Software Developer

About us

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals and over 600 staff based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

The team you will join

We are looking for a proactive and enthusiastic Software Developer to join our development team.

This is a hands-on software engineering role supporting a varied portfolio of applications and services used by both Birketts colleagues and clients. You will contribute to the development, support and continuous improvement of solutions across both Microsoft Azure cloud platforms and existing on-premises systems.

The role offers an excellent opportunity to work across a diverse technology landscape, balancing the enhancement and support of established business-critical applications with the development of newer cloud-native products and services.

You will work closely with product managers, developers, DevOps engineers, QA specialists and business stakeholders to deliver secure, reliable and maintainable software solutions. You will also utilise modern AI-assisted development tools to help improve quality and delivery efficiency while ensuring all code and solutions meet Birketts' technical, security and compliance standards.

The work you will be doing

• Develop, test and support software solutions using C#, .NET and related technologies
• Contribute to the development of both Azure cloud-based services and internally hosted business applications
• Investigate, troubleshoot and resolve application defects and production issues
• Ensure software is secure, maintainable, performant and reliable, with appropriate automated testing
• Develop and maintain APIs, integrations and supporting services.
• Produce clear technical documentation, developer tests and deployment procedures
• Participate in code reviews and contribute to continuous improvement of engineering standards and practices
• Work collaboratively with developers, product managers, DevOps engineers, QA specialists and business stakeholders
• Provide accurate estimates and regular progress updates for assigned work
• Help monitor and improve system performance, availability and resilience.
• Use modern AI-assisted development tools to improve delivery speed and quality across coding, testing, debugging, refactoring and documentation activities.
• Review and validate AI-generated outputs to ensure they are accurate, secure and aligned with business requirements.
• Ensure delivered solutions meet appropriate standards for security, quality, maintainability and compliance

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

What we are looking for

Essential

• Commercial experience developing software using C# and .NET
• Experience maintaining, enhancing or supporting internal business applications in a professional environment
• Knowledge of software engineering principles, including object-oriented design, testing and code review practices
• Experience working with relational databases and SQL
• Understanding of API development and integration patterns
• Familiarity with Microsoft Azure services and an interest to further develop Microsoft Azure expertise
• Experience using source control and collaborative development tools such as Git and Azure DevOps

• Experience using AI-assisted development tools and an interest in adopting them as part of day-to-day software development
• Ability to evaluate AI-generated output and identify issues relating to correctness, security and maintainability
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Good communication skills and ability to work effectively with both technical and non-technical colleagues
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work independently when required
• Attention to detail and commitment to delivering high-quality solutions
• Willingness to learn new technologies and development practices

Desirable

• Experience developing applications on Microsoft Azure
• Knowledge of Azure App Services, Azure Functions, Azure SQL or Service Bus
• Experience supporting and modernising legacy or on-premises applications
• Understanding of CI/CD and DevOps practices
• Experience with containerisation technologies such as Docker
• Knowledge of secure coding practices
• Experience working in Agile delivery teams
• Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or a related discipline

Hybrid Working

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. This role attracts a split of 60% office days and 40% working from home days per week.

We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.

Benefits

As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of benefits:

• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Long Service holiday award - 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid CSR Day
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Dress for your Day Policy

You can find out more on our website: https://www.birketts.co.uk/recognition-reward-benefits/

Inclusivity and Culture

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth.

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.

If you require this advert in an accessible format, please visit https://diversityjobsgroup.com/company/birketts/

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

At Birketts, we recognise the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession and recruitment. We welcome innovation and understand that candidates may use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we expect all applicants to use AI responsibly and ethically.

Our expectations regarding AI use in applications:

• Your application should reflect your own voice, experiences, and insights. AI may assist in structuring or refining your responses, but it must not replace your personal input.
• Do not use AI to misrepresent your qualifications, experiences, or skills. Any form of exaggeration or fabrication may result in rejection from the process.
• If you have used AI tools to assist with your application, be prepared to discuss how and why you used them during the interview process.
• Do not submit content generated by AI tools that may include personal or sensitive data not intended for public disclosure.
• AI-generated content should be reviewed and edited by you to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with the role and our firm’s values.

We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices. The use of AI should enhance, not compromise, your application. We encourage candidates to demonstrate critical thinking, commercial awareness, and a genuine interest in our firm.

If you have any questions about our expectations or the use of AI in your application, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team via talent@birketts.co.uk