The role of a commercial construction disputes lawyer is a challenging one, but also very rewarding. The necessary skills and traits needed to be an exceptional practitioner include the following:
- Excellent written English for drafting purposes
- Good technical legal skills with a sound understanding of contract, tort and statute law
- Good IT and social media skills so as to operate as a modern, innovative and effective legal practitioner
- Numeric with an ability to understand quantum claims
- Precision and attention to detail
- Capacity to work hard, with commitment and enthusiasm
- Thoroughness and conscientious approach to work and career
- Enthusiasm to participate in marketing and client development
- Excellent interpersonal and team skills, including the ability to work collaboratively with others, influence and persuade
- The ability to build good working relationships with clients and potential clients
- Good research skills, including an ability to use online information sources
- Presentational and advocacy skills
- Enjoyment of the law, of solving legal commercial problems and working with a sense of humour.
Who will I be working with?
Whilst you will be based in our Birmingham office, working closely with the head of disputes practice,
Martino Giaquinto, and the wider disputes team, you would be part of our cross office Commercial Construction NSL, with lawyers based in Cambridge, Oxford, London and Manchester. The NSL is headed up by
Kevin Lowe.
Pre-employment screening
Please note that, in the event that we make an offer for a role, we will conduct pre-employment screening that includes, but is not limited to, a basic DBS check, right to work check, any disciplinary history recorded with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and a self-declaration to assess your character and suitability for the role. A full policy of the screening the firm undertakes is available on request.
Disclosure and barring service check and security clearance
This post is also subject to a satisfactory response from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (to check for any previous criminal convictions and cautions) and, given the nature of the work-type, you may also be required to undergo national security vetting to SC level ¿ the latter can be undertaken following commencement of employment.
And finally
Mills & Reeve is committed to building a diverse workforce and fostering an inclusive environment in which all our people can thrive. We hire people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our firm stronger, and we have a collaborative culture that celebrates different perspectives and values respect for one another, working together, and openness and integrity. Our approach to flexible working means that we work in a way that achieves the right balance for our people, our clients and for our business.
