Solicitor / FCILEX 2 + Years PQE in Taunton

At Stephens Scown, every day is what we make it. So we make it matter. Doing notable work for notable clients, building our skills with talented people and having a positive impact on our communities sits at the heart of everything we do. We don’t just say it, we live it. Our commitment to our people, clients and communities runs through our DNA. We are employee-owned, we are a Certified B Corporation TM, and we are featured in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 list – ensuring our culture and ethos of going above and beyond for our people, our colleagues and our communities is recognised nationally.

The Role

Stephens Scown is seeking an ambitious and talented Rural Property Legal Advisor to join our highly regarded Rural team in Taunton to help grow the offering and the team. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a growing office and play a key role in its continued success. You’ll join one of the South West’s leading legal teams, advising a diverse range of rural clients while enjoying high-quality work, excellent support, and genuine opportunities for career progression. As our presence in Taunton continues to expand, we’re looking for someone who is passionate about rural property work and eager to contribute to the growth of both our team and client offering in the region. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to head up the Rural offering and team in the Taunton office.

You will advise a wide range of rural and agricultural clients, including:

• Farmers and landowners
• Estates and trusts
• Rural businesses
• Developers and investors
• Private individuals

The work is varied, interesting and often complex, and is likely to include:

• Sales and acquisitions of farms, agricultural land and rural estates
• Agricultural tenancies and farm business tenancies
• Land development and strategic land matters
• Renewable energy projects
• Easements, rights of way and other property rights
• Estate and land management matters
• Diversification projects and rural business transactions

You will work closely with colleagues across our wider Rural team, which is recognised for its specialist expertise and collaborative approach.

About You

We are keen to hear from candidates who:

• Are qualified Legal Advisors with 2 to 8+ years’ PQE
• Have experience in rural property, agricultural law, commercial property or a related practice area
• Possess strong technical skills and commercial awareness
• Enjoy building lasting relationships with clients and professional contacts
• Have an interest in the rural sector and the unique challenges faced by rural businesses and landowners
• Are motivated by the opportunity to help grow a developing office and contribute to its long-term success

Whether you are an Associate looking to take the next step in your career or a more experienced Legal Advisor seeking a new challenge, we would love to hear from you.

What we can offer you

We offer a competitive salary and an impressive array of benefits and rewards. Not least of these is through the Firm’s employee-ownership status, where every employee is listened to, helps to realise our vision and receives an equal share in our annual profit-share. Our hybrid working model and approach to flexible working enables our people to share their working time between home and the office to support a healthy work / life balance.

Employee benefits – including 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays and your birthday), private medical insurance, group life assurance, access to a comprehensive range of wellbeing support, and three additional days’ paid leave to support good causes.

Progression opportunities – including, regular training, qualification options, mentorship, and continued professional development.

Why Stephens Scown?

Working here is something else entirely. It’s a place where we can step up to tough challenges with people so good they inspire us to be better. We proudly work in a beautiful part of the country, go beyond expectations and achieve things that matter. Owning It Matters… We’re the UK’s first major employee‑owned law firm. But more than this, we’re people‑centred, people‑powered. We do what it takes to help each other overcome every challenge. Whatever’s happening in the world, empowering our people is what matters. Our communities and colleagues give us a lot to be thankful for. So we try to make them feel as valued as our clients.

Whether we’re digging deep and giving our time and money, picking up rubbish from our streets and beaches, at Stephens Scown, if it’s right, it matters. We might have the expertise of a top city firm, but outside our offices there’s not a skyscraper in sight. Whether we’re getting to know our clients on our local beach or having fun in the park with colleagues, we’re all about living a life enriched by work. Making the fun matter.

At Stephens Scown, we believe that a diverse workforce delivers better results for our clients and creates a happier workplace where everyone feels valued and appreciated. Therefore we welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds, abilities and beliefs.

All offers of employment at Stephens Scown are subject to Basic level of Disclosure and Barring Service check. Any information gathered in relation to the DBS process is held in accordance with all relevant data protection regulations. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of your offences. At interview, or in a separate discussion, we ensure that an open and measured discussion takes place on the subject of any offences or other matter that might be relevant to the position sought could lead to withdrawal of an offer of employment. We make every subject of a DBS Disclosure aware of the existence of the DBS Code of Practice. This is available on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-code-of-practice