Paralegal – Ipswich

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning over 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals 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 and opportunities 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.

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 Responsible Business strategy. Birketts is a certified B Corporation™, and diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 45% of our partnership as of 1 April 2026.

Our SIPPs Team sits within the wider Real Estate Division and have established practical working relationships which ensures that they provide an efficient and cost-effective service.

The team specialise within all elements of property investment; including commercial property transactions, acquisitions, disposals, transfers in specie, part-ownership, loans, leases, and mortgages.

We’re looking for a proactive and organised Paralegal to join our team and play a key role in supporting a wide variety of property transactions. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your technical expertise, work closely with experienced lawyers, and take ownership of your own workload while contributing to a busy and collaborative department.

Working alongside our fee earners, you’ll provide essential support throughout the lifecycle of commercial property transactions, including:

• Managing post-exchange and post-completion matters
• Drafting contracts, transfer deeds and leases with guidance from senior colleagues
• Opening new files and preparing client care documentation
• Keeping clients, agents and other intermediaries updated on transaction progress
• Preparing and submitting applications to the Land Registry and Companies House, as well as dealing with requisitions
• Ordering, reviewing and summarising property searches and assisting with reports on title
• Preparing completion statements, invoices and other transactional documents
• Assisting with the transfer of completion funds and file closures
• Drafting responses to Commercial Property Standard Enquiries (CPSEs)
• Managing pre-completion requisitions and deed schedules
• Supporting file closing procedures and deed storage arrangements
• Undertaking your own fee-earning work under supervision, providing an excellent platform for professional development

• Law degree or equivalent experience
• Demonstrable interest in and/or knowledge of relevant law and legal procedure
• 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

Due to the nature of work required, this role is fully office based.  

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. 

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

You can find out more on our website: https://www.birketts.co.uk/recognition-reward-benefits/

As a B Corporation, 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://diversityjobsgroup.com/company/birketts/

#IMP

At Birketts, we recognise the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession and recruitment. We welcome innovation and understand that candidates may use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we expect all applicants to use AI responsibly and ethically.

 Our expectations regarding AI use in applications:

• Your application should reflect your own voice, experiences, and insights. AI may assist in structuring or refining your responses, but it must not replace your personal input.
• Do not use AI to misrepresent your qualifications, experiences, or skills. Any form of exaggeration or fabrication may result in rejection from the process.
• If you have used AI tools to assist with your application, be prepared to discuss how and why you used them during the interview process.
• 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 are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices. The use of AI should enhance, not compromise, your application. 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.co.uk