Senior Associate or Salaried Partner

About the Role

Our focus is on providing outstanding client service, through expert, clear advice and assistance with Commercial Property matters, delivered in a professional and engaged way that leads to high levels of client satisfaction. We work together at all levels of our team to create a supportive and pro-active environment to achieve this. We are looking to recruit a Senior Associate or Salaried Partner to ensure the successful development of the firm in line with the current published business plan. To undertake fee earning work and provide a profitable contribution to the work of the department, meeting fee earning and other KPI targets. Based in our Guildford office you will handle all forms of commercial, development and/or investment property work, and/or the disposal/acquisitions of businesses, either working on matters delegated from the Partners or building and developing own case load with this emphasis, depending on experience and ability.

• Department: Commercial Property
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Location: Guildford
• Workplace Type: In Office

Key Tasks, Duties and Quality Standards

• To assist the department as a whole in meeting its fee earning targets by providing help regarding advice and assistance to clients of the department as well as other departments of the firm.
• Has the confidence of all Partners and colleagues in terms of the handling of referred work, including as to quality of advice, quality of service levels, promptness of work done, and level of fees charged, seeking guidance from other senior members of the team or firm as appropriate.
• Conduct of matters on behalf of clients.
• Where appropriate, demonstrate good management skills in supervising junior members of staff.
• Show willingness to become involved in activities of the firm outside of the department to which the individual is assigned.
• Maintain their client/referrer base and continue to develop it.
• Understand and undertake proper referral of work to relevant departments and recommendation of work for other departments.
• Is involved in practice development and marketing activities for the department, office and firm.
• Demonstrate a very good level of commercial awareness.
• Financial control with particular regard to cash-flow control through collection of monies on account and billing procedures.
• To utilise the skills of any department trainee and to assist with the trainee’s training.
• Travel to client meetings both in and outside the UK when required.
• Promote good file management.
• To ensure compliance with regulatory procedures.
• To maintain professional knowledge base including attainment of annual CPD points.
• To assist during the absence of other fee earners.
• Undertake other duties as from time to time required and agreed.

Qualifications and Personal Qualities

Qualifications: A good honours degree followed by LPC, training contract and PSC /or a good honours degree followed by SQE and qualifying work experience/ or a good honours degree with CILEX to Fellow level, LPC and PSC, and admitted by SRA as a solicitor.

Essential personal qualities and attributes:

• Demonstrates a high level of technical competence in chosen area of law and practice (and a sufficient understanding and awareness of all relevant areas of law as appropriate) with nominal need for supervision.
• Achieves targets in respect of chargeable hours, fees, recovery rate, lock-up and non-chargeable time as an Associate Solicitor and is either achieving, or achieving, targets for a Senior Associate Solicitor.
• Has largely developed a client/referrer base.
• Understands and undertakes proper referral of work to relevant departments and development of work for other departments.
• Where appropriate, demonstrates good management skills in supervising junior members of staff.
• Is involved in practice development and marketing activities for the department, office and firm.
• Demonstrates a clear understanding of, and alignment with, the values of the firm.
• Demonstrates a high level of courtesy and respect in dealing with all colleagues and clients/key business introducers, etc.
• Demonstrates a very good level of commercial awareness.
• Sound training.
• Well-developed interpersonal, social and communication skills. Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Computer literate with an ability to develop its use in own functional area.
• Enthusiasm and commitment.
• A sound knowledge of your responsibilities as a Solicitor including in the following areas: Rules and principles of professional conduct, Client care, Conflicts of interest, Confidentiality, Relations with third parties, Relations with other solicitors, Regulatory and compliance procedures.

Desirable skills: Prior knowledge of Practice Evolve or other office management systems.

Rewards and Benefits

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] offers a competitive salary and a range of financial benefits including annual salary review, bonus scheme, 5% employer pension contribution, death in service benefit, season ticket loan, paid professional memberships, and long service rewards. Health and wellbeing benefits include private medical cover, company sick pay, cycle to work scheme, Employee Assistance Programme, and regular socials. Work-life enrichment includes 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, enhanced parental leave, flexible working, sabbaticals, and study leave. Learning and development opportunities include a trainee solicitor programme, extensive CPD programme, annual performance reviews, and personal career progression plans.

About the Team

The Commercial Property team at [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] handles a broad spectrum of work, from complex acquisitions and leasing to development, investment, and enfranchisement matters. Lawyers gain exposure to high-value, technically varied work across diverse sectors. With a strong partner-led model and longstanding client relationships, this is a rewarding team for those seeking depth and progression in property law.

Location

Guildford office: 65 Woodbridge Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4RD