Associate; PQE

We’re looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Associate (with around 3 – 4 years PQE) to join our growing and highly regarded Property Litigation team in Exeter.

Our Property Litigation team is known for its practical, commercial approach and the strength of its relationships with clients. Described by the Legal 500 in 2025 as "one of the very best property litigation practices in the South West," our team act for a diverse range of individuals, businesses, institutional landlords, investors, and developers on a broad spectrum of contentious property issues.

You’ll work closely with partners and senior lawyers on a variety of property-related disputes, including co‑ownership and neighbour issues (such as rights of way, adverse possession, harassment, and boundary disputes), lease and tenancy disputes, commercial rent recovery, enforcement of charges, possession claims, professional negligence claims and claims involving rectifying historic title issues.

Alongside this, you’ll play an active role in the day‑to‑day management of the team supporting, mentoring, and supervising junior lawyers, trainees, and our large team of paralegals who assist with high volume tenancy management issues (including disrepair, possession, anti‑social behaviour injunctions and long leaseholder claims).

You’ll have regular client contact, plenty of autonomy, and the support of an experienced and collaborative group of lawyers who are passionate about developing people and delivering excellent client service.

With at least three years post‑qualification experience in property litigation, ideally gained at a regional or national law firm, you’ll be comfortable managing a varied caseload independently and will bring sound technical knowledge, commercial awareness, and confidence in handling both residential and commercial contentious property matters.

You’ll be a natural communicator who quickly builds trust and rapport with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders. Empathetic, approachable, and commercially minded, you’ll demonstrate a genuine commitment to client care and the ability to balance strategic thinking with practical solutions.

As someone who leads by example, you’ll enjoy supporting the development of junior members of the team, providing guidance and encouragement while helping to maintain a positive, collaborative working culture. Calm under pressure and methodical in your approach, you’ll thrive on complex challenges and take pride in achieving successful outcomes for clients.

This role offers a fantastic opportunity for an experienced associate to build their profile within a respected and ambitious team, with clear opportunities for progression and professional development.

At Ashfords, we believe in more than just doing great work - we believe in building a great place to work.

When you join us, you become part of a team where everything we do is underpinned by our four core values:
Be Open, Think Team, Make a Difference and Always Grow. These values shape who we are and how we work - they guide our decisions, influence our culture, and drive the way we support our people, clients and communities.

With a clear focus on innovation, community involvement, and supporting a healthy work‑life balance, we are committed to building an environment where our people can have a rewarding and meaningful career.

Whilst we recognise that every career journey is unique, we will be ambitious for you, giving you the tools, trust, and opportunities to develop your career, your way.

Our goal? To help you realise your full potential as part of a forward‑thinking team.

We know that our people are at the heart of everything we do – and that’s why we’re committed to supporting your wellbeing, growth and work‑life balance.

Beyond our benefits package, you’ll be encouraged, no matter what your role or career level, to get involved in our Responsible Business programme, where you’ll support initiatives such as charity fundraising, environmental causes and our employee led diversity and inclusion groups.

You can find out more about our benefits by visiting the Reward & Wellbeing page on our website.

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