Senior Associate
Job description
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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 42% of our partnership.
The team you will join
The Birketts Private Client Division is recognised as one of the leading teams for advising individuals, families, and trustees. We provide bespoke advice on protecting wealth, planning for the future, and managing complex personal and family matters, often in conjunction with corporate structures and business interests. Our expertise spans everything from succession and tax planning to trusts, family law, Court of Protection, agricultural estates, ecclesiastical issues, and dispute resolution. We pride ourselves on delivering technically excellent, practical solutions with a personal approach that clients can trust.
Our lawyers bring experience from leading City practices and major national and regional firms. This depth of knowledge enables us to work together on complex matters and deliver exceptional client service and where appropriate, a sector-based offering for our clients.
Our Private Client Advisory team work across all seven of our offices. We act as trusted advisers to individuals, families, trustees, family or owner-run businesses and trust companies both in the UK and internationally. We 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.
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.
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.
What we are looking for
- A minimum of 6 years PQE in a professional legal environment
- Proven track record of advising high net worth clients in all areas of private client advisory law.
- A high attention to detail to produce work/ documentation which is consistently of a high standard.
- To have a flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are always met and clients are communicated with on a consistent and regular basis.
- Previous experience in business development and establishing a presence in new markets.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain client relationships.
- To be competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation
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.
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.
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://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 OpportunitKey skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight your Private Client experience prominently as Birketts specifically seeks expertise in high-net-worth advisory work
📊 Quantify your client portfolio: 'Advised 45+ HNW families on succession planning, managing estates worth £2.8M average'
🌐 Emphasise any Court of Protection or agricultural estates experience as these are specialist areas mentioned in the role
🎯 Showcase your tax planning credentials and any relevant qualifications like STEP or tax specialisations
🤝 Demonstrate relationship-building skills as the role emphasises long-term client relationships and continuity of service
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Managed succession planning for 35 high-net-worth families with combined estates worth £180M, implementing tax-efficient trust structures
- •Led estate administration for complex international estates, reducing probate timescales by 25% through proactive Court of Protection applications
- •Advised agricultural landowners on £4.2M estate restructuring, achieving 18% inheritance tax savings through strategic planning
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Letter preview — tailored to Birketts LLP
Dear Hiring Manager,
Birketts' reputation as a leading Private Client practice and your focus on Next Level Law perfectly aligns with my expertise in succession planning and trust administration for high-net-worth clients.
My background in private client law encompasses estate planning, tax advisory work, and building long-term relationships with wealthy families and trustees. I have particular experience in complex succession matters and international wealth structures, which would complement your team's work across multiple jurisdictions.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How would you structure a succession plan for a family business worth £10M with agricultural land holdings?
- ›What are the key considerations when advising on trust structures for international high-net-worth clients?
- ›How do you approach estate administration for complex estates involving multiple jurisdictions?
- ›What tax planning strategies would you recommend for a client looking to transfer wealth to the next generation?
- ›How would you handle a Court of Protection matter involving capacity issues and financial abuse concerns?
Behavioural
- ›Describe a time when you had to manage a difficult client relationship in private client work
- ›Tell me about a complex estate matter you handled and how you ensured client satisfaction
- ›How do you maintain confidentiality and discretion when dealing with high-net-worth clients?
- ›Describe a situation where you had to work collaboratively across different practice areas
- ›Tell me about a time when you had to explain complex tax implications to a non-legal audience
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Describe a time when you had to manage a difficult client relationship in private client work
Tell me about a complex estate matter you handled and how you ensured client satisfaction