Reeds Solicitors LLP is a successful national legal practice undertaking the full spectrum of Legal Aid and privately paying Criminal Law.
We are looking to establish new Criminal Law teams in large urban areas throughout the Midlands and the North specifically, but interested in any area where we don’t currently have a presence with the right candidate.
We are open to hearing from experienced criminal solicitors, especially those who have their own following or are interested in developing a new practice area and are looking for a new challenge in a growing and supportive environment.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Meeting and interviewing clients to give advice on criminal allegations and take their instructions.
- Advising clients on the law and legal issues relating to their case.
- Drafting applications, documents, letters that may arise during the course of a criminal case.
- Acting on behalf of clients and representing them in court.
- Instructing barristers or specialist advocates to appear in Crown Court for the client in complex cases.
- Attending at the police station to advise clients where necessary.
- Travel across the area and the wider business to represent clients in Court.
- Preparing client’s proof of evidence and replies to prosecution witness statements.
- Drafting Defence Case Statements relating to a client’s case.
- Manage complex criminal cases and own case load from beginning to end.
- Working in a team, sometimes referring cases to the head of department.
- Supervising and delegating work to trainee solicitors, paralegals and legal secretaries as appropriate.
- Administrative duties, for example completing time sheets so that charges for work can be calculated, billing clients for work done on their behalf.
- Any other duties as directed by the Team Leader or a member of the Management Team.
- Police Station Accredited and Duty Solicitor Status would be attractive but is not essential.
- Highly dynamic with the drive to generate work for the firm.
- Self-motivated and commercially minded, as well as having good interpersonal and communication skills.
- Excellent understanding of client care requirements.
- Proficient in using Microsoft Office package and the ability to learn and efficiently use both practice and case management software.
- Must be proactive in seeking to manage and progress files and apply a consistent attention to detail.
- The ability to work within a high pressure, high workload environments.
- Be self confident, proactive and able to develop good working relationship with third parties including court staff, counsel and the Crown Prosecution Service.
- Excellent time management and organisation skills.
- Resilient with the ability to cope with everchanging priorities.
- A flexible approach and willingness to help, across all teams and departments, with a “can do” attitude.
Salary – The salary range is broad, depending on experience and client following.
Working Hours – Monday – Friday, 9:00am to 5.00pm, with one hour for lunch. Flexible working available
Location – Any Location
Job Type – Permanent
Closing Date – We reserve the right to amend the closing date or withdraw the advert without notice prior to the closing date.
Why Work for Reeds?
At Reeds we do things The Reeds Way – a set of foundational principles that not only tell us how we run our business, but why.
Externally, it governs how we look after our clients. For example, we have developed our Service Pledge, and our whole firm works as a team to make sure we deliver on this every time. The Reeds Way also governs and guides how we try to add value to the communities in which we operate.
Internally, the Reeds Way governs our culture, the Reeds working environment, and the working life and career that we offer to all Reeds people – About Us – Reeds Solicitors
So, what does all this look like when put into practice? Here is what you can expect from us if you join our team:
- We safeguard a non-negotiable culture of respect for and between colleagues;
- We offer a transparent and fair career development structure with opportunities for all lawyers and fee-earners to progress through the stages and become an Associate, Senior Associate and hopefully Partner;
- All our people – and that means all our people – constantly undergo training and development via The ‘Reeds Academy’ which helps everyone achieve their career goals and get to where they want to be professionally, and to enhance their business skills and knowledge;
- We encourage all our staff to think about business development and look for growth opportunities. We are always willing to listen to, and potentially invest in, new ideas;
- We offer competitive salary and benefit packages and have a transparent annual review process which considers your whole contribution to your team and the Firm, not just billing figures;
- We offer to all staff a discretionary bonus scheme for exceptional performance as well as performance related bonuses;
- We offer flexible working schemes which include compressed 4 day weeks, 9 day fortnights and TOIL (time off in lieu), as well as a true commitment to hybrid working;
- You will enjoy the ability to earn up to 30 days of holiday with years of service (standard holiday packages start at 21 days plus all bank holidays);
- There is an additional paid celebration day for you to use as you would like (such as a birthday, anniversary or other key event);
- You will have the ability to buy a further 5 days of holiday, and sell surplus holiday, each year;
- Discretionary additional holiday days are given at Christmas (up to a maximum of 2 days);
- We give you private medical health care with the option to upgrade and add optical and dental care;
- Discounted gym membership is available, through private medical insurance;
- We offer an employee assistance programme with access to physical, mental and emotional health advice & webinars, wellbeing videos and programmes, online counselling & mini health checks;
- The Cycle To Work scheme is available, including e-bikes;
- Fresh fruit baskets are placed in each office on a weekly basis
Read more about Reeds Solicitors here.
How to Apply
If you are interested in this position, or would like further information, please email [email protected] with the job title clearly stated in the subject line.