Planning Law Associate Solicitor in Ipswich, Suffolk

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. 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 45% of our partnership.

The team you will join
Our Property Disputes Team sits within our wider Dispute Resolution Division and acts for a wide range of clients including private individuals, partnerships, trusts, registered social landlords and corporate clients in both the public and private sectors.

The work you will be doing

• Drafting and reviewing tenancy agreements and advising on occupational arrangements
• Drafting, reviewing and serving notices
• Advising on possession options and implications of relevant legislation to the private rented sector
• Preparing and reviewing pleadings, witness statements, and settlement documents
• Preparing instructions to Counsel
• Conducting legal research and preparing clear, concise advice notes for clients and senior team members
• Keeping up to date with legislative changes in the sector
• Attending court hearings, mediations, and negotiations as appropriate
• Manage a caseload of residential letting matters, working under supervision of experienced solicitors
• Attending appropriate business development opportunities
• Working to deadlines
• Maintaining accurate time-costing procedures
• Ensuring compliance with file management
• Proactively support other members of the team and to provide cover as and when necessary

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role.

What we are looking for

• Law degree or equivalent experience
• Demonstrable interest in and/or knowledge of relevant law and legal procedure relating to residential lettings/private rented sector
• Ability to undertake legal work requiring technical and procedural understanding
• Competence in accurately recording time and understanding chargeable work
• Strong legal research and investigative skills
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to analyse information and present findings clearly and precisely
• 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

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. 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
25 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. 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.

Intelligence (AI)
At Birketts, we recognise the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession and recruitment. 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 encourage candidates to demonstrate critical thinking, commercial awareness, and a genuine interest in our firm. If you have any questions about our expectations or the use of AI in your application, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team via talent@birketts.