Solicitor (0-4 years PQE)

Corporate - Southampton

Paris Smith LLP is one of the South’s largest regional law firms and has celebrated over 200 years in business. We are committed to ensuring that our clients have a positive experience with the firm, and to inspire and develop our people to reach their full potential. We are based in offices in Southampton, Winchester and Bournemouth with 46 partners and employing 175 members of staff.

The Role

We are looking for a talented Solicitor (0-4 years PQE, but this is flexible) to join our award-winning Corporate team in our Southampton office who are part of our Corporate, Commercial & Finance department. The right candidate will be an excellent team player who will have the full support a team of 10 fee earners comprising four Partners, one Senior Associate, one Associate and four assistant Solicitors (plus trainee support) based across all our offices, with a strong focus on transactional work.

You will need to be highly organised, commercially aware, and have excellent IT skills. The successful candidate be joining one of the largest corporate law practices on the South Coast. You will work in a highly skilled team practice led by a highly rated team of Partners and staff in Southampton and Winchester.

Our Corporate, Commercial & Finance department are previously winners of the law firm of the year in the region and they have also just been recognised in The Times as one of the Best Law Firms 2026.

Principle Duties & Responsibilities

Technical

• Support the existing team with corporate work such as corporate agreements, shareholders agreements, JV arrangements, share option work, family investment companies, and family charters as well as corporate reorganisations.

• Strong focus on transactional work – acting for many serial acquirers, often PE backed with a buy and build strategy, but equally involved in corporate disposals.

• Provide support with and advising clients on non-transactional matters.

• Co-ordinate due diligence input from specialist teams outside the corporate team

• Draw up company secretarial paperwork, and filings.

Competencies

• Handle own caseload and work with other members of the team – depending upon complexity and size of matter.

• Carry out such marketing and business development activity as is appropriate.

• Provide a high-quality legal service to our clients.

• Accept work from and delegate work to (as appropriate), all members of the department.

• Work and behave in a professional manner and to the highest standards of the profession.

• Comply with procedures set out in the Office Manual, professional standards and any requirement set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

• Carry out duties given by the partners or employees faithfully and diligently and follow all reasonable instructions.

• Keep up to date with changes in the law and participate on regular technical sessions held by the team.

The Candidate

• Corporate experience would be a distinct advantage, but is not essential.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

• Highly organised.

• Willing to embrace technology

• Commercially -minded with an interest in businesses

• Accurate typing and input of information skills.

• A good team player.

• Flexible and proactive approach.

• Good IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.).

• Willing to take ownership and be accountable for own work.

Rewards & Benefits

We want you to thrive at Paris Smith and be the best version of yourself. That’s why we do what we can to support your health and happiness both at work and outside it.