Competitive
Full Time
Permanent
Dorset, Dorset
Legal
Posted 4 hours ago
Expires In 29 Days
Job Description
Senior Litigation Solicitor | 7+ PQE | Dorset | Hybrid Working | Future Head of Department | Are you looking for a genuine opportunity to step into a leadership role and shape the future of a department? A respected and long standing Dorset law firm is looking to appoint a Senior Litigation Solicitor to join its dispute resolution team as part of a clear succession plan. To register your interest, please contact Alicia Forde on 0121 454 1004 or email alicia.forde@enllegal.co.uk quoting Job Ref: 5266
The Role:
You will manage a diverse portfolio of general litigation and dispute resolution matters, working with a high degree of autonomy and using your experience to deliver commercially sensible outcomes for clients.
Alongside your own caseload, you will also have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the wider team.
Your responsibilities will include:
• Managing a varied caseload of general litigation and dispute resolution matters from initial instruction through to conclusion.
• Taking ownership of your cases and progressing matters independently with minimal supervision.
• Providing clear, pragmatic and commercially focused advice to a diverse client base.
• Applying sound judgement when assessing risk, strategy and potential outcomes.
• Developing strong and lasting client relationships through a high-quality and personal service.
• Supporting, supervising and mentoring junior members of the team as the department continues to grow.
• Sharing your technical knowledge and experience to help develop the capabilities of colleagues.
• Working closely with senior management on the future strategy and direction of the litigation department.
• Identifying opportunities to improve processes, develop the service offering and support sustainable departmental growth.
• Playing an active role in developing the team's culture, standards and long-term objectives.
• Taking increasing responsibility for departmental leadership as you progress towards the Head of Department position.
This is therefore a role for someone who wants to influence, develop and lead, rather than simply manage a caseload.
About You:
The firm is looking for an established Litigation Solicitor with 7+ years' PQE in general litigation or dispute resolution.
You will ideally bring:
• Strong technical knowledge and broad experience across general litigation.
• Excellent commercial awareness and a pragmatic approach to resolving disputes.
• The confidence to manage complex and varied matters independently.
• Strong judgement and the ability to assess legal, commercial and strategic considerations.
• Excellent communication and client relationship skills.
• A natural ability to support, encourage and develop more junior lawyers.
• An interest in departmental strategy, business development and team development.
• The ambition and capability to progress into a Head of Department role in the near future.
• A genuine desire to build a long-term career within one firm.
You will be someone who is comfortable taking responsibility and making decisions, but who also understands the importance of collaboration and bringing colleagues with you as the department develops.
Career Progression:
One of the key attractions of this position is the opportunity to move into a formal leadership role.
The firm is looking for someone who can become a key figure within the department and, over time, take responsibility for its overall performance, development and strategic direction.
For the right candidate, this represents a genuine career progression opportunity rather than an open-ended promise of future advancement.
You will be able to work alongside senior leadership, demonstrate your leadership capabilities and gradually take on greater responsibility, with the ultimate goal of progressing into Head of Department.
The Working Environment:
The firm has deliberately created a working environment that prioritises quality, collaboration and sustainable workloads.
You can expect:
• Hybrid working, supporting a healthy and balanced approach to the working week.
• Sensible caseloads and realistic expectations around billing.
• No aggressive or unrealistic fee-earning targets.
• Modern systems and processes designed to reduce unnecessary administration.
• A close-knit and supportive team where colleagues work collaboratively.
• Access to experienced senior leadership and genuine support as you develop into a leadership position.
• A competitive salary, dependent on experience.
About the Firm:
This is a well-established Dorset practice with a strong reputation within the local community.
The firm has built its reputation on providing quality legal services, maintaining consistency and developing long-standing relationships with both clients and employees.
Although the practice has clear ambitions for growth, it retains a personal, collegiate and people-focused culture rather than adopting a corporate or impersonal approach.
The firm places genuine value on retaining good people and investing in individuals who want to build a lasting career. This creates an environment where experienced lawyers can have a real influence and see the impact of their contribution.
How to Apply:
Contact Alicia Forde on 0121 454 1004 or email alicia.forde@enllegal.co.uk quoting Job Ref: 5266
eNL will never share your CV with a third party without your express permission. As part of our candidate care process, we aim to respond to all applications in 7 days. If you have not been contacted within this timescale, your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please note our advertisements use PQE/salary levels purely as a guide.
At eNL we value diversity and inclusion. We want to attract people at all levels and encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates whatever your ethnicity, religion, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any characteristics protected by law in the jurisdictions in which we operate.
The Role:
You will manage a diverse portfolio of general litigation and dispute resolution matters, working with a high degree of autonomy and using your experience to deliver commercially sensible outcomes for clients.
Alongside your own caseload, you will also have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the wider team.
Your responsibilities will include:
• Managing a varied caseload of general litigation and dispute resolution matters from initial instruction through to conclusion.
• Taking ownership of your cases and progressing matters independently with minimal supervision.
• Providing clear, pragmatic and commercially focused advice to a diverse client base.
• Applying sound judgement when assessing risk, strategy and potential outcomes.
• Developing strong and lasting client relationships through a high-quality and personal service.
• Supporting, supervising and mentoring junior members of the team as the department continues to grow.
• Sharing your technical knowledge and experience to help develop the capabilities of colleagues.
• Working closely with senior management on the future strategy and direction of the litigation department.
• Identifying opportunities to improve processes, develop the service offering and support sustainable departmental growth.
• Playing an active role in developing the team's culture, standards and long-term objectives.
• Taking increasing responsibility for departmental leadership as you progress towards the Head of Department position.
This is therefore a role for someone who wants to influence, develop and lead, rather than simply manage a caseload.
About You:
The firm is looking for an established Litigation Solicitor with 7+ years' PQE in general litigation or dispute resolution.
You will ideally bring:
• Strong technical knowledge and broad experience across general litigation.
• Excellent commercial awareness and a pragmatic approach to resolving disputes.
• The confidence to manage complex and varied matters independently.
• Strong judgement and the ability to assess legal, commercial and strategic considerations.
• Excellent communication and client relationship skills.
• A natural ability to support, encourage and develop more junior lawyers.
• An interest in departmental strategy, business development and team development.
• The ambition and capability to progress into a Head of Department role in the near future.
• A genuine desire to build a long-term career within one firm.
You will be someone who is comfortable taking responsibility and making decisions, but who also understands the importance of collaboration and bringing colleagues with you as the department develops.
Career Progression:
One of the key attractions of this position is the opportunity to move into a formal leadership role.
The firm is looking for someone who can become a key figure within the department and, over time, take responsibility for its overall performance, development and strategic direction.
For the right candidate, this represents a genuine career progression opportunity rather than an open-ended promise of future advancement.
You will be able to work alongside senior leadership, demonstrate your leadership capabilities and gradually take on greater responsibility, with the ultimate goal of progressing into Head of Department.
The Working Environment:
The firm has deliberately created a working environment that prioritises quality, collaboration and sustainable workloads.
You can expect:
• Hybrid working, supporting a healthy and balanced approach to the working week.
• Sensible caseloads and realistic expectations around billing.
• No aggressive or unrealistic fee-earning targets.
• Modern systems and processes designed to reduce unnecessary administration.
• A close-knit and supportive team where colleagues work collaboratively.
• Access to experienced senior leadership and genuine support as you develop into a leadership position.
• A competitive salary, dependent on experience.
About the Firm:
This is a well-established Dorset practice with a strong reputation within the local community.
The firm has built its reputation on providing quality legal services, maintaining consistency and developing long-standing relationships with both clients and employees.
Although the practice has clear ambitions for growth, it retains a personal, collegiate and people-focused culture rather than adopting a corporate or impersonal approach.
The firm places genuine value on retaining good people and investing in individuals who want to build a lasting career. This creates an environment where experienced lawyers can have a real influence and see the impact of their contribution.
How to Apply:
Contact Alicia Forde on 0121 454 1004 or email alicia.forde@enllegal.co.uk quoting Job Ref: 5266
eNL will never share your CV with a third party without your express permission. As part of our candidate care process, we aim to respond to all applications in 7 days. If you have not been contacted within this timescale, your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please note our advertisements use PQE/salary levels purely as a guide.
At eNL we value diversity and inclusion. We want to attract people at all levels and encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates whatever your ethnicity, religion, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any characteristics protected by law in the jurisdictions in which we operate.