Senior Associate Solicitor

About us

Stone King is an ambitious firm specialising in the Business & Social Enterprise, Charity, Education, Public, Faith and Private Client sectors.  Our collaborative culture and core values are intertwined with our ethos of doing the right thing by our clients, communities, and our people. Our passion for the sectors we work in and the purpose-driven work we do with our clients has resulted in SK being recognised as national leaders in our specialist fields across the country.

The opportunity

We’re looking for an experienced and motivated Senior Associate to join our expanding Criminal Law Team at an exciting time of growth. You’ll have the opportunity to work across the full spectrum of criminal law, handling a diverse caseload and become an integral part of the team’s success.

As we broaden our services, this role offers the chance to be part of something dynamic and forward-thinking. This position is available in our Leeds, Manchester, and Birmingham offices.

Remote working is also available, with travel to other locations as required to meet client needs.

If you're looking for a role that offers variety, growth, and the chance to make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Reasons to apply

• Join a growing and ambitious Criminal Law Team at an exciting stage of expansion
• Work across the full spectrum of criminal law with a varied and engaging caseload
• Choose your base – role available in Leeds, Manchester, and Birmingham
• To be part of an ambitious and collaborative national firm where our culture and values are at the heart of everything we do. We believe our people are our greatest asset and strive to create the best place to work.
• Excellent benefits for our people, with a focus on wellbeing and development at the forefront.
• Hybrid working - Stone King are proud to be signatories of the Mindful Business Charter as part of our commitment to mental health and wellbeing. We want to support all of our people in achieving a healthy work/ life balance and would be happy to speak with prospective candidates about flexible working arrangements.

Key Responsibilities

General duties include, but are not limited to:

• Manage a complex individual caseload with minimal supervision, ensuring high-quality service delivery at all stages.
• Supervise, mentor, and support junior team members, offering technical guidance and contributing to their professional development.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, attending client meetings in-office or off-site as required, and ensuring a responsive and client-focused approach.
• Collaborate effectively within the immediate team and across the wider firm.
• Communicate clearly and professionally, both internally with colleagues and externally with clients, stakeholders, and other professionals.
• Take responsibility for your own continuing professional development, staying up to date with legal and regulatory changes within criminal law.
• Play an active role in team meetings, including contributing to strategic discussions, case reviews, and knowledge sharing.
• Lead or support business development and marketing initiatives, including event preparation, networking, and client engagement activities to help grow the team’s presence and reputation.

Requirements

Essential

• An experienced Solicitor or Barrister with relevant criminal and/or regulatory experience.
• Must be able to travel to client meetings and hearings on a regular basis.
• The ability to advocate at all hearings in a Magistrates Court and appropriate Crown Court hearings.
• Confident in representing suspects in the police station or other PACE interviews.
• Higher Rights of Audience is essential.
• Strong drafting, file management and client building skills.
• Experience in supervising others and contributing to others development.
• Proven experience in driving business development and marketing initiatives, with a willingness to take a leading role in planning and execution.
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members and clients (both oral and written communication).
• Possess strong organisation skills, technologically proficient and capable of working on their own and within a team.
• This role requires travel to other office locations and off-site venues in response to client needs, including attendance at courts, police stations, and prisons nationwide. Due to the nature of the work, there may be occasional requirements to work outside standard office hours, including evenings or weekends, depending on client demands. As such, the ability to travel is essential to fulfil the responsibilities of the role.

Desirable

• Proven track record in marketing and business development.

• Regulatory experience is ideal

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Individual differences are embraced at Stone King, and we strive to create an environment in which people feel supported and able to be themselves. We are committed to promoting an inclusive working environment that supports the growth and development for all. We are proud to be signatories of the Mindful Business Charter, the Race Fairness Commitment, and the Age Friendly Employer Pledge, and we are a Disability Confident Employer.

Stone King LLP is committed to offering an interview to any job applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the role as defined by the job description and person specification. A full copy of the person specification and job description can be provided by contacting our Recruitment team.  In some recruitment situations such as high-peak times, we might need to limit the overall numbers of interviews we offer. This will include the number of interviews offered to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria. When that happens, we’ll still aim to offer a proportionate number of interviews to disabled applicants.

We aim to make our recruitment process as inclusive as possible and will make reasonable adjustments where needed. To discuss adjustments or request information in an alternative format, please contact our recruitment team at [email protected] or 01225 326770.

Stone King LLP is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity by encouraging all our staff to achieve their full potential and guaranteeing that all employment decisions are taken without reference to irrelevant information or discriminatory practices.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Profit Share Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Benefit Platform
• Private Medical Insurance
• Life assurance (4 x salary)
• Pension scheme
• 31 days holiday (in addition to statutory UK holidays)
• Additional day allocated for CSR activities per annum

Closing date: 19 December 2025

Adverts normally close at midday on the closing date, however vacancies may close early if sufficient applications have been received. Therefore we would encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Recruitment agencies – please do not send us unsolicited CVs. If you do so, we reserve the right to contact the candidate directly and your T&Cs will not apply.

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