Associate Solicitor – Dispute Resolution – Derby

Smith Partnership is a leading law firm in the East Midlands and Staffordshire, employing around 200 colleagues across 5 offices, who recently celebrated winning the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026. 

A forward thinking and progressive firm employing around 200 colleagues through 5 offices. 

Role Overview:

Are you a solicitor with a passion for dispute resolution? Are you looking to take the next step in your career in a supportive, collaborative team? If so, we want to hear from you! 

Our reputable firm is seeking an Associate Dispute Resolution Solicitor to join our dynamic and growing Dispute Resolution team. You will be involved in a wide range of commercial and civil litigation matters, with a particular emphasis on property-based disputes. Alongside the rest of the team, you will provide vital support and guidance to clients navigating challenging situations. 

Ideally, you will have an interest in disputes involving both commercial and residential property, or a willingness to become engaged in this growing area of the department. 

This is the perfect opportunity to build on your experience, develop your legal career, and contribute to a progressive and dynamic environment. 

What You’ll Do:

• Advise clients on a wide range of commercial, civil and property-based disputes. This will include all aspects of property litigation, contractual disputes, landlord & tenant matters, and debt recovery. 
• Draft key legal documents, including claim forms, settlement agreements, and pleadings. 
• Represent clients at Court hearings for matters such as Directions Hearings or Final Hearings. 
• Collaborate closely with our team of experienced dispute resolution solicitors to manage a growing and diverse caseload. 
• Engage in business development efforts, contributing to the growth of the Department. 

What We’re Looking For: 

• Qualified Solicitor with strong experience in dispute resolution, ideally 2-4 years PQE. 
• A proactive and commercially-minded individual who can manage client relationships with professionalism and sensitivity. 
• Experience in handling dispute resolution cases with a keen eye for detail, and a passion for supporting clients through complex legal challenges. 
• A background in property-based litigation would be desirable, but not essential (as full training will be given). 
• Ability to work effectively in a team, contributing to the smooth running and growth of the department. 

Benefits and Perks:

• A competitive salary and benefits package. 
• Hybrid working. 
• A supportive and collaborative environment. 
• Opportunities for career development. 
• A strong focus on work-life balance and flexibility. 
• Opportunity to gain experience in a well-established and respective dispute resolution practice. 

Next Steps:

Please note the advert will be closed and removed once we have received a sufficient number of applications. To avoid disappointment, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. For further details please contact the HR team on: 01332 225225. 

To find out more about the department, here.

To find out more about the office, here.

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Agencies:

Smith Partnership request that recruitment agencies do not speculatively submit CVs to us unless explicitly asked to do so by our HR team.

Any CVs sent to us on a speculative basis will not be recognised and we will not accept liability for any fee or commission should we subsequently employ a candidate who applied to us directly or was introduced by another agency, that may also have been submitted speculatively by an uninstructed agency.

In the event that an agency's correspondence includes a disclaimer indicating otherwise, our policy above will prevail.