Senior Wills and Probate Solicitor/Cilex/Paralegal

Humber Recruitment are pleased to be resourcing a Senior Wills and Probate Solicitor/Cilex/Paralegal for one of our clients based in Skegness on a full-time basis.

Introduction

Role Based in: Skegness, Lincolnshire – 2 days home-working available following probation
Reporting to: Directors of the Company
Hours and Holiday: Full-time, permanent position – Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. 30 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
Salary: £60,000.00+ – dependent upon experience and value which will be brought to the growth and running of the department and its personnel

Summary of the Role

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Private Client professional to take a senior role within our client’s Wills and Probate Department.

The successful candidate will undertake high-level and high-value private client work while playing a key role in the management, supervision and future development of the department. They will be expected to lead by example, proactively mentor and develop colleagues, maintain high standards of compliance and client care, and take a leading role in the department’s business development and growth.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Solicitor, CILEX Lawyer or highly experienced Paralegal who combines strong technical private client expertise with the ability and ambition to lead and develop a department.

This is a senior position with significant responsibility and autonomy. For the right candidate, there is the potential for accelerated progression to Director level.

Minimum Requirements for the Role

In order to be considered for this role, your application must reflect that you have a minimum of 8 years’ experience of managing a varied caseload of private client matters, including complex and high-value work, with responsibility for matters from initial instruction through to completion.

The successful candidate will demonstrate sound judgement, excellent technical knowledge and the ability to deal confidently and sensitively with complex client circumstances.

Details of the Role

Case Work

Running a caseload from start to finish autonomously, to include:

• Drafting complex and high-value Wills;
• Estate and succession planning;
• Administration of estates, including complex and high-value estates;
• Probate and intestacy matters;
• Inheritance Tax considerations and planning;
• Trust-related matters;
• Lasting Powers of Attorney;
• Court of Protection and related private client matters where appropriate;
• Advising executors, administrators, trustees, beneficiaries and family members;
• Identifying issues requiring specialist tax, financial or other professional advice and coordinating with external advisers where necessary; and
• Developing and maintaining strong, trusted relationships with clients and relevant third parties.

Department Management and Leadership

Take an active role in the day-to-day management and strategic development of the Wills and Probate Department. Responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the effective allocation and management of work across the department;
• Monitoring workloads, capacity, performance and service standards;
• Ensuring matters are progressed efficiently and clients receive a consistently high level of service;
• Identifying and implementing improvements to departmental systems, processes and ways of working;
• Promoting effective collaboration and communication within the team and across the wider firm;
• Assisting with recruitment, induction and development of departmental staff where required;
• Contributing to decisions concerning the structure, resourcing and future development of the department; and
• Creating a positive, professional and commercially focused departmental culture.

Supervision, Mentoring and Team Development

Provide proactive supervision, mentoring and support to members of the department. This will include:

• Providing technical guidance and practical support on client matters;
• Reviewing work and files where appropriate;
• Supporting junior and developing fee earners in building their technical knowledge, confidence and judgement;
• Identifying individual and team training and development requirements;
• Ensuring team members have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience appropriate to the work allocated to them;
• Encouraging appropriate delegation while maintaining effective supervision;
• Supporting career development and progression within the department; and
• Leading by example in relation to professional standards, client care, commercial awareness and teamwork.

Compliance, Risk and Quality

Take a lead role in ensuring high standards of compliance, risk management and file management throughout the department. Responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing departmental compliance with relevant regulatory requirements, firm policies and procedures;
• Promoting consistently high standards of file management and record keeping;
• Ensuring appropriate client care, confidentiality, conflicts, AML and other regulatory procedures are followed;
• Identifying and addressing potential areas of risk;
• Supporting file reviews, audits and other quality-control processes;
• Ensuring appropriate supervision arrangements are maintained throughout the department;
• Keeping departmental procedures under review and recommending improvements where necessary; and
• Working with the firm’s management and compliance functions to ensure that the department continues to meet required professional and regulatory standards.

Company Development, Networking and Marketing

Take a leading role in generating new work and raising the profile of the department and firm. The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Develop and maintain relationships with existing and prospective clients, introducers and professional contacts;
• Actively participate in networking and business development activities;
• Identify new sources of work and opportunities for departmental growth;
• Develop relationships with accountants, financial advisers and other relevant professionals;
• Generate opportunities for cross-referrals between the Wills and Probate Department and other areas of the firm;
• Lead and contribute to marketing initiatives, seminars, presentations, articles, events and other promotional activity;
• Develop the personal and departmental profile within the local and wider professional community;
• Encourage and support other members of the department to participate effectively in business development; and
• Monitor the effectiveness of business development initiatives and adapt activity where appropriate.

Departmental Business Planning

Take a leading role in preparing, implementing and reviewing the department’s business plan. This will include:

• Agreeing clear objectives and priorities for the department;
• Identifying opportunities for growth and development;
• Developing strategies for attracting new clients and increasing instructions from existing clients and professional contacts;
• Contributing to departmental budgeting, financial targets and performance monitoring;
• Reviewing the profitability, efficiency and effectiveness of the department’s work;
• Identifying opportunities to improve processes, technology and methods of service delivery;
• Translating agreed business objectives into practical actions and ensuring those actions are implemented;
• Monitoring progress against the business plan and recommending changes where required; and
• Working closely with the firm’s Directors on the longer-term strategy for the department.

Client Service and Continuous Improvement

The successful candidate will have a strong commitment to providing a full, effective and high-quality service to clients.

They will be expected to continually consider how the department can improve its service, including through better processes, communication, use of technology, knowledge sharing and allocation of work.

The role will involve identifying areas in which existing practices can be improved and taking responsibility for developing and implementing practical solutions.

Person Specification

We are looking for a Solicitor, CILEX Lawyer or highly experienced Paralegal with substantial experience in Wills, Probate and private client work.

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Strong technical knowledge and substantial practical experience of Wills and Probate work;
• Experience of handling complex and/or high-value private client matters;
• The ability to manage matters independently and exercise sound professional judgement;
• Experience of supervising, mentoring or developing other team members;
• The confidence and ability to provide technical leadership within the department;
• A strong understanding of regulatory compliance, risk management and good file-management practices;
• Excellent client-care and interpersonal skills;
• Strong organisational and workload-management skills;
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of the financial performance of a legal department;
• An interest in and aptitude for business development, networking and relationship building;
• The ability to identify opportunities for improving systems and ways of working;
• A collaborative approach to working with colleagues and other departments;
• The ability to motivate, support and develop others;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; and
• The ambition and capability to take increasing responsibility for the leadership and future direction of the department.

What We Are Looking For

This position would particularly suit someone who wants their next career move to involve more than simply managing a personal caseload.

We are looking for an individual who wants to take ownership of the development of a department: maintaining excellent technical and client-service standards, developing the people around them, improving how the team works and actively contributing to the growth of the practice.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the future direction of the Wills and Probate Department and the wider firm.

Career Progression

This is intended to be a senior and influential appointment within the company.

The successful candidate will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to lead and grow the department, develop its people, generate new business and contribute to the wider management and strategic objectives of the firm.

For an exceptional candidate who demonstrates the required technical, leadership, commercial and business-development capabilities, there is genuine potential for fast-track progression to Director level.

The Company

The client is a specialist company based in Skegness, Lincolnshire, which provides a comprehensive range of legal services to clients across Lincolnshire, the East Midlands and beyond. They have an outstanding reputation in both commercial and private client services, with particular strength in personal injury, clinical negligence, wills and probate, commercial and residential property and corporate dispute resolution.

The Company offers a range of staff incentives, including:

• Continued training and development, including payment of external courses/legal qualifications
• Paid practising certificate fees
• Competitive salary based on experience
• Flexible working, including hybrid working opportunities (following successful completion of the probationary period) and working “core hours” between 7 am – 7 pm
• Performance bonus
• Pension scheme
• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and Christmas week closure. In addition, staff can “bank” additional hours worked to accrue further holiday days
• Staff discounts
• Employee social events
• Employee health and wellbeing events
• Long-service awards
• Casual dress down days
• Bring your pet to work days
• On-site parking.

To apply for the position, click the apply button below or at the top of the page and complete the form. For more information on the role, call our team on 01472 729768 and we will be happy to assist. You can visit our jobs page to see our full list of available vacancies.

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