We are seeking an experienced Private Client Solicitor to join our client's busy, client-focused private client team. The successful candidate will manage a varied caseload of private client matters, provide expert legal advice, ensure compliance with regulatory and firm procedures, and contribute to efficient team workflows. This role offers opportunities for professional development, exposure to a wide range of private client work including wills, trusts, estate administration, lasting powers of attorney, probate, and inheritance tax planning, and may offer hybrid working arrangements depending on team requirements.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide legal advice and case management: Act for clients on private client matters, taking responsibility for the end-to-end handling of cases from initial advice and client instructions through to document execution, post-death administration, and closure, ensuring timely progression and clear communication.

• Drafting and reviewing documentation: Prepare, review and finalise legal documentation including wills, trust deeds, letters of wishes, estate administration documents, probate forms, lasting powers of attorney (LPAs), court of protection applications and client engagement letters, ensuring accuracy and compliance with firm precedents and regulatory requirements.

• Estate administration and probate: Manage probate and estate administration matters, obtain grants of probate, prepare estate accounts, liaise with executors, beneficiaries and third parties, resolve queries and ensure correct distribution of assets in accordance with the deceased’s wishes or intestacy rules.

• Tax and planning advisory: Provide practical advice on inheritance tax planning, trusts and lifetime gifting, liaise with tax advisers where appropriate and prepare calculations and documentation to support tax reporting and mitigation strategies.

• Client protection matters: Prepare and advise on LPAs and deputyship applications, act for donors and attorneys, liaise with the Office of the Public Guardian and support clients with capacity and decision-making issues in a sensitive manner.

• Regulatory and compliance duties: Ensure compliance with AML, client identity checks and other regulatory obligations, maintain audit-ready files and accurate records in line with firm procedures and risk policies.

• Liaison with third parties: Correspond and negotiate with clients, financial institutions, tax advisers, executors, trustees, medical professionals, HM Revenue & Customs and other third parties to obtain documentation, resolve queries and manage expectations professionally.

• Financial and transactional processes: Prepare and check financial statements, manage client account transactions and disbursement requests, support billing and fee recovery and ensure correct handling of client monies in accordance with firm policies.

• File management and case progression: Maintain and update electronic case files, record clear case notes, milestones and actions, use case management systems to monitor deadlines and support efficient file reviews.

• Training and supervision: Provide guidance and supervision to junior lawyers and support staff, contribute to induction and training activities and share knowledge of procedures and precedents.

• Continuous improvement: Identify and assist with process improvements, contribute to precedent updates and support the implementation of practice management technology and workflow enhancements to increase efficiency.

• Client care: Deliver excellent client service by keeping clients informed, responding to enquiries promptly and escalating complex issues to senior colleagues where appropriate.

Key skills and experience required:

• Qualified solicitor, CILEX or equivalent: Minimum 3 Years PQE in private client or related practice area.

• Proven private client experience: Demonstrable experience handling wills, probate/estate administration, trusts, LPAs and other private client matters within a law firm or private client practice.

• Technical knowledge: Strong understanding of probate processes, trust law, Court of Protection procedures, inheritance tax and related tax reporting obligations.

• Regulatory awareness: Knowledge of AML requirements, capacity issues and client identification procedures and experience maintaining compliant, audit-ready files.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills: Professional and empathetic communicator with the ability to liaise effectively with vulnerable clients, executors, beneficiaries and external advisers.

• Organisational ability: Strong organisational skills with attention to detail, ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines across a varied caseload.

• IT proficiency: Comfortable using case management systems, document management software and Microsoft Office; able to learn new systems and support digital process improvements.

• Professional attributes: Reliable and solutions-focused with a commitment to continuous professional development and team collaboration.

Other information:

• Full training and ongoing support will be provided where required; opportunities for continuing professional development and career progression are available.