At Browne Jacobson, we’ve always worked across business and society, and this expertise sets us apart. Social and environmental impact are at the top of our business agenda. We champion fairness, make the complex simple and forge connections between clients to find creative solutions. This is how we improve outcomes for every person, community and business we serve.

With offices in Birmingham, Dublin, Exeter, London, Manchester and Nottingham, we’re a UK & I based law firm with an international reach. Our sectors include: health; real estate and construction; education; energy and infrastructure; financial services; government; insurance; manufacturing and industrials; and retail, consumer and logistics.

We nurture talent at all levels and from every background and celebrate what makes people individuals. Law needs all voices to reflect the society it serves and we’re working towards social mobility, diversity and inclusion in our firm - and our profession. We strive to create meaningful personal and professional development opportunities and offer flexible working in support of a good work-life balance. We focus on wellbeing and individuality, so that all our people can thrive.

What is the working practice for this role?

The firm operates a set of core principles that guides our working practice. It’s called ‘One Firm, Wherever You Are’.

You might have enjoyed working from home and would like to split your time between there and the office/ other work locations. Others may be eager to return to the office on a more regular basis. We believe that a regular level of in-person contact is an important way to build connections with your colleagues, enhancing knowledge and idea sharing and enabling all of us to benefit from the vibrant office culture Browne Jacobson has to offer.

Our expectation is that, on average, you’ll work from home for no more than three days per week, with the remainder of your time either spent with your colleagues in the office or working from other locations as work demands dictate, e.g. courts, client offices, conferences etc. This is an average expectation over time and we know that there will be variations from week to week. Equally, there will be individual circumstances in which a different pattern of work is needed, for example as an agreed reasonable adjustment for colleagues with a disability or long-term medical condition.

We believe this approach:

• fits with our values and personality;
• will enhance our performance through greater flexibility;
• advances our ambitions as an inclusive employer – helping you better balance work and family/life commitments;
• offers opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint (travel, office services etc.), a key ambition underpinning our corporate sustainability plan.

Why is this role important and how does it fit into the team, department and wider firm?

The vast majority of our work is non-contentious commercial advice for public sector clients, but we are increasingly advising private sector organisations that have relationships with the public sector. Work will include:

• Supporting partners and other senior fee earners advising on high value matters, often with regional or national significance, through a project management role (maintaining lists of documents, updating clients, risk registers, etc.)
• Proof reading and amending complex documents
• Managing the uploading of documents to portals
• Arranging meetings and managing key dates for other fee earners
• Organising training events both internally and externally and liaising with relevant business development contacts

The growth of the team means, once the legal assistant has successfully completed a 6 month probation/performance period, it is very likely that the firm will fund the CILEx route to becoming a qualified solicitor.

Once the CILEx qualifying period begins the work will include a wider variety of fee earning activities, building up to holding a case load of simple matters. The right candidate for this developing role will possess enthusiasm, flexibility and a keen willingness to support lawyers. The legal assistant will be required to work outside of standard working hours as and when the workloads require it.

What does the role actually involve?

• Supporting other lawyers in the team, and across other teams when required, with all aspects of their work
• Supporting the drafting of documents that support all areas of work covered by the team
• Time recording and meeting set targets in line with the firm’s policies and protocols
• Writing articles for the website and other publications
• Keeping up-to-date with legal developments and sharing knowledge with the team
• Preparing and presenting training material
• Updating clients on matters in a timely matter and anticipating next steps

What technical skills are required for someone to be successful and enjoy the role?

• Experience of working in a law firm, supporting a number of lawyers preferable
• Strong academic record and completion of Legal Practice Course (LPC) or equivalent
• Good IT and keyboard skills, at ease with MS Office and other general office applications
• Familiarity with online and library research facilities

Who would be a good fit for this role?

As part of the Government & Infrastructure team, you would be expected to have the following skills and experience:

• Provide support to fee earners in a way that is practical and allows matters to progress
• Work to a high standard and often to very tight timescales
• Dynamic, willing to get involved in business development and marketing initiatives where appropriate
• Effective communicator and negotiator able to establish and maintain harmonious and professional relationships with clients and colleagues
• Attentive to detail
• Willing to spend time if required in all of the firm’s offices
• Awareness of the political climate that may impact on advice to our clients