Company Description

STA Legal is a boutique disputes advisory firm providing tailored legal solutions to a diverse client base, including corporates, SMEs, investors, property developers, and educational institutions. The firm is recognised for expertise in high-volume litigation, cross-border disputes, debt recovery, and a growing Commercial Litigation Mid-Market practice. STA Legal operates a partner-led model with a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance, ethical practice, transparency, and confidentiality, delivering clear, strategic and practical outcomes across dispute resolution, corporate advisory, and risk management.

Role Description

STA Legal is recruiting for three solicitor opportunities (full-time, primarily office-based) in Manchester or Maidstone (Kent), depending on the applicant. Each role involves managing client communications, legal research, drafting, negotiation, and court representation as appropriate, working closely with Directors/Heads of Department and contributing to robust procedural compliance, high drafting standards, and efficient case progression. Connections to London would assist if there is a desire to facilitate the growth of the upcoming London office.

Civil Litigation (Any PQE): You will manage and support a mixed caseload of commercial and civil litigation, recovery actions, and real estate disputes (including landlord and tenant, property and title disputes, and construction/development-related disputes). The role includes drafting pleadings and applications, handling directions, disclosure, evidence and trial preparation, participating in interim hearings and routine advocacy where appropriate, and contributing to precedent development and team supervision as the contentious practice expands.

Commercial Litigation and Insolvency (Any PQE): You will manage a caseload of commercial disputes (including contractual/supply chain, shareholder/partnership and professional negligence disputes) and contentious insolvency matters (including statutory demands, bankruptcy, winding-up petitions, validation and related applications, and director misfeasance/wrongful trading/antecedent transactions). Exposure to arbitration work is available (experience advantageous but not essential). The role includes supervising paralegals, supporting strategic risk and settlement discussions, and working with counsel on complex or higher-value matters.

Debt Recovery and Consumer Claims (Institutional Clients) (Any PQE): You will manage defended and undefended debt recovery and consumer claims from pre-action through to enforcement, acting for regulated institutional clients and tailoring strategy to regulatory, reputational and commercial priorities. The role includes drafting the full range of litigation documents (including set-aside and relief from sanctions applications where relevant), supervising paralegals in a high-volume, data-rich environment, and supporting process and reporting improvements for institutional portfolios.

Skill Set

• Qualified solicitor or equivalent in England and Wales (with relevant pre-qualification litigation experience considered where appropriate).
• Strong working knowledge of the CPR and civil litigation process, with demonstrable procedural rigour (diary management, compliance with directions/orders, limitation and sanctions awareness).
• Proven drafting capability (pre-action correspondence, statements of case, applications, witness statements and orders) and sound legal research and analysis.
• Clear client advisory skills (merits, risk, proportionality, costs and enforcement strategy) with professional, concise written and verbal communication.
• Ability to manage multiple matters and deadlines efficiently, maintaining accurate time recording and effective case management system use.
• Commitment to high standards of professional conduct and compliance, including SRA Principles, AML and data protection obligations (particularly where matters involve significant data volumes or cross-border elements).
• Experience supervising/managing paralegals and working well within a team is necessary.