At a Glance
- 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: 30 days holiday, private healthcare, hybrid working, and performance bonuses.
- Other info: Embrace a flexible work culture with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact in employment law.
- Qualifications: Strong expertise in employment law and proven client relationship skills.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 100000 £ per year.
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
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:
- Technical: 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.
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.
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.
Partner in Essex employer: Birketts LLP
Birketts LLP is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Bristol where you can lead and shape a new Residential Real Estate team. With a strong emphasis on client service and business development, employees benefit from flexible hybrid working arrangements, generous holiday allowances, private healthcare, and a robust pension scheme, all fostering a culture of growth and collaboration.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Partner in Essex
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the legal field. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current employees at Birketts. A friendly chat can open doors!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! When you get the chance to meet potential employers or clients, make sure to highlight your experience in employment law. Share specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in the past.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out directly to Birketts and express your interest in joining their team. A little initiative can go a long way in making a great impression.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by researching Birketts’ culture and values. Understand their Next Level Law proposition and think about how you can contribute to their goals. Tailor your responses to show you’re a perfect fit!
We think you need these skills to ace Partner in Essex
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see why you're excited about joining our team and how you can contribute to our Next Level Law proposition.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the specific role of Partner in our Employment Team. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that align with what we're looking for, especially in employment law and client relationship management.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that get straight to the heart of your qualifications and experiences without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on being part of our community!
How to prepare for a job interview at Birketts LLP
✨Know Your Employment Law Inside Out
As a potential Partner in the Employment Team, it's crucial to have a solid grasp of employment law. Brush up on key areas like wrongful dismissal, redundancy, and discrimination. Be ready to discuss recent cases or changes in legislation that could impact your clients.
✨Showcase Your Business Development Skills
Birketts is looking for someone who can drive business growth. Prepare examples of how you've successfully developed client relationships or led high-profile pitches in the past. Highlight your commercial focus and how you can contribute to strategic planning.
✨Demonstrate Leadership and Team Collaboration
This role involves managing and leading the Employment Team. Think about your leadership style and be prepared to share experiences where you've fostered collaboration and supported junior staff. Emphasise your commitment to maintaining high standards and team morale.
✨Align with Birketts' Values
Familiarise yourself with Birketts' Next Level Law proposition and their commitment to diversity and community impact. During the interview, express how your values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their culture of ambition and inclusivity.
