Senior Associate (7+ years PQE) in Exeter

Ashfords Contentious Trusts and Estates team is looking to recruit an experienced Senior or Managing Associate (ideally with at least 7 years PQE) to join us on a full-time, permanent basis.

Recognised in the Legal 500 2024 as a team of capable litigators with excellent and high-profile work, which exceeds expectations for their regional status, we are proud to be one of the largest specialist teams in the region. You will work alongside a well-established and highly regarded team, advising on a broad range of contentious matters, including will disputes, Inheritance Act claims, executor and trustee disputes, and professional negligence claims arising from estate and trust administration. Our clients typically include high-net-worth individuals, business owners, executors, trustees, charities, and a significant number of farmers and landowners, offering you a varied and interesting caseload. From day one, you will have access to high-quality work and the opportunity to take on significant responsibility as part of a friendly and supportive team.

As a naturally ambitious and self-motivated lawyer with a strong background in contentious Private Wealth work, you will have significant experience in a successful team, with sound technical knowledge and the ability to build strong rapport with clients. Client care is at the heart of everything we do. We will expect you to have a genuine enthusiasm for client contact, networking, and business development, and ideally you will already be playing a role in these areas in your current position. As an excellent communicator, you will be confident in dealing with clients and skilled at developing and maintaining long-term relationships. With natural resilience and strong organisational skills, you are able to work well under pressure, manage competing demands, and meet challenging deadlines. We will expect you to take a high degree of responsibility from the outset, whilst supporting your ongoing 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. 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.

Our recruitment process typically involves two stages, which are designed not only to explore your skills and experience but also to give you a real insight into what it's like to work at Ashfords. Throughout the process, our dedicated Talent Attraction team will be here to support you every step of the way. We believe that building a firm with a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences drives innovation and strengthens our teams, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. To support your growth, we offer ongoing training and development opportunities to help you reach your full potential so even if you don't feel you match all the requirements of the job role, we'd still love to hear from you. At Ashfords, we're committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to succeed.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or would like to discuss anything regarding your application, please contact us at [contact information]. For an informal and confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Toby Tompkins, Talent Attraction Manager - [contact information]. Or apply now, and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible.