Senior Associate

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The firm
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 based in 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: property, corporate services, litigation and private client advisory.

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 5th best law firm to work at in 2024.

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 40% of our partnership.
The department
The Administrative and Public Law Disputes Team advice regarding disputes and claims involving public bodies.

Areas that we advise on and litigate in are:

Education Disputes acting for Universities, Oxbridge Colleges, FE, State Schools, Academies/Academy Trusts, Independent Schools and Local Authorities

• Disability/SEN advice including SEND Tribunal cases and advocacy
• Advising on parental complaints including handling persistent and vexatious complainants
• Safeguarding issues, advice and investigations
• Advising on matters including the handling of rape and sexual misconduct allegations including peer on peer. Associated Investigation and Disciplinary procedures. Dealing with Social Services/LADO and the Police and their investigations.
• Student Mental Health Issues
• Advising on complaints to the Office of Independent Adjudicator
• Disciplinary Issues including suspensions and exclusions
• Discrimination advice
• Advice on/Review of Policies and Procedures

Judicial Review/Disputes / Advising in Planning Matters

• Acting for Developers and Local Authorities
• Litigation support to planning team

Commercial

• Acting for clients challenging Government decisions eg HMRC Policies and Procedures
• Advising on Disputes with Rural Payment Agency

Procurement

• Acting for private providers, corporates, individuals against public bodies
• Advising public bodies on challenges to their procurements.

Charities Disputes

• Board Disputes and Breakdowns
• General Disputes
• Procurement Disputes
• Merger Disputes
• Charity Commission Investigations
• Serious Incident Reports
• Safeguarding

Local Authority Disputes/Parish Council Disputes

• Investigations
• Standards and Conduct Complaints
• Handling Persistent and Vexatious Complainants
• FOIA Disputes

Civil Regulatory Disputes

• Care Home Disputes - fee/authorisation disputes
• CQC Issues

Equality Act Claims

Generally defending claims across all sectors including Education, Local Government, Retail, Leisure and Hospitality

General Public Law Disputes

• Advising on State Aid applications/Subsidy Control and permissibility issues
• Advice on Cemetery Regulations
• Advice on Byelaws at an Airport
• Advice on FOIA claims.

Purpose of job
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a dynamic market leading and growing team dealing with prestigious clients and high quality work.

We are looking for a Senior Associate to carry out and supervise on Student Issues and Education Disputes work, especially in the area of Disability, SEN and SEND Tribunal work. Whilst this will be the main focus they should ideally cover a broad range of work across the Administrative and Public Law Disputes team contributing and supervising in their own right and providing assistance to the entire team.

In terms of wider team contribution and particularly as to Business Development and growth, the individual will have a focus on Bristol and the South West, Sevenoaks and the surrounding counties and London but will work with and support the team in its wider BD who in turn will support and work with you.
Accountabilities

• Running and managing files and delegating to and supervising junior lawyers, trainees and paralegals as appropriate.
• SEN advice and SEND Tribunal cases including advocacy where appropriate.
• High Court Litigation as well as Mediation. Advocacy, where appropriate.
• Providing strategic advice.
• Supporting the Team on larger and more complex matters.
• Interacting directly with clients and managing their expectations.
• Managing Budgets and Fees.
• Business Development, Marketing and Networking.

Qualifications/Experience

• A Senior Associate of around 6 years PQE + gained within a strong regional or City firm or specialist/niche practice.
• Excellent client service delivery skills needed.
• A high attention to detail to produce work/ documentation which is consistently of a high standard.
• Excellent communication skills - written and oral.
• Experience of SEND work and Tribunals, High Court Litigation, and any of the above legal areas
• To have a flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are always met and clients are communicated with on a consistent, clear and regular basis.
• Experience in and aptitude for business development.

Equal opportunities
We are committed to recruiting individuals on merits of suitability for each role, on the basis of qualifications and experience. All applications are treated fairly and equally regardless of sexual orientation, race, disability, religious beliefs and any other protected characteristic, ensuring that there are equal opportunities at all stages of the recruitment process.

Benefits

One of the best things about joining Birketts is our rewards package. At Birketts we are appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. A competitive salary and benefits package is given but you can also expect a great team and supportive colleagues, a strong focus on diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities, a programme of wellbeing and mental health support and structured career development and study support.

• 30 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Long Service holiday award - 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare - BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share / Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) day
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Season Ticket Loan
• Gym Flex membership
• Electric car scheme
• Dress for your Day Policy
• Agile Working Policy