with candidates and internal stakeholders
• Use of HRIS system to maintain employee records and changes including job changes, personal detail changes, holiday
• Log sickness and ensure completion of employee certification process
• Preparation of reports including for new joiners, leavers, role details and frequent ad hoc reports
• Create and maintain electronic employee files and archive when required in line with GDPR requirements
• Process changes to terms and conditions for employees
• Undertake the leaver process including system udpates, drafting of documentation and notification to relevant internal stakeholders
• Respond to all employer reference requests.
• Jointly responsible for managing the shared HR inbox and responding to enquiries in a timely and effective manner
• Assist with monthly payroll administration
• Provide administrative support on HR projects as required
• Administration of the firms benefits such as car parking, eye care, gym membership, private medical insurance and season ticket loans
• Production of scheduled and ad hoc letters e.g. probation confirmation, ad hoc award letters.
• Assist with the administration of the annual salary review process including updating the HRIS system, drafting and sending letters
• Ad hoc notetaking for formal meetings
• Support the Talent Acquisition Administrator when required

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.

• Previous experience of working in an administrator role
• Proficient with Microsoft Office packages (Excel and Word)
• Strong communication skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Proven organisational skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Strong planning and organisational skills with a can-do approach to managing a varying workload
• A positive attitude as well as being a strong team player
• Experience of working in a law firm or professional services would be advantageous
• Professional qualification/education related to HR such as undergraduate degree or CIPD is preferable but not essential

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. During your 6 month probation period, there will be a requirement to be in the office full time whilst you are developing in the role. Once you have successfully passed probation, 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.

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

• 25 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: