Solicitor – Contentious Probate 2-4 Yrs

Company: Shakespeare Martineau

PQE: 3 years

Term: Permanent

Team: Litigation and Restructuring

Specialism: Contentious Probate

Meet the team

Our Contentious Probate team is one of the largest specialist teams in the country, dealing with all aspects of contentious trusts and probate work, including disputes over wills, financial provision claims, disputes with executors, disputes regarding powers of attorney, contested Court of Protection applications, and long-term and elderly care matters. We pride ourselves on our technical expertise and resources to deliver the best possible solutions for our clients, which include large household charities, high-net worth individuals, and financial institutions. Our Contentious Probate team operates across two of our key brands: “Shakespeare Martineau” and “Lime Solicitors”, and this role will be working with clients from both brands.

The opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for a 2 - 4yr PQE Solicitor to join our client-focused Contentious Probate team. We are looking for someone who is ambitious, hardworking, and keen to develop their career within an experienced and fast-growing team. You will play a pivotal role in providing high-quality legal services to clients on all aspects of contentious probate work.

Your key duties will be:

• Assisting senior colleagues on a broad range of contentious trusts and probate cases
• Running own caseload efficiently and cost-effectively and within strict service level agreements as required by the client
• Advising clients about the strengths and weaknesses of their cases
• Handling a caseload of complex and less-complex matters
• Getting involved in business development activities, both individually and as part of a team
• Attending and conducting client meetings
• Drafting and preparing court documents in a time-sensitive manner

Skills and experience you will have:

• A minimum of 2 years’ post-qualified experience dealing with contentious trusts and probate matters
• Experience in dealing with clients on a day-to-day basis
• Strong IT skills
• A proven ability to be flexible in your approach in finding practical and innovative solutions to a range of problems

Key competencies you will need:

• A high degree of initiative and the ability to cope in a demanding environment
• The ability to be proactive and effectively manage your own workload
• To be resilient, confident, and calm under pressure
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
• An entrepreneurial nature and an outgoing manner
• Excellent organisational, prioritising, and time management skills
• Strong negotiation and communication skills

About you – you will be:

• Highly enthusiastic, willing to go the extra mile, and happy to go beyond the job description
• Highly ambitious, hardworking with an excellent work ethic, taking pride in all you do
• Respectful towards others and have a positive, willing, and ‘can do’ attitude

How we work

We embrace agile working and offer a blended approach to where and how we work. We appreciate that people have different needs and preferences and we’re keen to be flexible; after all, we value what you do, not where you do it. We have 11 hubs in the UK and this role will be based from our Bristol hub. This role is being offered as a combined blend of homeworking with weekly attendance of 2-3 days a week working with the team in the Bristol office.

Additional information

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted.

Equal opportunities

Shakespeare Martineau is a committed equal opportunities employer. We seek to attract, develop, and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. We value and respect individuality and encourage a culture within our business where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths and experiences. Everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs.