Associate / Senior Associate (5+ years PQE) in Bristol

Department: Real Estate

Contract Type: Full Time / Permanent

Location: Bristol

We are seeking to recruit an Associate or Senior Associate (with at least 5+ years PQE) to join our busy and highly regarded Real Estate team in Bristol. Our Real Estate team provides a full spectrum of legal services to a diverse client base, including major institutional investors, developers, lenders, local authorities, national housing associations and private clients. The department is highly regarded for its work in development and investment, consistently acting on high-profile, complex transactions across the UK and internationally.

What you’ll do

In this role, you will play a key part in supporting our busy Housebuilding and Development practice, delivering complex, high-value work for an impressive roster of clients, including national housing associations, charities, local authorities and developers. You will work alongside a team of experienced, collaborative professionals who are passionate about what they do and equally passionate about your growth and development. From day one, you’ll be trusted with a high level of responsibility and be expected to advise on complex matters. As part of an ambitious team that is firmly focused on growth, you’ll also be encouraged to contribute to business development, helping to further shape and expand Ashfords' Housebuilding and Development practice. This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of a collaborative and forward-thinking team and to play a key role in supporting the delivery of high-quality legal advice.

Who you are

As an experienced real estate lawyer, ideally with experience gained at a national or City firm, you will have a proven track record of delivering high quality real estate development work, preferably with a focus on social housing or regeneration. You are an excellent communicator, both written and verbal, and you understand the value of building lasting relationships with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders. You work calmly and methodically under pressure, managing deadlines and competing priorities with confidence and care. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to producing work of the highest quality, you bring professionalism and integrity to everything you do. You also bring a proactive, client-focused mindset with a genuine interest in the housing and regeneration sector and the wider social and policy context in which it operates.

Your career. Our commitment.

At Ashfords, we believe in more than just doing great work – we believe in building a great place to work. When you join us, you become part of a team where everything we do is underpinned by our four core values: Be Open, Think Team, Make a Difference and Always Grow. These values shape who we are and how we work – they guide our decisions, influence our culture, and drive the way we support our people, clients and communities. With a clear focus on innovation, community involvement, and supporting a healthy work life balance, we are committed to building an environment where our people can have a rewarding and meaningful career. Whilst we recognise that every career journey is unique, we will be ambitious for you, giving you the tools, trust, and opportunities to develop your career, your way. Our goal? To help you realise your full potential as part of a forward-thinking team.

Our offer

We know that our people are at the heart of everything we do and that’s why we’re committed to supporting your wellbeing, growth and work life balance. Beyond our benefits package, you’ll be encouraged, no matter what your role or career level, to get involved in our Responsible Business programme, where you’ll support initiatives such as charity fundraising, environmental causes and our employee-led diversity and inclusion groups. You can find out more about our benefits by visiting the Reward & Wellbeing page on our website.

What’s next?

Our recruitment process typically involves two stages, designed not only to explore your skills and experience but also to give you a real insight into what it’s like to work at Ashfords. Throughout the process, our dedicated Talent Attraction team will be here to support you every step of the way. We believe that building a firm with a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences drives innovation and strengthens our teams, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. To support your growth, we offer ongoing training and development opportunities to help you reach your full potential, so even if you don’t feel you match all the requirements of the job role, we’d still love to hear from you. At Ashfords, we’re committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to succeed.