Paralegal, Wealth & Succession - Private Client

The role is an excellent opportunity for a Paralegal to develop their expertise in our highly regarded Wealth and Succession team within the Private Client department. Our Private Client Department assists High Net Worth/Ultra High Net Worth individuals, their families, and advisers with tax and estate planning. Clients include entrepreneurs, business owners, artists, authors, musicians, members of foreign royalty, charities, and sports professionals in the UK and overseas.

We benefit from the firm's wider private wealth offering that includes family, immigration, reputation management, business crime, residential property, and cultural property. Our Wealth and Succession team focuses on two main areas: Tax, Trusts and Estate Planning, and Administration of Estates. We are known for delivering straightforward advice and solutions that resolve problems and create circumstances for a smooth and tax-efficient transition of wealth between generations. We also regularly deal with estates containing business assets or assets in overseas jurisdictions, coordinating with lawyers and professionals in those jurisdictions to ensure seamless estate administration for clients.

The role will involve regular contact with clients, beneficiaries, financial institutions, HMRC, and other professional advisers, requiring excellent organisational, communication, and client service skills.

Main responsibilities:

• Assist with the administration of a broad range of estates from straightforward to complex estates with international aspects.
• Prepare applications for Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration.
• Collate asset and liability information from financial institutions and other third parties.
• Assist with the preparation and submission of inheritance tax forms and supporting documentation.
• Liaise with HMRC regarding inheritance tax and estate administration matters.
• Support fee earners with the collection and realisation of estate assets.
• Assist with distributions to beneficiaries and the completion of estate administration matters.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with regulatory and internal procedures.
• Act as a key point of contact for clients and third parties.
• Provide a high standard of client care at all times.
• Manage diaries, monitor key deadlines, and ensure matters progress efficiently.
• Open new matters, conduct conflict checks, and assist with client onboarding requirements.
• Accurately record time and assist with billing processes where required.
• Maintain electronic and physical files in accordance with firm policies.
• Assist with tax and estate planning issues as required.

About you:

• Previous experience as a Paralegal or Legal Assistant within a Private Client, Wealth & Succession, or Probate team.
• Strong organisational skills and excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritise effectively.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Client-focused approach with a professional and empathetic manner.
• Experience preparing probate applications and inheritance tax forms.
• Understanding of trusts and trust administration.
• Knowledge of UK probate and private client procedures.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• An understanding of client confidentiality.

At Howard Kennedy, we believe that everyone deserves the space to thrive. We’re committed to creating an inclusive recruitment experience that reflects the diversity of both our people and our clients. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, and we’re committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and accessible to all.

We understand that every candidate’s needs are different. If there’s anything we can do to make your application journey more comfortable—whether for interviews, assessments, or onboarding—please let us know. We’ll work with you to remove any barriers and ensure our recruitment process is comfortable for you.

About Us:

With almost 200 lawyers in one location, we ensure our clients have the right team to help them get from where they are to where they want to be. We advise major corporates and institutions as well as entrepreneurial, ambitious enterprises which are often privately or family owned, or private equity backed. As well as our significant business law capability, we are one of only a few London-based law firms with a large private wealth offering. Our clients find our straightforward approach a compelling alternative to larger, less personal firms.

Whether you are an ambitious and talented individual wanting to hit the ground running from day one, or an established professional looking for a new opportunity, Howard Kennedy is the firm where you can really make it happen. We have earned a strong reputation for our exceptional and uniquely talented people who deliver outstanding results for clients. In a firm of our size, our strong team dynamic creates a thriving culture of creativity and entrepreneurialism. Howard Kennedy is a pragmatic and non-hierarchical environment where success is shared, and you are proactively encouraged to thrive at your own pace.

Our distinctive culture is built on fairness and respect. Guided by the firm’s values of talk straight, think smart, and be yourself, everyone in the firm holds equal value, and everyone plays their role in supporting, encouraging, and inspiring colleagues to do their best work. At the same time, we recognise and reward individualism, celebrating the diversity of our people and supporting them to grow their practice and drive their own career advancement.

As well as client work, there is opportunity to broaden your horizons at the firm with fulfilling pro bono and charity projects. We have a regular social calendar full of wellbeing activities, charitable and social events too.