Private Client Solicitor or Legal Executive | 2+ PQE | Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds or Ipswich

Complex Private Client Work • Excellent Development • Flexible Working • Unlimited Holiday

If you're a Private Client lawyer who wants to broaden your experience rather than become pigeonholed too early, this is an opportunity worth exploring.

We are looking for a Solicitor or Legal Executive with at least 2+ years' PQE to join the Private Client team of a large, highly regarded regional firm.

You can be based in Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds or Ipswich, joining a wider team that works collaboratively across the firm's offices, sharing work, expertise and support.

You’ll manage your own caseload, but you’ll also have the opportunity to work with more experienced specialists on complex estates, trusts, tax planning, succession, vulnerable client and Court of Protection work.

Why this role stands out

Build genuinely broad Private Client expertise

Rather than recruiting you to cover one narrow area, the team wants you to develop experience across the private client discipline.

The work includes wills, trusts, complex lifetime tax planning, estate administration, powers of attorney and Court of Protection matters.

You’ll also have exposure to more complex estate administration, including taxable estates and matters involving agricultural and business assets, as well as deeds of variation and declarations of trust.

Work with a varied client base

The team advises high-net-worth individuals as well as elderly and vulnerable clients and their families, so you’ll develop both your technical expertise and the client-handling skills that are so important in this area.

Three possible office bases

The role can be based in Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds or Ipswich, with colleagues working collaboratively across the wider team.

Development at whatever stage you're at

At 2+ PQE, you certainly aren’t expected to know everything already.

There is scope to continue building your technical knowledge across the full breadth of private client work, with support for further qualifications. A STEP qualification, or an interest in working towards one, would be welcomed rather than essential.

As your experience develops, there are also opportunities to build leadership and management skills and support more junior colleagues.

What will you be doing?

You’ll take responsibility for your own caseload while working alongside colleagues on more complex matters.

Your work could include:

• Estate administration, including complex and taxable estates
• Wills and succession planning
• Trusts and declarations of trust
• Lifetime tax planning
• Powers of attorney
• Court of Protection matters
• Advising elderly and vulnerable clients and their families
• Deeds of variation
• Matters involving agricultural and business assets

You’ll meet clients both face to face and remotely, provide clear advice on legal issues and costs, draft documentation and develop long-term relationships with clients and professional contacts.

There will also be opportunities to become involved in business development and, depending on your level of experience, to support and develop more junior members of the team.

What are we looking for?

You will need to be a qualified Solicitor or CILEX Lawyer with at least 2 years' PQE in Private Client work.

You’ll already have enough experience to manage your own matters, but you don't need to arrive as a fully formed senior Private Client specialist.

We’re particularly interested in someone who:

• Has a good grounding in estate administration and wider Private Client work
• Enjoys direct client contact Is interested in developing broader technical expertise
• Communicates well with clients, including elderly and vulnerable individuals
• Enjoys being part of a collaborative team
• Is comfortable using technology to work with colleagues and clients
• Wants to continue learning and progressing

Hybrid working, with a sensible approach to settling in The firm offers hybrid and agile working, but there is an emphasis on getting properly integrated into the team first.

During your probationary period, the team generally likes new joiners to spend more time in the office. It gives you the chance to get to know colleagues, understand how the team operates and have easier access to support while you're finding your feet.

Once established, there is greater flexibility to work from home.

For someone joining at the earlier end of the PQE range, that initial time alongside experienced colleagues could be particularly valuable.

A benefits package that goes well beyond the basics

Alongside competitive remuneration, benefits include:

• Unlimited paid time off
• Hybrid and agile working
• 6% employer pension contribution
• 3x salary Life Assurance after probation
• Permanent Health Insurance
• Enhanced maternity and sick pay
• Health cash plan
• Employee Assistance Programme and wider wellbeing support
• Professional subscriptions, practising certificate and CPD costs covered
• In-house Learning & Development and leadership programmes
• Support for further professional qualificationsCycle to Work and car lease schemes
• Discounted gym membership
• 0% interest season ticket loan
• Discounts on legal services for you and your family

Could this give you the broader experience you're looking for?

If you've reached the point where you can confidently manage your own Private Client matters but want more exposure, more technical breadth and experienced people around you, this could be a particularly good next step.

And if you're reading this thinking “I'm only 2 or 3 PQE, perhaps they want someone more senior”, don't rule yourself out.

The requirement has deliberately been broadened and the team is interested in good Private Client lawyers from 2+ PQE.