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 45% of our partnership.

The team you will join

Our 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. Our team has members based in four of our offices.

The work you will be doing

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.  

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. 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. 

Benefits

As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of benefits:

• 25 or 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

You can find out more on our website: https://recognition-reward-benefits/

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.

If you require this advert in an accessible format, please visit https://diversityjobsg