23rd May 2024 – We have a vacancy for a Solicitor – Corporate NQ to 5-year PQE
Accountable to: Departmental Head
Responsible for: N/A
Job Summary
An opportunity for an ambitious lawyer to become part of an established corporate team advising the OMB/SME market.
Largely transactional based with some commercial work for a large number of private companies. These incorporate startups into businesses with turnovers in excess of £100 million.
The successful candidate will receive appropriate support and training for their PQE.
The key purpose of the job holder’s role is to provide legal support and advice to clients. The job holder takes instructions from clients and advises on necessary courses of legal action.
To develop new business opportunities, together with nurturing and expanding existing client relationships.
To ensure that all business transactions are compliant with the SRA code of practice, as well as all other relevant regulatory bodies and are performed in a professional and responsive manner, which will enhance the firm’s reputation and is consistent with the high-quality service that RJS is committed to providing.
For more information about this role, please click on this link: https://bit.ly/3wPz2oi
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Vacancies
RJS Solicitors offers trainee opportunities on a twice-annual intake basis. Training contracts begin in March and September every year for appropriately qualified external applicants.
For applicants who may wish to join us in March, applications need to be submitted by the end of January.
For applicants wanting to join us in September, applications need to be submitted by mid-March.
RJS provides legal advice to businesses and their owners; our clients range from start-ups to quoted PLCs.
We regularly work alongside national and regional practices.
We offer training across our four practice areas: corporate, disputes, real estate and private clients.
You will be actively involved with client matters and will have the opportunity to participate in all areas of the business.
Please send your application to donna.parr@rjssolicitors.com
The best training experience possible:
We have implemented what we believe is a balanced introduction to the profession, ensuring the bespoke needs of the individual alongside the requirements of our firm. We provide a bespoke training period with high-end technical training alongside real client experience.
Induction
We provide full details of the practice, what we do, and how we work. This involves full training in our case and file management systems and the firm’s working practices.
Salary
Our trainee salaries are subject to review on an annual basis. We always exceed the Law Society minimum recommendation.
Entry requirements
Generally, we seek a minimum 2:1 in any degree (or equivalent) and an expected or achieved pass in either the LPC or SQE1 and 2.
We will consider applications outside of these requirements where there are alternative factors to consider, such as specific experience.
Training and seat rotation
You will enjoy the chance to build both the technical legal skills and complementary skills you need to become a newly qualified Solicitor. We believe we provide quite a unique environment in bringing high-level technical knowledge alongside real-life and practical business advice and support.
Throughout your training contract, you will gain broad exposure to different areas of the firm. While each contract is bespoke, this will generally be done by moving seats approximately every six months. The training in each seat is ‘front-loaded’ to enable you to quickly develop legal knowledge of each area and take on real responsibility. We ensure that your personal preferences and/or previous experiences are taken into account wherever possible when we plan your seat.
The Training principal and our COO will support you throughout your Training Contract, meeting with you each month to offer personal or professional support and guidance. They will also ensure that you are meeting all of your learning and development goals.
What we’re looking for:
A focus on detail
With a conscientious approach, you will have the ability to digest and retain significant details. You will need to communicate clearly and accurately both in written and verbal communication. Finally, you will also need to be able to interact well with people both internally and externally.
An interest in business
We’re a commercial law firm, so you’ll have a genuine interest in how business works. That means keeping up to date with the latest business issues, as well as appreciating how legal expertise can support and steer commercial organisations.
Confidence
With the self-assurance to voice your own opinions and defend your point of view when you need to, you’ll be a convincing and persuasive communicator. But you’ll also have the self-awareness to ask for help when you need it.
Intellectual capability
You will need an analytical approach to be able to consider and evaluate a variety of opinions or views, apply those views to situations and form your own balanced or persuasive opinions on the facts at hand.
Personal drive
You’ll need to combine a real desire to be the best with the energy, ambition, and enthusiasm to go the extra mile to succeed. With a can-do attitude, you’re always open to learning from your experience so you can be even better next time.
Personal responsibility
Taking responsibility is at our core. You will understand that this allows you to consistently improve and achieve your career aims. It also allows you to make the most of your personal drive to reach high-performance levels.
Self-organisation
You understand priorities and monitor your progress towards set objectives. By being well-organised and planning and managing your work efficiently, you make sure you always deliver quality work on time.
Our recruitment process:
We’ve designed our application process to ensure you’ll know the outcome no more than three months after the application deadline. The process shown below shows a typical recruitment and selection process. You’ll be given full details of the process in relation to your own recruitment as appropriate.
Application
Apply by sending a CV and cover letter to Mrs D Parr at donna.parr@rjssolicitors.com
Online assessment
After the deadline, we’ll review all applications, and if you’re one of the ones who best meet our requirements, we’ll ask you to take an online psychometric test.
Partner Interview
If you pass the online assessment, you’ll be invited for an interview with a Partner/Director.
Offer of a placement
After the Partner review, we’ll look at your performance in all areas, and if you’re one of the people who best meet our core capabilities, we’ll offer you a Training Contract.
Qualification and beyond:
Trainee retention
We aim to recruit high-quality Trainees and focus on recruiting Trainees with a view to being able to retain all of our Trainees. We believe it is essential that we grow organically, and training and retaining our NQ Trainees is a core part of our business plan. We carefully control the number of Trainees in the business to maximise retention. Resource planning ensures that you will be given the highest quality of work, which will stretch you further and allow you to quickly learn and develop.
Newly Qualified (NQ) selection process
We run a fair and transparent NQ selection process across the Firm. The recruitment process is centrally managed and includes interviews and technical skills assessments. Our Training Principal and COO work with the business to identify the right candidates and the appropriate seats at the right time for each individual to maximize the opportunities available.
Continuous professional development
After qualification, you can look forward to a variety of development opportunities that will enable you to become a specialist in your chosen area. Within each team, we look to ensure training is made available on a regular basis, as well as supporting individuals with their own short-term and long-term training and career goals.