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Join us

Our people truly are our biggest strength, and we go the extra mile to recruit and reward the very best by providing an open, inclusive and engaging working environment. So whether you are interested in commercial or personal legal services, explore our vacancies.

Working at Hay & Kilner

As part of our team, you will be joining a growing, ambitious firm, where you will be supported and valued.

You can view our current vacancies below or why not get in touch to discuss a role in more detail.

Current vacancies

  • Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency Solicitor

    Hay & Kilner are a full-service law firm with state-of-the-art offices in the heart of Newcastle city centre and we are currently expanding our team.

    Hay & Kilner provides a comprehensive service across an extensive range of practice areas, which covers all our client’s legal requirements.

    We are currently expanding our Commercial department and are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Solicitor to work in our busy and high performing Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency team.

    Successful applicants will report to the Head of Department and will:

    • Play an integral role in providing comprehensive and accurate legal advice and guidance to existing and new clients to the firm.
    • Be working with a very diverse range of clients and handling your own caseload.
    • Manage their own caseload while maintaining accurate, detailed and up to date case files, ensuring confidentiality is maintained and all data protection regulations are adhered to.
    • Be involved with a wide variety of matters, including dealing with all aspects of insolvent and distressed businesses. This will include advising insolvency practitioners, directors and senior management, secured and unsecured creditors, as well as investors looking for opportunities to regenerate businesses.
    • Be involved with company restructurings, both of solvent businesses as well as by means of Company Voluntary Arrangements and Restructuring Plans.
    • Take an active role in business development to grow your own network of introducers and help to raise the profile of you, the team and the firm.
    • Assist the Team’s partner with various matters in this field.

    **The following skills and experience are relevant: **

    • Qualified solicitor or experienced fee earner with experience in Corporate restructuring and insolvency
    • An ability to balance the demands of clients/caseload and non-casework responsibilities
    • Adherence to all file and case management policies and procedures / compliance
    • Accurate recording of all time, chargeable and non-chargeable
    • Ensuring that the billing of files is carried out efficiently and at the earliest opportunity
    • Work as a team player with other fee earners and support staff
    • Proven track record of providing high-quality legal advice and achieving positive outcomes for clients
    • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with clients
    • Ability to work independently and manage a caseload effectively, while also collaborating with colleagues when necessary
    • Maintenance of knowledge and skills in relevant practice area keeping up to date with relevant legislation and case law
    • Ensuring continuing competence through identifying and addressing any learning needs
    • Participating in and engaging with supervision
    • Maintaining a good knowledge and understanding of IT systems
    • A willingness to be involved in business development

    We offer an excellent benefits package and an unrivalled working environment.

  • Rural Property Solicitor

    6+ years PQE

    Successful applicants will report to the Head of Department and will:

    • Play an integral role in providing comprehensive and accurate legal advice and guidance to existing and new clients to the firm.
    • Be working with a very diverse range of clients and handling your own caseload.
    • Manage their own caseload while maintaining accurate, detailed and up to date case files, ensuring confidentiality is maintained and all data protection regulations are adhered to.
    • Be involved with a wide variety of matters, including rural property sales and purchases, refinancing of farms and land, farm business tenancies, agricultural holdings act tenancies and easements over land.
    • Take an active role in business development to grow your own network of introducers and help to raise the profile of you, the team and the firm.
    • Assist the Team’s rural property partner with various rural property matters.

    The following skills and experience are relevant:

    • Experience of dealing with property transactions, including the sale and purchase of rural and agricultural property
    • Working independently and as a qualified solicitor or experienced fee earner with experience in law relating to agricultural/rural property
    • An ability to balance the demands of clients/caseload and non-casework responsibilities
    • Adherence to all file and case management policies and procedures / compliance
    • Accurate recording of all time, chargeable and non-chargeable
    • Ensuring that the billing of files is carried out efficiently and at the earliest opportunity
    • Work as a team player with other fee earners and support staff
    • Proven track record of providing high-quality legal advice and achieving positive outcomes for clients
    • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with clients
    • Ability to work independently and manage a caseload effectively, while also collaborating with colleagues when necessary
    • Maintenance of knowledge and skills in relevant practice area keeping up to date with relevant legislation and case law
    • Ensuring continuing competence through identifying and addressing any learning needs
    • Participating in and engaging with supervision
    • Maintaining a good knowledge and understanding of IT systems
    • A willingness to be involved in business development
    • Have their own network of introducers

    You can expect a competitive salary and excellent benefits package, alongside flexible and hybrid working options. We also offer a great working environment in brand new, state of the art offices based in Newcastle City Centre.
    If you would like to apply or have an informal discussion around this role, please contact Ruth Fell.
    ruth.fell@hay-kilner.co.uk.

  • Marketing Executive

    3 years + of relevant experience

    Reporting to our Senior Marketing Manager, we are looking for a Marketing Executive to work alongside the Marketing & Business Development Team in our Newcastle city centre office. This is a varied role which covers all aspects of marketing in a full-service firm, with a particular focus on content, digital and event management.

    We are looking for creative flair, a positive attitude and the ability to articulate and influence strategic decisions. You should also know how to build and manage relationships with multiple stakeholders, be a multi-tasker who is able to prioritise effectively and enjoy working across multiple practice areas.

    The Role
    Content & social media

    • Work with the Senior Marketing Manager to implement an engaging content strategy across all platforms utilising analytics and SEO techniques
    • Work with the Senior Marketing Manager to implement the firm’s social media strategy, bringing idea generation and execution
    • Content management across all channels, with digital and video being key priorities
    • Working with the Marketing Assistant to create assets using a range of tools & software including, Canva & Adobe

    Website & email marketing

    • Maintain the website, evaluate and manage web performance and update website content
    • Co-ordinate all email marketing activity with the Marketing Assistant, ensuring mailing lists are kept up to date

    Reporting & plans

    • Evaluate and review marketing campaigns, advertising and SEO. Monitor and report on competitor activity
    • Work with the Senior Marketing Manager, Senior Business Development Manager and lawyers to gather and evaluate client feedback
    • Work with the Senior Business Development Manager to gather and analyse prospect/company data from our lead generation software
    • Work with the Senior Marketing Manager and Senior Business Development Manager to update teams’ Business Development & Marketing plans, throughout the year

    Events
    Work with the Senior Marketing Manager and Senior Business Development Manager to create and execute a strategic events and corporate hospitality plan

    Manage the following activities and supervise the Marketing Assistant in their execution:

    • Co-ordinate the distribution of invitations, monitor responses and manage cancellations for seminars, webinars and other firm events
    • Event set up & clear down
    • Greet and manage delegates on the day
    • Prepare supporting materials, including slide decks
    • Co-ordinate follow up activity and associated reporting
    • Research, book and manage corporate hospitality and client entertaining activity

    CRM/database management
    Work with the Senior Marketing Manager & Senior Business Development Manager to maintain the firm’s CRM system including:

    • Data entry & cleansing
    • Analysis
    • Report production

    Qualifications, skills and experience

    • Degree/equivalent qualification in marketing or related field
    • 3 years + of relevant experience
    • Excellent knowledge of MS Office
    • Knowledge/experience of Microsoft Teams and/or Zoom would be beneficial but not essential
    • Knowledge of project management software, such as Asana or Monday.com would be beneficial but not essential
    • Knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud/Suite would be beneficial but not essential
    • Knowledge of SEO & pay-per-click would be beneficial but not essential
    • Strong analytical, communication, time-management and creativity skills
  • Criminal Defence Solicitor

    3 years PQE

    Hay & Kilner are a full-service law firm with offices in the heart of Newcastle city centre and Wallsend Town centre and we are currently expanding our team.

    Hay & Kilner provides a comprehensive service across an extensive range of practice areas, which covers all our client’s legal requirements.

    We are currently recruiting into our Crime Team and are recruiting a Solicitor to work from our Wallsend office specialising in Criminal Law. The successful candidate will have at least 3 years PQE, however this is a guide and does not prevent those with less experience from applying to the role.

    Successful applicants will report to the Head of Department and will:

    • Play an integral role in providing comprehensive and accurate legal advice and guidance to existing and new clients to the firm
    • Be working with a very diverse range of clients and handling their own caseload
    • Maintain accurate, detailed and up to date case files, ensuring confidentiality is ensured and all data protection regulations are adhered to
    • Take an active role in business development to help to raise the profile of you, the team and the firm
    • Assist the team’s Partner with a variety of matters
    • Endeavour to achieve monthly financial targets, including billing and chargeable hours

    They will be able to get involved in a variety of matters including:

    • Representing clients throughout the criminal justice system, including police stations, Magistrates Court and also Crown Court.
    • Provision of advice to clients, review of documentation relating to an offence, research, plan and investigation of matters, visiting police stations and prisons to collaborate with clients, draft legal documents and formulate an accurate and compelling defence for the client.

    The following skills and experience are relevant:

    • Qualified solicitor or experienced fee earner with experience in Criminal Law
    • Qualified Duty Solicitor is highly desirable
    • Police Station Accredited is desirable
    • Higher advocate in the Crown Court is also desirable but not essential
    • An ability to balance the demands of clients/caseload and non-casework responsibilities
    • An ability to communicate effectively with clients and opposing solicitors
    • Adhering to all file and case management policies and procedures / compliance
    • Accurately recording all time, chargeable and non-chargeable
    • Ensuring that the billing of files is carried out efficiently and at the earliest opportunity
    • Working collaboratively with other fee earners and support staff
    • Maintaining knowledge and skills in relevant practice area keeping up to date with relevant legislation and case law
    • Proven track record of providing high-quality legal advice and achieving positive outcomes for clients
    • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with clients
    • Ability to work independently and manage a diverse caseload effectively
    • Participating in and engaging with supervision
    • Maintaining a good knowledge and understanding of IT systems
    • A willingness to be involved in business development

    We offer an excellent benefits package and a friendly working environment.

    If you would like to apply for this role, please send your CV to Ruth Fell, HR Manager at ruth.fell@hay-kilner.co.uk

  • Private Client Solicitor

    4+ years PQE - Partner level

    Successful applicants will report to the Head of Department and will:

    • Play an integral role in providing comprehensive and accurate legal advice and guidance to existing and new clients to the firm
    • Be working with a very diverse range of clients and handling your own caseload
    • Provide exceptional legal advice and guidance on a wide range of private client matters, including Wills, administration of estates, LPAs, trusts and estate planning
    • Prepare legal documents and be responsible for the drafting of Wills, trusts and LPAs
    • Manage their own caseload while maintaining accurate, detailed and up to date case files, ensuring confidentiality is maintained and all data protection regulations are adhered to
    • Offer guidance to our clients during probate and estate administration processes and drafting all associated documents including Legal Statements, HMRC forms, Deeds of Variation, Assets, Assignments, asset transfer forms, R185 forms etc.
    • Contribute to marketing and business development activities for the team and firm
    • Supervise and support more junior members of the team
    • Administering trusts created both in lifetime and on death including all HMRC compliance where required and working with the trustees/their investment advisers/accountants
    • Business Development to grow your own network of introducers and help to raise the profile of you, the team and the firm

    The following skills and experience are relevant:

    • Qualified solicitor or experienced fee earner with experience in private client law
    • Strong knowledge and expertise in Wills, trust, probate, estate planning, tax planning and asset protection
    • Ideally, have experience with succession planning for rural/farming clients
    • Ideally be a qualified member of STEP
    • An ability to balance the demands of clients/caseload and non-casework responsibilities
    • Adherence to all file and case management policies and procedures / compliance
    • Accurate recording of all time, chargeable and non-chargeable
    • Ensuring that the billing of files is carried out efficiently and at the earliest opportunity
    • Work as a team player with other fee earners and support staff
    • Proven track record of providing high-quality legal advice and achieving positive outcomes for clients
    • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with clients
    • Ability to work independently and manage a caseload effectively, while also collaborating with colleagues when necessary
    • Maintenance of knowledge and skills in relevant practice area keeping up to date with relevant legislation and case law
    • Ensuring continuing competence through identifying and addressing any learning needs
    • Participating in and engaging with supervision
    • Maintaining a good knowledge and understanding of IT systems
    • A willingness to be involved in business development
  • Family Solicitor - Child Care

    1-3 years PQE

    Hay & Kilner are a full-service law firm with offices in the heart of Newcastle city centre and in Wallsend Town centre and we are currently expanding our team.
    Hay & Kilner provides a comprehensive service across an extensive range of practice areas, which covers all our client’s legal requirements.
    We are currently expanding the Safeguarding Child Care Team and are recruiting a Solicitor to work at our Wallsend office specialising in Public and Private Children Law.

    Successful applicants will report to the Head of Department and will:

    • Play an integral role in providing comprehensive and accurate legal advice and guidance to existing and new clients to the firm
    • Be working with a diverse range of clients and handling your own caseload
    • Manage their own caseload while maintaining accurate, detailed and up to date case files, ensuring confidentiality is maintained and all data protection regulations are adhered to
    • Assist the team’s Partner and other fee earners with various family matters
    • Contribute to marketing and business development activities for the team and firm

    They will be able to get involved in a variety of matters including:

    • Undertaking work in both public and private children matters
    • Be confident in dealing with non-molestation order and other injunction matters
    • Undertake your own advocacy before the Magistrates, District and Circuit Benches
    • Advising and assisting clients with the PLO process and representing clients at those meetings with social services

    The following skills and experience are relevant:

    • Qualified solicitor or experienced fee earner with experience in both public and private Children law
    • An ability to balance the demands of clients/caseload and non-casework responsibilities
    • Adhering to all file and case management policies and procedures / compliance
    • Accurately recording all time, chargeable and non-chargeable
    • Ensuring that the billing of files is carried out efficiently and at the earliest opportunity
    • Working as a team player with other fee earners and support staff
    • Maintaining knowledge and skills in relevant practice area keeping up to date with relevant legislation and case law
    • Proven track record of providing high-quality legal advice and achieving positive outcomes for clients
    • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with clients
    • Ability to work independently and manage a caseload effectively, while also collaborating with colleagues when necessary
    • Maintenance of knowledge and skills in relevant practice area keeping up to date with relevant legislation and case law
    • Ensuring continuing competence through identifying and addressing any learning needs
    • Participating in and engaging with supervision of support staff
    • Maintaining a good knowledge and understanding of IT systems
    • A willingness to be involved in business development

    We offer an excellent benefits package and a friendly working environment.

  • Conveyancing Solicitor, Licensed Conveyancer or Legal Executive

    2 years PQE

    Successful applicants will report to our private client partners and will be responsible for:

    • Have their own good quality residential property workload
    • Assist the Team’s property partner with various property matters
    • Be able to work on all aspects of residential conveyancing and be committed to delivering an outstanding service level to our high net worth private clients.
    • Have direct contact with the firm’s clients
    • Be involved in business development activities within the Private Client Team and across the wider firm

    They will be able to get involved in a variety of matters including:

    • Property sales and purchases
    • Freehold and Leasehold matters Remortgage work
    • New-Builds
    • Development schemes
    • Shared ownership properties

    The following skills and experience are relevant:

    • Experience in dealing with property matters including sales and purchases of freehold and leasehold properties
    • Working independently and as part of a team
    • Good organisational skills and the ability to manage a large caseload
    • Provision of first-class client care
    • Excellent oral and communication skills
    • Excellent housekeeping skills i.e. WIP control and disbursements

    If you would like to apply for this role, please send your CV to Ruth Fell - ruth.fell@hay-kilner.co.uk.

  • Commercial Contracts Solicitor

    5 years+ PQE

    Successful applicants will:

    • Assist the Team with all types of commercial contract work
    • Have direct contact with the firm’s clients
    • Be involved in business development activities within the Commercial Team and across the wider firm
    • Ideally have their own quality following

    They will be able to get involved in a variety of matters including:

    • Manufacturing and supply contracts
    • Distribution and agency agreements
    • Franchising
    • Terms and conditions of business
    • Advising on on-line contracting
    • Software development, licensing and distribution
    • Software and hardware supply, maintenance and support agreements
    • Hosting and consultancy
    • Outsourcing
    • Tech business deals including grants, investments, sales and acquisitions
    • Cloud-based services such as Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS)
    • Joint ventures
    • End User License Agreements (EULAs)
    • Research and development agreements

    The ideal candidate will:

    • Be ambitious and proactive with an ability to successfully manage a busy workload
    • Be experienced in business development and leading client work
    • Have the ability to work collaboratively and also independently
    • Have a high level of accountability
    • Be commercially aware
    • Possess great organisational skills and the ability to manage large caseloads and projects
    • Have the desire to grow with the firm and actively contribute to the firm’s future success
    • Have experience of dealing with all types of commercial contracts, ideally including technology sector contracts
    • Have the ability to provide first class client care

    If you would like to apply or have an informal discussion around this role, get in touch by contacting Ruth Fell.

  • Corporate Solicitor

    2 years+ PQE

    Successful applicants will report to our Head of Corporate and will:

    • Assist the Team with all types of corporate transactional work
    • Preferably have their own good quality corporate workload
    • Have direct contact with the firm’s clients
    • Be involved in business development activities within the Corporate Team and across the wider firm

    They will be able to get involved in a variety of matters including:

    • Business and share acquisitions and disposals
    • Management buy-outs
    • Corporate refinancing
    • Advising investee companies
    • Group reorganisations
    • Share buybacks

    The following skills and experience are relevant:

    • Experience of dealing with corporate transactions, including business and share acquisitions and disposals
    • Working independently and as part of a team
    • Good organisational skills and the ability to manage a large caseload
    • Provision of first class client care

    You can expect a competitive salary and excellent benefits package, alongside flexible and hybrid working options. We also offer a great working environment in brand new, state of the art offices based in Newcastle City Centre.

    If you would like to apply or have an informal discussion around this role, get in touch by contacting Ruth Fell.

  • Senior Corporate Solicitor

    Senior - Partner level

    We are currently expanding our Corporate Team and this is an excellent opportunity for a senior solicitor with a solid corporate background to work within our Newcastle-based Corporate Team.

    Successful applicants will report to our Head of Corporate and will:

    • Assist and supervise the Team with all types of corporate transactional work
    • Preferably have their own good quality corporate workload
    • Establish exceptional relationships with the firm’s clients
    • Be involved in business development activities within the Corporate Team and across the wider firm

    They will be able to get involved in a variety of matters including:

    • Business and share acquisitions and disposals
    • Management buy-outs
    • Corporate refinancing
    • Advising investee companies
    • Group reorganisations
    • Share buybacks

    The following skills and experience are relevant:

    • Experience of dealing with corporate transactions, including business and share acquisitions and disposals
    • Working independently and as part of a team
    • Good organisational skills and the ability to manage large caseloads and projects
    • The desire to grow with the firm and the ability to confidently advise and work with clients at all levels, up to Directors and CEO’s
    • Provision of first-class client care

    You can expect a competitive salary and excellent benefits package, alongside flexible and hybrid working options. We also offer a great working environment in brand new, state of the art offices based in Newcastle City Centre.

    If you would like to apply or have an informal discussion around this role, get in touch by contacting Ruth Fell. ruth.fell@hay-kilner.co.uk.

  • Banking Solicitor

    5+ years PQE

    We are recruiting for a Senior banking solicitor to work within our Newcastle-based department.

    Successful applicants will report to our Head of Corporate and will:

    • Provide practical advice on all banking matters.
    • Advise lenders, investors and corporate borrowers on bank loan facility documentation and private equity house investment documentation.
    • Draft, review, negotiate and advise on all types of bank security documentation (including debentures, legal charges, corporate guarantees, deeds of priority etc).
    • Advise on the enforcement of security.
    • Advise on company law provisions in relation to funding transactions, working closely with the corporate and commercial property teams.
    • Have their own good quality banking workload.
    • Be involved in business development activities within the corporate team and across the wider firm.

    The following skills and experience are relevant:

    • The ability to provide excellent client service and to build and maintain strong working relationships with all stakeholders.
    • Working independently and as part of a team.
    • Good organisational skills and the ability to manage a large caseload.

    You can expect a competitive salary and excellent benefits package, alongside flexible and hybrid working options. We also offer a great working environment in brand new, state of the art offices based in Newcastle City Centre.

Apply
To apply for any of our roles, contact our HR Manager, Ruth Fell.

Work experience for students aged 16 - 18

Each year we offer students aged 16 – 18 years’ old the opportunity to undertake one week of work experience in our office at the Lumen.

During the week, students can expect to sit in a different department each day, with a supervisor who undertakes work in that area of law.
Our work experience placements for 2025 will take place in the weeks commencing 21st and 28th July.
If you would like to apply for our work experience placement, we ask that you complete an application to assist us with the selection process. Accordingly, please answer the following questions limiting each answer to approximately 50 words:

  1. Why are you interested in law?
  2. What are your predicted A-level grades?
  3. What is your favourite hobby and why?
  4. Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

Please also confirm your full name, age and school or college.

Applications open on 3rd March and close on 23 May. Offers will be made in early June.
Please submit your application to workexperience@hay-kilner.co.uk

Graduate opportunities

Finding the ideal training contract to fulfil your ambitions can be a daunting process. If you have decided that Newcastle is the place for you then read on.

Get in touch today

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‘Hay & Kilner’ and ‘Hay & Kilner Law Firm’ are both trading names of Hay & Kilner LLP, a limited liability partnership registered in England & Wales with registered number OC418767. Our registered office is at The Lumen, St James' Boulevard, Newcastle Helix, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5BZ and we are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (Authorisation number 643191). We use the word ‘partner’ to refer to a member of Hay & Kilner LLP. A list of the members is available at our registered office.