Senior Associate Solicitor – Private Client Department (Contentious Trusts & Probate) in England

We are looking for an experienced solicitor with strong management skills and a strategic mindset to join our private client team. Working with one of the partners, the role would involve day to day oversight of the Contentious Trusts & Probate team and be based in our Islington office.

We are looking for a proactive candidate to deliver consistently high levels of client service whilst supervising a close-knit team based primarily in our Islington office. The team is recognised for its technical expertise in complex estate and trust disputes. The candidate will have the opportunity to make a real impact and some positive changes in this space whilst working on a varied and high-quality caseload.

The Role:

The successful candidate will handle a varied and high-quality caseload of private client disputes, acting for individuals, executors, trustees, and beneficiaries. Matters will include:

• Challenges to the validity of wills, including issues of capacity and undue influence
• Disputes involving executors and trustees, including breach of duty and maladministration
• Inheritance Act claims
• Estate administration and trust disputes
• Proprietary estoppel claims

Duties:

• Overseeing team members, to include solicitors, trainee solicitors and paralegals.
• Supporting and mentoring the team with managing their caseload; carrying out legal research and general administrative tasks as well as developing client relationship skills.
• Dealing directly with clients to take instructions and deliver on client expectations.
• Identifying and following relevant SRA principles and rules of professional conduct.
• Complying with risk management processes and policies.
• Contributing to business development and identify networking and marketing opportunities internally and externally.

Requirements:

• A qualified Solicitor with strong experience in contentious trusts and probate.
• Proven leadership skills with experience of managing a team.
• Confident managing complex disputes autonomously.
• Strong client-handling and relationship-building skills.
• Commercially minded, with an interest in practice development.
• Excellent client-facing skills with empathy and discretion.
• Business development mindset.
• Excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal, organisational, and administrative skills, as well as accuracy and attention to detail.
• Must be experienced at multi-tasking, managing time sensitive documents, and taking responsibility for delegated tasks.
• Must thrive in a busy, team-oriented environment.

Experience & Qualifications:

• Must have obtained a 2:1 or 1st class degree.
• Must have at least 6 years’ experience as a private client solicitor in estate and trust disputes.
• Must have supervisory experience of paralegals and/or solicitors.

Benefits:

• Target related bonus structure.
• 25 days holiday a year; plus, birthdays and the period between Christmas and New Year.
• Pension contributions as per the Streathers Daynes Smith pension scheme.
• Group Life Assurance Scheme which offers financial support to colleagues’ families in the event of an unexpected death.
• An extremely friendly and welcoming working environment.
• A growing wellbeing programme with an exceptional range of initiatives and benefits such as the Employee Assistance Programme.
• Free training opportunities.
• Monthly socials and a heavily subsidised annual trip with the wider team.
• Bicycle funding as part of the Cycle to Work scheme.

Working Hours:

Weekdays from 9.30am to 5.30pm with an hour lunch break.

Please apply by sending your CV and cover letter to: