Working for us

Gilbert Stephens is a thriving law firm based in the heart of Devon. We are immensely proud of our reputation built up over 100 years of serving our local communities. We provide a supportive environment for all colleagues and are committed to equality of opportunity in all of our recruitment.

Our culture is at the heart of our business and centers on our most valued assets – our people and our clients. We build and sustain healthy relationships, which are based on us understanding our staff and client needs.

We operate six offices in Exeter, Crediton, Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Ottery St Mary and Okehampton and offer a competitive salary.

To apply for any of these roles:

Following the recruitment of a new CEO almost a year ago and her firm wide strategic overhaul, we are recruiting for the vacancies listed below. If you think you have the attributes and skills to join us, then we would love to hear from you. Please email your CV, together with any relevant supporting information to Dana Mulligan, who is running this particular recruitment campaign, at .

Inclusion and Diversity are paramount to us here at Gilbert Stephens LLP. All our applicants and colleagues are treated fairly and respectfully, regardless of any protected characteristic/s. If you require assistance with regards to reasonable adjustments during your application process with us, please do not hesitate to contact us – we are always happy to help.

Exeter

Full Time Solicitor – Litigation

We are looking for an experienced Litigation Solicitor to join our team. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a close-knit team doing interesting and challenging work. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in all areas of civil dispute work, with particular emphasis in property, contentious probate claims, and partnership disputes. Some experience of employment law would also be beneficial, although not essential.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Handling a wide range of civil disputes, including contentious probate; professional negligence; partnership disputes (including farming partnerships); and property disputes, to include both commercial and residential landlord and tenant.
  • Providing legal advice and representation in traditional chancery practice areas involving disputes related to business, property, probate, and trusts.
  • Developing strategies for dispute resolution, including litigation, mediation, and negotiation.
  • Preparing legal documents and representing clients in court proceedings and in negotiations.
  • Staying updated with the latest legal developments and changes in civil dispute law.

Residential File Opener

We are seeking a meticulous and organised Residential File Opener to join our Residential Team. As a Residential File Opener, you will play a pivotal role in our real estate legal practice by ensuring the efficient and accurate opening of files related to residential property transactions. This role is crucial for maintaining the smooth flow of documentation and information in our legal department.

Key Responsibilities:

  • File Opening: Open new files for residential property transactions in adherence to our firm’s protocols, ensuring all necessary documents are accurately recorded.
  • Data Entry: Enter and update client and transaction information into our case management system with precision and attention to detail.
  • Document Management: Organise and maintain physical and electronic files, ensuring accessibility and compliance with legal and regulatory standards.
  • Communication: Liaise with solicitors, clients, estate agents, and other relevant parties to gather essential documents and information needed for transactions.
  • Quality Control: Review all documentation and data for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with legal requirements, identifying and addressing any discrepancies.
  • Deadline Management: Prioritise and meet file opening deadlines to facilitate the timely progression of residential property transactions.
  • Record Keeping: Maintain comprehensive records of all files, ensuring compliance with our firm’s policies and relevant legal regulations.
  • Photocopying & Scanning: Ensure all relevant documents are duplicated and digitized appropriately, while maintaining the quality and readability of the documents.

Desired skills:

  • Excellent attention to detail is absolutely essential
  • Must be fully computer literate and able to operate Microsoft Office packages including Word, internet and Excel, to a high standard.
  • Ability to work efficiently in a highly organised and structured way
  • Ability to communicate effectively
  • Team player, with the ability to work on own initiative
  • Proactive approach towards tasks
  • Self-motivated with a strong work focus, lots of energy and a can do attitude – no task is too big or too small
  • Ability to demonstrate flexibility
  • Act professionally at all times
  • Ability to operate in a fast-moving organisation
  • Smartly presented

Receptionist

We are seeking a Full Time Receptionist to join our Exeter city-centre office. This position will require the successful applicant to act as the face of the Exeter office, often being the first point of contact for any current or prospective clients. Maintaining a professional and friendly manner is essential as this role involves dealing with people at all levels.

Core duties and responsibilities include, but not limited to:

  • Providing full reception duties
  • Meeting and greeting clients
  • Answering all incoming calls and redirecting them to the appropriate person
  • Typing as and when required for various staff
  • Dealing with enquiries
  • Liaising with all departments
  • Administration support to other departments as required
  • Dealing with post and DX
  • Filing, support, photocopying and typing
  • Any other ad hoc duties

Skills Required:

  • Excellent customer service skills
  • High level of attention to detail
  • Organised and logical approach
  • Excellent verbal and written skills
  • Interpersonal skills with customer service orientation
  • Team player
  • Good IT skills

Budleigh Salterton

Full Time Receptionist / Administrator

We are seeking a Full Time Receptionist / Administrator to join our Budleigh Salterton office. This position will require the successful applicant to act as the face of the Budleigh office, often being the first point of contact for any current or prospective clients. Maintaining a professional and friendly manner is essential as this role involves dealing with people at all levels.

Core duties and responsibilities include, but not limited to:

  • Providing full reception duties
  • Meeting and greeting clients
  • Answering all incoming calls and redirecting them to the appropriate person
  • Dealing with enquiries
  • Liaising with all departments
  • Dealing with post and DX
  • Filing, support, photocopying and typing
  • Handle administrative requests and queries from colleagues.
  • Assist with the organisation of office operations and procedures, including filing systems, mail services, office supplies, and billing
  • Any other ad hoc duties

All Locations – Exeter, Crediton, Budleigh, Sidmouth, Ottery St Mary & Okehampton

Full Time Solicitor 3PQE or a qualified Chartered Legal Executive – Private Client

We are seeking an experienced and high-quality Private Client lawyer to join our team. STEP members and those working towards full STEP membership would be preferred.

Our ideal candidate will have previous experience in the same or a similar role and thrive working in a busy and fast-paced environment. It is essential that you hold a legal qualification and a genuine specialist background across the normal range of work undertaken by “Private Client” or “Trust and Estate” practitioners, such as Estate Planning and Wills (including Inheritance Tax mitigation and the use of Trusts), Estate Administration, advising on Trusts, “Elderly Client Services”, Lasting Powers of Attorney and basic Court of Protection work.

Core duties and responsibilities include, but not limited to:

  • Perform fee earning work accurately, reliably, efficiently and in accordance with the department, firm and SRA regulation and procedures.
  • Ensure that the firm’s risk management procedures are adhered to.
  • Manage a personal caseload and ensure that files are managed competently, efficiently, and profitably, with close client contact, you will manage and conduct matters on their behalf, ultimately delivering an outstanding client experience.
  • Development and updating of legal knowledge in the chosen area(s) of law in accordance with SRA Continuing Professional Development requirements by personal attendance at training courses, webinars, self-study, and perusal of reference material.
  • Reporting to your Head of Department with any concerns and/or queries
  • Compliance with the SRA Code of Conduct and SRA Accounts Rules

Gilbert Stephens is a thriving law firm based in the heart of Devon. We are immensely proud of our reputation built up over 100 years of serving our local communities. We provide a supportive environment for all colleagues and are committed to equality of opportunity in all of our recruitment.

Our culture is at the heart of our business and centres on our most valued assets – our people and our clients. We build and sustain healthy relationships, which are based on us understanding our staff and client needs.

We operate six offices in Exeter, Crediton, Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Ottery St Mary and Okehampton and offer a competitive salary.

If you think you have the attributes and skills to join us, then we would love to hear from you.

Please email your CV, together with any relevant supporting information to Dana Mulligan who is managing this recruitment campaign.

Inclusion and Diversity are paramount to us here at Gilbert Stephens LLP. All our applicants and colleagues are treated fairly and respectfully, regardless of any protected characteristic/s. If you require assistance with regards to reasonable adjustments during your application process with us, please do not hesitate to contact us – we are always happy to help.

Gilbert Stephens LLP request that recruitment agencies do not forward CV’s speculatively or in relation to any of the roles advertised on our website. Should we require any recruitment agencies involvement we will contact the agencies listed on our preferred suppliers list.

Gilbert Stephens LLP will not:

  • recognise submissions of unsolicited or speculative CV applications from recruitment agencies.
  • be liable for any fee / commission should we employ a candidate that applied to us directly or through an instructed agency that may also have been submitted as an unsolicited or speculative application from an uninstructed recruitment agency.

In the event that a recruitment agency submits an unsolicited or speculative CV and then purports to render a claim for commission supported by correspondence and/or documentation containing a disclaimer indicating otherwise, our policy prevails.

 

For a confidential chat please contact our new CEO Vicky Thompson:

E-mail: 

Direct Dial: 01392 684164       Mobile: 07850 768211