Solicitor (Private Client) in Durham

A little bit about us: EMG Solicitors is an award winning Legal 500 law firm with offices across the UK, specialising in Court of Protection, Deputyships, Mental Health Law, Family Law and Mediation, Residential Conveyancing, Education Law and Wills, Trusts & Probate services. Our mission is to provide the legal support our clients require in order to achieve anything from their basic needs to their wildest dreams and everything in between.

What are we looking for? We are currently looking to recruit a Private Client Solicitor, who ideally will have approximately 5 years’ PQE or more, and can competently manage Private Client matters.

Where will you be based? This role can be based from our Durham office, but we would expect you to travel and work from other offices from time to time.

How many hours will you be working? This is a full-time role which is 35 hours per week, however at EMG Solicitor we work flexibly, it’s not a 9 to 5 role, but we do expect the work to be done, when you do it can be largely up to yourself, your Team Leader and the requirements of your clients.

A brief overview of the role: The purpose of this role is to proactively manage a caseload of Private Client matters. The role involves undertaking fee-earning work, managing cases both independently and collaboratively as part of the team. You will be expected to maintain strong relationships with existing clients while also supporting the development of new connections with third-party referrers and other professional contacts.

What will we expect from you:

• Generating work: Your work will come from a mixture of delegation and work you will generate for yourself. We encourage all our team members to win work, which can be achieved in a variety of ways, including:
• Becoming known as a go-to specialist in a field, including writing articles and speaking at events, both external and internal.
• Attending networking events and flying the EMG Solicitors flag.
• Developing relationships on a one-to-one basis.
• Undertaking work: You should be passionate about providing support to your colleagues, undertaking your duties professionally and with the utmost skill and care, and always putting clients first while respecting their confidentiality at all times.
• Getting paid for the work you do: In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring that your work contributes directly to the profitability and success of the department. This will involve:
• Undertaking fee-earning work, both independently and as part of the team, to provide a profitable contribution to the department.
• Conducting private client and related matters on behalf of clients, including drafting Wills, Trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and managing Trust and Estate Administration.
• Maintaining strong client relationships and supporting the development of new relationships with third-party referrers.
• Managing the support services within your responsibility, including the supervision of support staff.
• Actively contributing to the growth and development of the department, including supporting client database development and marketing the firm’s services.
• Maintaining accurate, orderly, and up-to-date files (electronic and paper) in line with the firm’s policies on file management.
• Completing time recording and management records as required.
• Cross-referring work and clients within the firm where appropriate.
• Ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements and firm policies, including Lexcel standards.
• Exercising financial control of your own matters, with particular regard to cash flow, collection of monies on account, and billing procedures.
• Identifying and developing fee-earning opportunities where appropriate.
• Taking accountability for your own professional development by seeking opportunities to learn new skills and continuously improve.

To be able to perform this job you will need:

• To be a fully qualified Solicitor with a minimum of 5 years’ PQE in Private Client work.
• Demonstrable experience in handling a varied caseload of private client matters.
• Strong technical knowledge and a commitment to keeping your expertise up to date.
• Excellent drafting, problem-solving, and research skills.
• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to adapt your style when dealing with colleagues and clients.
• The ability to explain complex matters clearly, confidently, and professionally.
• An understanding of team roles and challenges, with the ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise, work under pressure, and meet deadlines.
• A proactive, self-motivated approach with a positive, “can-do” attitude.
• The ability to use initiative, assess risks, and make sound judgments in the best interests of clients and the business.
• Flexibility and adaptability, particularly during periods of increased workload.
• A commitment to personal and professional development.
• A track record of working with honesty, integrity, and professionalism at all times.

A little bit about the colleague we’re looking for: We’re looking for a colleague who aligns with our core values of:

• Cooperation - we proactively support our clients and each other.
• Courage - we are ambitious and think big.
• Excellence - we deliver excellence.
• Integrity - we are open and transparent.
• Kindness - we value people, communities, having fun and being happy.

We want someone who will work proactively to deliver exceptional client service through the knowledge and skills they bring to the role. We want someone who will go the extra mile for both their clients and their colleagues, so we can all achieve anything from our basic needs to our wildest dreams and everything in between.

What you can expect from us:

• Firm wide annual bonus scheme, in addition to a competitive salary.
• 4% Pension employer contributions offered through Standard Life.
• 25 days holiday entitlement per year (FTE) with an additional three days off at Christmas.
• 5 extra days paid leave on your 5-year anniversary – (and every 5 years thereafter).
• Life Assurance providing your loved ones with a 3 X salary death in service benefit.
• Employee Assistance Program – a Freephone number you can call 24/7 for personal, legal and financial issues; to arrange counselling and a GP helpline.
• Free annual flu injection.
• EMG Rewards – Vivup well-being & Tastecard apps offering discounts across a large number of retailers & restaurants.
• £50 Gift card on your birthday as well as a late start or early finish.
• £50 Gift card at Christmas plus Christmas closure (subject to variation).
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Salary Sacrifice Electric Car scheme.
• Fruit and refreshments in each office.
• If you want to take the family or friends out, we have two passes for Beamish open air museum which you can book out and take up to 10 people.
• Opportunity to join EMG working groups, such as our Green Team, Better Health at Work Team, Empowerment, Diversity and Inclusion Team & our Community Team.
• Regular surveys to understand issues our team care about, including regular guest speakers on a wide range of topics.

EMG Solicitors are an equal opportunities employer. To apply for this role you must have the right to work within the UK.