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- Tasks: Lead and manage the Employment Team, shaping its direction and ensuring high client service standards.
- Company: Birketts, a top UK law firm with a rich 160-year heritage.
- Benefits: Flexible hybrid working, private healthcare, profit share, and generous leave policies.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact in employment law across diverse sectors.
- Qualifications: Strong expertise in employment law and proven client relationship skills.
- Other info: Inclusive culture focused on professional development and community impact.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
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.
The team you will join
We have an excellent opportunity for a senior employment lawyer to join us as a Partner within our highly regarded Employment Team, based in our Chelmsford office. The successful candidate will play a key role in the continued growth and development of the practice, working with a strong client base across a broad range of sectors.
The work you will be doing
As part of a planned succession within the Chelmsford office, this role will include responsibility for the day-to-day management and leadership of the Employment Team in Chelmsford. The successful candidate will take a central role in shaping the direction of the team, supporting its continued development, and ensuring high standards of client service, supervision and team collaboration.
What we are looking for
The successful candidate will bring strong technical expertise across the full spectrum of employment law, proven experience in developing client relationships, and the ability to contribute to strategic business planning at a senior level. We are looking for someone who is commercially focused, collaborative, and committed to maintaining the excellent reputation of the team and the wider firm.
Sectors in which we work include education, financial services, construction, transport and private client/agriculture, charities and public sector. Particular areas of expertise sought include:
- General employment issues ranging from maternity rights to general contractual issues.
- Transactional corporate support work.
- Wrongful and unfair dismissal.
- Restrictive covenant enforcement and defence.
- Advice to Executives on joining and exiting appointments.
- Redundancy and restructuring.
- Transfer of Undertakings.
- Awareness of boardroom disputes and severance claims.
- Employment litigation in the employment tribunal.
- Discrimination (including sex, race, disability and age).
- Trade union work for employers.
- Professional Discipline and conduct, including advising professional conduct/fitness to practice panel.
Management
- Drives efficient time recording, profitable pricing, strong cash flow, and team gross profit delivery.
- Leads business development and high-profile pitches, builds a strong market presence, wins new clients, and drives cross-selling opportunities.
- Delivers exceptional project and client management, consistently meeting expectations through strong communication and deep client understanding.
- Builds trust through strong relationships, continual professional development, clear communication of vision, and championing positive change.
- Demonstrates strong risk management, supports junior staff, upholds Lexcel standards, and maintains high compliance and file review performance.
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.
As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of 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.
- Paid CSR Day.
- Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave.
- Subsidised gym membership.
- Electric car scheme.
- Dress for your Day Policy.
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 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.
Partner - Employment in Chelmsford employer: Birketts LLP
Contact Detail:
Birketts LLP Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Partner - Employment in Chelmsford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the legal field, especially those who work in employment law. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential colleagues or mentors on LinkedIn.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Prepare a portfolio of your past work and successes in employment law. This could include case studies, client testimonials, or even articles you've written. When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers, let your experience shine through.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out directly to firms like Birketts that interest you. Express your enthusiasm for their work and how you can contribute to their team. A little initiative can go a long way!
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by researching the firm’s culture and recent cases they’ve handled. Tailor your responses to show how your values align with theirs. And remember, we’re all about collaboration, so highlight your teamwork skills and how you can help grow their employment practice.
We think you need these skills to ace Partner - Employment in Chelmsford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Partner - Employment role. Highlight your relevant experience in employment law and how it aligns with what Birketts is looking for. We want to see how you can contribute to our team!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves managing the Employment Team, it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership abilities. Share examples of how you've led teams or projects in the past, and how you can drive growth and collaboration at Birketts.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to convey your experience and skills. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and our firm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Birketts LLP
✨Know Your Employment Law Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on the full spectrum of employment law, especially the areas mentioned in the job description. Be prepared to discuss your experience with wrongful dismissal, redundancy, and discrimination cases, as well as how you've handled complex client relationships.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a potential Partner, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and manage a team effectively. Think of examples where you've successfully driven team collaboration or improved client service standards, and be ready to share these during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Birketts is looking for someone who is commercially focused. Prepare to discuss how you've contributed to strategic business planning in previous roles and how you can help grow the practice at Birketts. Highlight any experience you have with business development and winning new clients.
✨Embrace the Hybrid Working Model
Familiarise yourself with the hybrid working model that Birketts embraces. Be ready to discuss how you can maintain productivity and team cohesion while working both in the office and remotely. This shows you're adaptable and understand modern work environments.