Solicitor in Bristol

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.

The agriculture team sits within the wider Private Client Division. This role will sit in the Litigation sub-team. The team is one of the best qualified and largest agricultural teams in the UK market, providing a comprehensive range of legal services to farmers, landed estates, landowners, developers and agri-business specialists. Based in Bristol, the team comprises a Partner, a Legal Director, two Senior Associates, two Associates and dedicated secretarial support. We are a team of rural specialists with deep sector knowledge.

The team advises clients on a wide range of agricultural and rural disputes, including:

• Farming partnership and succession issues (including proprietary estoppel)
• Landlord and tenant and agricultural tenancy disputes (AHA and ATA)
• Rights of way and other property disputes
• Restrictive covenant and boundary issues
• Contract claims and judicial review challenges

We support clients from early case assessment and strategic negotiation through to mediation, arbitration and court proceedings.

The work you will be doing

You will be responsible for:

• Managing a varied caseload of agricultural and rural disputes, with appropriate supervision, from initial instructions through to resolution.
• Drafting statements of case and other key litigation documents (including witness statements and applications) and undertaking disclosure exercises.
• Advising on a broad range of rural disputes, including farming partnership and succession disputes (including proprietary estoppel), AHA/ATA tenancy issues, rights of way and other property disputes, boundary and restrictive covenant issues, contract claims and public law/judicial review challenges.
• Participating in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration, and assisting with preparation for hearings and trials.
• Working closely with the wider Agriculture and Estates team.
• Participating in marketing and networking initiatives.

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

• Completion of a recognised training contract or equivalent qualifying experience.
• 0-3 years' experience gained working in a reputable legal firm.
• Demonstrable interest and foundational knowledge in Agriculture and Estates.
• Strong attention to detail to produce work documentation which is consistently of a high standard.
• Professional integrity and a commitment to providing excellent client service.
• To be competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation.

We have designed a 'Talent Management Framework' which provides a career structure that will help us develop, retain and reward talented people. As a Solicitor, we typically expect candidates to have between 0–3 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 office and working from home days each 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.

Benefits

• Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service.
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed).
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme.
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share).
• Life Assurance – 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance.

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.

Equal Opportunity

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI)

At Birketts, we recognise the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession and recruitment. We welcome innovation and understand that candidates may use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we expect all applicants to use AI responsibly and ethically. Your application should reflect your own voice, experiences, and insights. AI may assist in structuring or refining your responses, but it must not replace your personal input. Do not use AI to misrepresent your qualifications, experiences, or skills. Any form of exaggeration or fabrication may result in rejection from the process. If you have used AI tools to assist with your application, be prepared to discuss how and why you used them during the interview process. We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices. The use of AI should enhance, not compromise, your application. We encourage candidates to demonstrate critical thinking, commercial awareness, and a genuine interest in our firm.