Senior Associate Solicitor – Private Client Department (Wills, LPA’s & Estate Planning)

Overview

We are looking for an experienced solicitor with strong management skills and a strategic mindset to join our private client team. Working with one of the partners, the role would involve day to day oversight of the team responsible for Wills and LPAs and be based in our Hampstead office. We are looking for a proactive candidate to deliver consistently high levels of client service whilst supervising a close-knit team. The candidate will have the opportunity to make a real impact and some positive changes in this space whilst working on an unusually varied and high-quality caseload.

Responsibilities

• Taking on matters within the department, including cases and transactions involving Wills and LPAs
• Overseeing team members, including solicitors, trainee solicitors and paralegals
• Supporting and mentoring the team with managing their caseload; carrying out legal research and general administrative tasks as well as developing client relationship skills
• Drafting and advising on probate applications and administering estates
• Estate planning, including inheritance tax advice and setting up trusts
• Advising on Court of Protection matters (if relevant)
• Liaising with financial advisors and accountants for holistic client solutions
• Keeping up to date with developments in private client law and tax legislation
• Dealing directly with clients to take instructions and deliver on client expectations
• Identifying and following relevant SRA principles and rules of professional conduct
• Complying with risk management processes and policies
• Contributing to business development and identifying networking and marketing opportunities internally and externally

Requirements

• Deep technical knowledge on Wills & LPA’s with the ability to think strategically
• Strong technical knowledge of probate and estate administration
• Ability to manage a varied caseload independently
• Excellent client-facing skills with empathy and discretion
• Business development mindset (but scaled to mid-level expectations)
• Proven leadership skills with experience of managing a team
• Strong interest in a private client practice
• STEP qualification or willingness to work towards it (highly desirable)
• Familiarity with HMRC processes for inheritance tax and estate returns
• Excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal, organisational, and administrative skills
• Adept client care skills and ability to manage own contentious caseload
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Proficient with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel as well as legal tools such as Westlaw, PLC and Lexis Nexis
• Must be experienced at multi-tasking, managing time sensitive documents, and taking responsibility for delegated tasks
• Must thrive in a busy, team-oriented environment

Experience & Qualifications

• Must have obtained a 2:1 or 1st class degree
• Must have at least 6 years’ experience as a private client solicitor and 6-10 years PQE

Benefits

• Target related bonus structure
• 25 days holiday a year; plus, birthdays and the period between Christmas and New Year
• Pension contributions as per the Streethers pension scheme (Streathers contribute 3% of gross salary and employees contribute 5%)
• Group Life Assurance Scheme which offers financial support to colleagues’ families in the event of an unexpected death
• An extremely friendly and welcoming working environment
• A growing wellbeing programme with an exceptional range of initiatives and benefits such as the Employee Assistance Programme
• Free training opportunities
• Monthly socials and a heavily subsidised annual trip with the wider Streathers team
• Bicycle funding as part of the Cycle to Work scheme

Working Hours

• Weekdays from 9.30am to 5.30pm with an hour lunch break

#J-18808-Ljbffr…