Construction Lawyer
Ref: 10683
Dorchester
About the firm
Our client is a boutique Dorset-based firm with an established reputation as a specialist in construction law. Led by its founding partner, the firm is hugely proud of its ability to work with and understand the commercial context of the construction related businesses it supports. The team develops effective and lasting relationships with a variety of clients including developers and contractors, professional consultants, specialist sub-contractor and individuals - many of whom are dealing with stressful situations arising from disputes concerning payment, project delays or defective work. Offering assistance across contentious and non-contentious construction, projects and infrastructure matters, the firm is now focussed on growth in order to continue to meet client demand, and is seeking to recruit an experienced Construction Lawyer to play a key role in the development of the team.
The firm has fostered a culture of encouragement and support, providing genuine career development prospects for its people. As the team grows, there is considerable scope for progression to senior level and a potential future leadership role in time for someone with the right blend of technical and client care skills, personal motivation and commercial awareness.
The Role
The team is expanding owing to increased client demand, and as part of the wider ambition of the firm to grow the practice further. Working with the Partner, you will be responsible for your own caseload of good quality contentious and non-contentious matters of varying size and complexity from the outset. Part of your role will involve drafting, negotiating and advising on a range of standard and bespoke forms of construction and engineering contracts (JCT, NEC, IChemE, IET, ACA). The firm works with clients at every stage of the construction process in both the private and public sectors, and your primary focus will be to provide exceptional client service. You will appreciate the significance of understanding each client’s individual commercial context, ambitions and requirements in order to provide considered and commercially relevant advice to them in a timely manner.
Clients span a range of sectors including energy, waste, infrastructure, higher education, health and residential & commercial property development. Good quality supervision and support will be available as needed, with the expectation that you will be comfortable managing the majority of matters with relative independence. Over time, there could be the opportunity for you to specialise in your preferred area of contentious or non-contentious construction law, but initially your caseload is likely to be broad and varied, reflecting the work of the partner you will be working with.
You’ll be encouraged to engage in business development activities, promoting your own profile with referrer contacts in the region along with that of the firm.
The team work from the offices, close to Dorchester, for part of each week in combination with hybrid working.
About you
Having gained experience as a Construction Lawyer in a UK law firm, you will be accustomed to handling a varied caseload of good quality matters with limited supervision, and with increasing independence over time. Likely to already be an Associate or Senior Associate, you will be motivated and enthusiastic, having benefited from good quality training and post qualifying experience in contentious and non-contentious construction matters. You will have already developed strong client care skills and an ability to listen and respond to clients as needed, appreciating when to seek advice from more experienced colleagues, whilst being comfortable handling straightforward matters independently.
You will have gained good technical knowledge and experienced the practical application of the suite of contracts relating to construction projects, including JCT, NEC, IChemE, IET and ACA, though further support to become fully familiar will be provided if required.
You will appreciate the importance of an effective business network and work generation activities, having already gained some experience of how to generate new business opportunities, promoting your profile and building up referrer networks. You will be keen to build out your network with referrers across the region, and contribute towards broader business development activities in agreement with the Partner.
You consider yourself to be a resilient and collegiate lawyer who enjoys delivering exceptional client service and encourage your colleagues to do the same. You have developed a keen interest for working with a range of clients, providing appropriate, insightful and commercially relevant advice to meet with their specific needs and interests. You focus on keeping up to date with the latest legal developments affecting the construction industry and work proactively to consider potential impact on your clients.
You are readily able to demonstrate your strong analytical and communication skills and work strategically with clients and as part of a team. Being resilient to work under pressure by organising yourself effectively, you will be able to meet deadlines as needed. You will possess proven rapport building skills and you are tenacious, thorough, and attentive to detail, taking pride in the high standards of your work.
Benefits include:
- 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays - 3 days to be taken from the entitlement for Christmas/New Year closure.
- Competitive salary
- Profit related firm bonus (discretionary)
- Individual bonus - based on revenue (discretionary)
- Pension (4% employer contributions)
- Staff Benefits Scheme
- Life Assurance
- Hybrid working, typically with 3 days in the office/2 from home
- Relocation assistance will be considered for the right candidate.
For an informal discussion about this opportunity without commitment and in confidence, please contact Charlotte Ferguson, Recruitment Manager at cferguson@cathedralappointments.co.uk or call 07342 840879.
