Career Opportunities at Switalskis

Career Opportunities at Switalskis

For your career

At Switalskis, we’re driven by a profound commitment to not only provide the highest quality of legal services but to create a harmonious and enriching workspace for our team. Our ethos is deeply rooted in fostering a culture that prioritises a healthy work-life balance, making Switalskis not just a place to work, but a community in which to grow, learn and thrive.

Our primary goal is to ensure that the work environment is supportive and rewarding. We champion a culture where our colleagues feel valued, supported and well-compensated for their efforts.

We celebrate diversity and are steadfast in our commitment to promoting equality and inclusion at every level within our firm. Our reputable stance on these values not only enriches our work culture but is reflected in the legal services we provide and the profound nature of the cases we choose to take.

Joining Switalskis is a step towards a career filled with endless learning and development opportunities. We’re keen to nurture your growth and make sure you enjoy what you do and evolve professionally during your time with us.

Our vacancies

Explore career opportunities at Switalskis and take a step towards a rewarding and fulfilling career with us.

QSP

Join our Qualifying Solicitors Programme to embark on a rewarding legal career at one of the UK’s top firms.

Work experience

Work experience at Switalskis will provide you with a glimpse into the legal world if you’re looking for a career in law.

Apprenticeships

Join our Graduate Apprenticeship Programme to embark on a rewarding legal career at one of the UK's top firms.

Latest vacancies

For your next move

Professional Support Lawyer - Clinical Negligence View details

ABOUT US 

Switalskis is an award-winning law firm listed in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024.

Established in 1993 by Stephen Switalski, we began with a focus on child care law and criminal law from a single office in Wakefield.  Since then we’ve expanded to 11 locations employing approximately 400 people who provide a wide array of specialist legal services.

A career at Switalskis means being part of a firm that cares and is here for you. We’re dynamic and progressive, and we never stand still. Last year we were crowned Large Firm of the Year at The Yorkshire Legal Awards and named in the top 50 fastest growing companies in Yorkshire in the Yorkshire Growth Index.

THE ROLE 

We are looking for a Professional Support Lawyer to join our Clinical Negligence Strategy & Professional Support Team. This exciting role will provide essential support to our Clinical Negligence department, as well as other Claimant departments (Child Abuse, Brain & Serious Injury, and Personal Injury) when needed. We’re flexible on location across Yorkshire, and are happy to consider both full-time and part-time candidates.

If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding role where you can make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you!

 Key Responsibilities:

·       Keep the Clinical Negligence department updated on court forms, fees, and relevant guides

·       Assist in developing and drafting precedents, templates, and legal documentation that align with current law and best practice

·       Provide ad-hoc advice and support to various departments, including Child Abuse, Brain & Spinal Injury, and Personal Injury

·       Contribute to and maintain resources on SwitsHub, our intranet Knowledge Base

·       Support project work and assist in the delivery of departmental strategy and risk management priorities

We are open-minded regarding experience and will assess CVs and suitability for the role on an individual basis. To be successful we’d like to see some of the following:

Skills & Experience:

  • Strong knowledge of Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury litigation
  • Expert understanding of civil litigation practice, Civil Procedure Rules, and relevant case law
  • Experience in drafting precedents and legal documentation
  • Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
  • Highly organised with excellent attention to detail and time management
  • Proactive, professional, and a team player. 


Click the link below to submit your application and a member of the team will be in touch. For any questions please contact

Recruitment@Switalskis.com

Apply online
Intranet ManagerView details

ABOUT US

Switalskis is an award-winning law firm listed in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024.

Established in 1993 by Stephen Switalski, we began with a focus on child care law and criminal law from a single office in Wakefield. Since then we’ve expanded to 11 locations employing approximately 400 people who provide a wide array of specialist legal services.

A career at Switalskis means being part of a firm that cares and is here for you. We’re dynamic and progressive, and we never stand still. Last year we were crowned Large Firm of the Year at The Yorkshire Legal Awards and named in the top 50 fastest growing companies in Yorkshire in the Yorkshire Growth Index.

About the Role:

We’re seeking an experienced Intranet Manager to join our Special Projects Team. You’ll ensure our intranet, SwitsHub, is an effective communications hub and knowledge resource, while delivering intranet solutions to support various projects.

This role is offered on Hybrid basis (2 days per week) from any of our 10 offices across Yorkshire.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead the development and enhancement of our intranet, delivering new features and resources, including systems like InfoCapture ticketing.
  • Create and maintain user guides, provide user training, and offer handover support as required.
  • Manage day-to-day administration and maintenance of the intranet, providing user support across both the admin side and front end.
  • Collaborate with internal experts to build and maintain the SwitsHub knowledge base and other key knowledge assets.
  • Contribute to internal communications efforts, supporting various teams across the organisation.
  • Develop and manage e-learning courses, using content provided by colleagues.
  • Take on any additional duties as required by the firm.

What We’re Looking For:

Essential:

  • Proven experience in intranet administration, including both admin-side tasks and knowledge resource management.
  • A logical, methodical approach to work planning and delivery.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with a collaborative mindset.
  • High standard of written English with attention to detail.
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
  • Strong time management skills, with the ability to deliver on schedule.
  • Flexibility to work outside of standard hours when required.

Desirable:

  • Familiarity with HTML/CSS.
  • Experience using Claromentis or similar cloud-based intranet platforms.
  • Experience with Articulate 360 or other e-learning authoring tools.
  • Experience in graphic design using Canva and/or GIMP (or a willingness to learn).
  • Understanding of agile working practices.
  • Previous experience working within project teams.
Apply online
Associate Costs Draftsperson/Costs LawyerView details

ABOUT US 

Switalskis is an award-winning law firm listed in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024.

Established in 1993 by Stephen Switalski, we began with a focus on child care law and criminal law from a single office in Wakefield.  Since then we’ve expanded to 11 locations employing approximately 400 people who provide a wide array of specialist legal services.

A career at Switalskis means being part of a firm that cares and is here for you. We’re dynamic and progressive, and we never stand still. Last year we were crowned Large Firm of the Year at The Yorkshire Legal Awards and named in the top 50 fastest growing companies in Yorkshire in the Yorkshire Growth Index.

THE TEAM

Switalskis internal costs team provides costs support across all departments within the business.  The team consists of specialist Costs Draftsman and Costs Lawyers dealing with legal aid costs, Court of Protection costs and between the parties recovery.  The department continues to grow and expand its offering in terms of support across the business and we are seeking an experienced draftsperson/costs lawyer to deal with between the parties costs recovery, growth and development. 

THE ROLE 

The role would be suitable for someone with over 10 years’ litigation experience in a legal costs environment from either a paying or receiving party background.  

The role will be varied, with opportunities for further development and progression, as well as funded professional qualifications for those who are not already qualified as Costs Lawyers but wish to pursue this option.  The successful candidate will play a key role in helping to develop and strengthen the Switalskis in house costs team and the job is offered at Associate level.   This is an excellent opportunity for those who wish to strengthen and progress their career in costs and are keen to ensure variety and exposure to differing types of work.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Prepare Schedules and Bills of Costs, ensuring accuracy and compliance with the civil procedure rules across the Claimant departments
  • Manage a varied case load of lower value multi track to higher value multi track costs claims
  • Provide technical advice on costs recovery.
  • Prepare replies to points of dispute and handle the detailed assessment process.
  • Address fixed costs arguments and provide advice on fixed costs issues.
  • Budget preparation and costs management
  • Advocacy (optional)
  • Supporting our Claimant teams during the life of the litigation to ensure best practice, compliance, and outcomes in terms of costs recovery.
  • Assisting the Head of Costs with operational matters for best practice
  • Assisting with training and support to junior team members
  • Be involved in the department’s internal training provisions, either in delivery or background assistance.
  • Assisting with gathering and interpretation of management information

This role is full time although part time hours can be considered for the right candidate.

The role can be fully office based at any of our 10 Yorkshire offices or hybrid based on candidate preference. Current team members are based in Doncaster & Bradford and so regular attendance (at least bi-weekly) at one of these offices will be necessary for collaboration, learning & development within the team. 

What you'll bring

As an experienced Cost Lawyer/Draftsperson, we’ll want you to demonstrate the following:

  • Experience in Bill drafting and Detailed Assessment processes.
  • Experience in Budget preparation and the costs management process.
  • Good written & numerical skills
  • Good organisational skills & ability to work under pressure at times.
  • Ability to communicate advice on complex issues in a clear and reasoned way to colleagues throughout the firm.
  • Ability to research, analyse and interpret information and case law and develop technical arguments
  • Ability and desire to support junior team members in their development
  • Good IT skills including the use of Costsmaster or other billing software with transferable skills

 

click the link below to submit your application and a member of the team will be in touch. For any questions please contact

Recruitment@Switalskis.com

Apply online
Senior Associate & Deputy Head of New Build ConveyancingView details

ABOUT US

Switalskis is an award-winning law firm listed in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024.

Established in 1993 by Stephen Switalski, we began with a focus on child care law and criminal law from a single office in Wakefield.  Since then we’ve expanded to 11 locations employing approximately 400 people who provide a wide array of specialist legal services.

A career at Switalskis means being part of a firm that cares and is here for you. We’re dynamic and progressive, and we never stand still. Last year we were crowned Large Firm of the Year at The Yorkshire Legal Awards and named in the top 50 fastest growing companies in Yorkshire in the Yorkshire Growth Index.

THE ROLE

A Senior Associate & Deputy Head of Department will play a pivotal role in the strategic expansion of the New Build Conveyancing team, maintaining a busy caseload, providing day to day team management, and strategic support to the department head.  The role will be predominantly office based in our brand-new Leeds City Centre office with the possibility of some flexible/remote working options, subject to the needs of the department

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING 

  • Managing a caseload of new build purchase transactions (and related sales).
  • Offering technical guidance and support to your team, particularly junior colleagues.
  • Supporting the Head of Department in the management of central housing development documentation and information.
  • Supporting the Head of Department in the business development aspect of the department.


WHAT YOU'LL BRING

  • Conveyancing expertise: You’ll need several years of experience in conveyancing, with strong technical ability and a focus on new build transactions.
  • Leadership skills: You’ve got the interpersonal and managerial know-how to manage a team and support junior staff.
  • Client-focused: You understand the importance of delivering market-leading client care.
  • Referrer Relationships: You understand the importance of referrer relationships and have experience in managing them, whilst understanding the importance of integrity and independence.
  • Problem-solver: You can think on your feet and work well under pressure, especially during busy periods.
  • Detail-oriented: Accuracy is key in this role, and your eagle eye will ensure nothing is missed.

Click the link below to submit your application and a member of the team will be in touch. For any questions please contact

Recruitment@Switalskis.com

Apply online
Headshot of Julie Guest, our head of people

A career at Switalskis means being part of a firm that cares and is here for you. One of our big goals is to be a great place to work, and we really strive to achieve that.

I'm delighted that we've been recognised as one of The Sunday Times 2024 Best Places to Work. Across all categories over five hundred organisations were selected. Only twenty-two law firms made the cut and only five of them are based in Yorkshire.  Given there are just under 10,000 regulated law firms in the UK, that’s a huge achievement for us.

Switalskis is a firm that’s going places. We’re dynamic and progressive, and we never stand still. Last year, we were crowned Large Firm of the Year at the Yorkshire Legal Awards and named in the top 50 fastest-growing companies in Yorkshire in the Yorkshire Growth Index.

Julie Guest
Head of People

Man smiling at the thought of future legal career

Benefits at Switalskis

We believe in fairly rewarding our team. Our competitive salaries are complemented by a range of benefits including the below. We review the benefits we offer to employees regularly to make sure they remain competitive and align with our values.

Financial

  • Qualifying earnings company pension scheme
  • Contractual sick pay for up to 5 weeks
  • Enhanced maternity payments
  • 12 weeks of statutory maternity leave
  • Recruitment bonus payments

Work-life balance

  • Flexible working hours
  • Remote working available (role-dependent)
  • Perkbox membership

Holidays

  • 5 weeks of annual leave plus bank holidays and company days (prorated)
  • Additional half-day holiday for Christmas and New Year’s Eve
  • Option to buy or sell annual leave

Health and wellbeing

  • Group life assurance scheme
  • Group income protection
  • Group critical illness
  • Bupa Wellbeing Plan, including membership for up to 4 children

We believe that who we are makes us a great place to pursue a career. Email recruitment@switalskis.com to find out more.

Why Switalskis?

Embarking on a career at Switalskis means
choosing to become part of a firm that goes
beyond the conventional legal practice to
create an environment of growth, support
and balance.

Switalskis team members at a social event

Shot of hills as sunsets in the background

Rich heritage and reputation

With a strong legacy in the legal sector, Switalskis has built a reputation for excellence, integrity and impactful service. Being a part of our team means contributing to a prestigious and meaningful legacy.

People raising their hands in a crowd

Inclusive and diverse culture

Our firm is a tapestry of diverse talents, backgrounds and perspectives. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every person feels valued, respected and empowered to contribute their best.

Woman smiling thinking about professional development

Professional growth and development

Your growth is our priority. At Switalskis, we provide learning opportunities, mentorship and an environment to hone your skills, expand your knowledge and ascend in your legal career. To find out more about career development at Switalskis, take a look at our guide.

Switalskis team members at a social event

Work-life balance

We understand the importance of your personal time. While we are dedicated to delivering exceptional legal services, we also promote a healthy work-life balance to make sure our team members have ample time for their personal pursuits and wellbeing.

Man working from home

Innovative hybrid working model

Embracing the future of work, we offer a balanced hybrid-working model. This model encourages collaboration, flexibility and a harmonious blend of in-office and remote work, catering to the evolving needs of our workforce and the firm.

Woman being involved in community engagement

Community engagement

Our business is deeply rooted in community service. Being part of Switalskis means engaging in meaningful community outreach initiatives and embodying our belief in the positive impact of legal service in society.

Life at Switalskis

Starting a career at Switalskis propels you into
one of the UK’s top-tier law firms, but don’t just
take our word for it. Team members from across
the business have shared their journey and
experiences to provide a glimpse into life at Switalskis.

Switalskis team members in a social environment

Employee stories

An insight into the Switalskis team

Photo of Laura Cates

I enjoy hybrid working. When I am in the office, I use this as time to speak with colleagues about their thoughts on cases and anything relevant within the news for example, a judgment. When I am at home, I use this time to complete detailed pieces of work without the distraction of the office. I’m also able to get out on a lunch time to walk my Sproodle!

Laura CatesAssociate Solicitor
Read more
photo of Emily Chan

I’ve always known I wanted to help people but ruled out several professions before deciding on law. The first seat of my training contract was in commercial property, working between the Leeds and Knaresborough offices. I found the work very interesting especially drafting documents. I recently moved to the clinical negligence team, for my second seat, which I am finding both stimulating and challenging. Since joining, my integration into Switalskis has been seamless as everyone has been very welcoming and inviting.  I think it helped that I often brought in brownies and cakes that I’d baked!

Emily ChanSolicitor
Read more
photo of Becky Whitfield

In 2012 I joined the Costs Team and in 2014 started studying the ACL Costs Lawyer course. I qualified as a Costs Lawyer in August 2017 and in 2023 I was promoted to Associate Costs Lawyer. I've not worked anywhere prior to Atherton Godfrey who integrated with Switalskis in December 2022, my entire career since the 90s has been at the same firm.

Becky WhitfieldAssociate Costs Lawyer
Read more
Photo of Hannah Cazaly

I start my day by responding to any emails. I then check my task list and I complete any urgent tasks first. I complete records reviews, draft letters of instruction to experts and review expert reports. I also have cases that are in litigation where deadlines need to be adhered to and documents must be served. I also liaise with clients on a daily basis providing updates and taking instructions.

Hannah CazalyAssociate Solicitor
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photo of Rhiannon Moore

There’s not a typical day in the Court of Protection, and that’s what I love most about it. Each client is so different and so we need to be able to take each client as they come to try and work out what will be best for them and how best to achieve it. I love travelling and meeting the clients but there is also lot of time in the office - preparing advice, drafting documents, and attending court, as many of our hearings are still being heard remotely.

Rhiannon MooreSolicitor Apprentice
Read more

Got a question?

If you have any questions about starting a career at Switalskis, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Call us on 0800 138 0458 or send us a message and we’ll be happy to help.

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