Careers With KJS Joining Our TeamSenior Solicitor- Branch Manager

Senior Solicitor- Branch Manager

We are recruiting Senior Solicitors for Royal Tunbridge Wells and Cirencester. Our Senior Solicitors are trusted advisers to clients navigating sensitive and often life-changing situations.

In addition to delivering exceptional legal services, this role carries Branch Manager responsibility, ensuring the smooth operation, compliance and performance of the office, while leading and developing the team to uphold the firm’s values and high standards.

We are looking for outstanding legal expertise, strong leadership capability, commercial awareness and an unwavering commitment to client care and regulatory excellence.

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Client Care & Legal Practice

We are recruiting for an individual who can undertake the work ordinarily expected of a qualified Solicitor (Level 3/4 of the SRA Competency Statement) practising in Family Law with sufficient skill, care and competence.

Conduct meetings with new and existing clients in person, by telephone and via video conference, ensuring a compassionate and professional experience.
Maintain full responsibility for the conduct of client matters, including drafting correspondence and pleadings, attending hearings and conferences, instructing Counsel and ensuring matters progress efficiently.
Ensure all time is recorded accurately at the appropriate fee rate and within agreed cost estimates. Keep clients regularly informed regarding fees and obtain sufficient monies on account before incurring third party costs.
Work proactively with clients and the KJS Accounts Team in managing client debt and securing third-party funding where appropriate.
Endeavour to attract additional business from new and existing clients, promoting the KJS brand while treating clients fairly and maintaining accurate chargeable time records.

Branch Management & Leadership

Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day management, performance and compliance of the branch office.
Lead, motivate and develop the office team, creating a supportive, high-performing and collaborative working environment.
Provide clear supervision, mentoring and guidance to junior fee earners and support staff, ensuring quality, accuracy and timeliness of work.
Work with the KJS Management Team to plan branch objectives aligned with firm strategy and growth plans.
Monitor financial performance of the branch including billing, productivity and debt management, taking appropriate corrective action where required.
Ensure the office environment is professional, organised and compliant with Health & Safety requirements.
Conduct regular team meetings and contribute positively to firmwide meetings and initiatives.
Support recruitment, onboarding and development of new team members within the branch.

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What you'll have access to?

Professional Development: Continuous learning opportunities, mentoring, and career progression pathway

Bespoke Leadership Training Opportunities: on the Emerging Leading Programme to successful applicants within our teams

Work-Life Balance: Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to help you balance your professional and personal life

Wellbeing: A comprehensive wellbeing programme to support your mental and physical health

Community: A workplace culture that values diversity, knowledge-sharing, innovation, collaboration, reward and celebration

Who you will work with

Each of our offices has their own branch head who has a wealth of expertise. Our current leaders are Kulbir Rahi, Jen Murray, Robyn Bowyer, Anna Ferro, Arabella Turner, Laura Gusatu, Beth Pettifer, Edward Morton, Eleanor Tanner and Sofie Corbin. As well as two branch managers ; Dorjan Myrtja and Jennifer White.

Mentorship at your fingertips

Beth Pettifer heads up our mentorship, offering guidance on anything you may need as you settle in. We support an ecosystem of support to each of our team.

The freedom to manage your caseload

We believe in creating an environment for our lawyers to thrive, we recognise the importance of creating a space where you can create a name for yourself, elevate your profile and achieve our 'client focus' value.

What are we looking for?

A Qualified Solicitor with substantial post-qualification experience in Family Law (typically 5+ years PQE).
Previous leadership or supervisory experience, ideally with branch or departmental responsibility and a passion for growing your own team.
Strong commercial awareness and the ability to manage office performance.
Working with our marketing team and generating business through your own office initiatives.
Excellent communication, organisational and client-care skills.
A calm, professional and empathetic approach when handling sensitive matters.
Commitment to regulatory compliance, confidentiality and high professional standards.
A proactive and collaborative mindset aligned with KJS values and culture.

For the avoidance of doubt KJS – K J Smith Solicitors
SRA – Solicitors Regulation Authority
COLP – Compliance Officer for Legal Practice
COFA – Compliance Officer for Financial Administration
MLRO – Money Laundering Reporting Officer
MLCO – Money Laundering Compliance Officer

Professional Standards & Compliance

Always work and behave in a professional manner, upholding the highest standards expected by the SRA in both a personal and professional capacity.
Ensure all information relating to KJS, its Directors, Employees and clients is treated as wholly confidential.
Keep up to date with developments in Family Law and ensure compliance with SRA Practising Certificate requirements.
Work collaboratively with the COLP, COFA, MLRO and MLCO as required, supporting file reviews, compliance monitoring, complaints handling and training needs.
Promote equality, diversity and inclusion across the branch and wider firm.
Carry out all duties in line with KJS policies, procedures and regulatory requirements.

Awards & Recognitions

We’re recognised by the Legal 500 as a Leading Firm in a number of practice areas. That means that an external, objective body has scrutinised our competency and client reviews, and found us to be one of the top family law practices in the UK.

Our lawyers are members of Resolution, so we are committed to a Code of Practice which promotes a constructive approach to family issues that considers the needs of the whole family.