Contracts Associate

Junior Associate

Construction & Procurement Law

Belfast

£££Market Leading with excellent bonus and hybrid working policies

Your new role

Signatus are working in partnership with a boutique legal, procurement and construction consultancy based in Belfast to recruit a Junior Associate or an Associate to their growing team. This is a great opportunity for a construction, procurement, contract or legally qualified or experienced person to join a professional company with the opportunity to progress far in the role and to other areas of the business. The firm offer the opportunity within 1-2 years of progressing professionally to a funded solicitor programme or Quantity Surveying qualification. Any part experience in legal, QS, Procurement, Tendering or legal contract administration in a construction industry would be highly advantageous.

The Role

Working under the direction and supervision of senior staff members, the role of a Junior Associate will entail:

• Liaising directly with clients on a regular basis on construction and/or procurement law matters;
• Provide advice to clients on dispute avoidance/management including arbitration, mediation, conciliation, adjudication, litigation and other ADR processes;
• Contract drafting, negotiation and management advice particularly NEC4 and JCT;
• Claims analysis and negotiation;
• Producing letters, legal documents, tender documentation and contracts;
• Producing claim and defence documents;
• Design and delivery of training programmes; and
• Assisting with all aspects of practice development.

The Candidate

To be successful in this role, applicants should have:

• A strong academic background in a legal/construction related field;
• An excellent track record in their primary discipline with supporting references;
• A sound commercial knowledge and keen interest in the legal aspects of the construction industry;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• An ability to work both independently and as part of a team;
• An ability to meet deadlines efficiently and to communicate effectively with clients and colleagues at every stage; and
• A strong desire to develop a career with an ambitious firm providing a high-quality service to meet and exceed its client requirements.

In addition to the above, the following attributes would be advantageous:

• Construction and/or procurement experience, ideally within dispute resolution or contracts management;
• Experience in successfully winning new clients through personal and collective business development activity;
• A willingness to work throughout the UK and Ireland including periods supporting the companies Dublin, London and Maidstone offices on short notice;
• A high level of IT awareness, must be proficient in the use of all Microsoft Office Packages; and
• A full driving licence.

The Offer

We are keenly aware that the foundation of our success has been attracting and retaining talented and highly capable people. The starting salary will be flexible to meet the needs of the right candidate, who will also receive: Flexible working; Annual Bonus Scheme; 30 days annual leave; membership of a company pension scheme; private healthcare insurance; Cycle 2 Work Scheme; generous travelling expenses and; a very real opportunity to develop a long-term career path.

We pride ourselves on providing market leading training and development opportunities, including twice Annual Staff Training (occasionally overseas) and paid access to external educational courses, including Masters level. Based in a modern, spacious well-equipped city centre office space, we offer a working environment to inspire people to achieve more. Applicants from all backgrounds are welcomed, diversity in all its forms is valued and understood. You must share in our commitment to providing a first-class professional service to clients whilst always demonstrating integrity, teamwork and excellence.

To Apply

Contact our principal legal consultant Fionntan Gamble at or call on or get in touch to hear more information.