Solicitor/Associate/Senior Associate - Ecclesiastical in London

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 Ecclesiastical Team sits within the wider Private Client Division and is one of the leading national practices supporting the Church of England’s Dioceses, clergy and lay volunteers. The team brings together lawyers with a wide range of professional and life experience, including solicitors and paralegals who act as Diocesan Registrars, Diocesan Registry Clerks and ecclesiastical solicitors advising on an extensive and varied range of legal issues.

This role will involve managing a varied caseload of ecclesiastical property matters, providing expert advice and support across a range of complex transactions. You will be responsible for:

• Managing property transactions including sales of land, church halls, and clergy housing.
• Creating and establishing titles from historic documentation.
• Resolving complex property matters across multiple church-related charities.
• Handling a range of commercial property matters, including the grant of leases (e.g. for nurseries), as well as lease extensions, renewals, and surrenders.
• Advising on and granting easements.
• Providing guidance on boundary issues and parish land ownership, including churches, churchyards, and church halls.
• Serving statutory notices in accordance with the Church Property Measure.

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:

• Demonstrable experience handling freehold and leasehold property matters, including both registered and unregistered land.
• Background in commercial, residential, and/or agricultural property law.
• Working knowledge of unregistered land, particularly in creating titles through Statements of Truth or historical (ancient) documentation.
• Experience with church-owned property is advantageous but not essential.
• Interest in developing expertise within a specialised area of law, with a willingness to learn.
• Understanding of charity law is beneficial; however, training will be provided.
• Ability to work within the Ecclesiastical team while also participating in broader property law training across teams.
• To be competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation.

Birketts has designed a 'Talent Management Framework' which provides a career structure that will help us develop, retain and reward talented people. As an Associate, we typically expect candidates to have between 3-6 years PQE. As a Senior Associate, we typically expect candidates to have 6+ years experience. 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.

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. During your 6 month probation period, there will be a requirement to be in the office full time whilst you are developing in the role. Once you have successfully passed probation, this role attracts a split of 60% office days and 40% working from home days per 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.

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.

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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. Do not submit content generated by AI tools that may include personal or sensitive data not intended for public disclosure. AI-generated content should be reviewed and edited by you to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with the role and our firm’s values. 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.