Private Client Solicitor - Probate in Leeds

We are currently seeking a Private Client Solicitor, preferably with 5 years+ PQE, to join our Private Client team based in Leeds. Our Private Client Team is one of the largest and most successful private client teams outside London, specialising in the administration of complex, high value and prestigious estates. We are consistently ranked as a ‘tier one’ department in various leading legal directories.

About us: Wrigleys is a well-established, reputable firm of specialist Solicitors with offices in Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle. We represent clients across the UK (and beyond) and are considered one of the leading expert practices outside of London. We pride ourselves on providing a superior service to our clients within a professional yet friendly and authentic environment. We have exceptional staff retention levels and with our supportive leadership team, we ensure our teams’ wellness is truly at the forefront of everything we do and believe in.

What We Can Offer You: Life outside work matters. We promote work-life balance, offer agile working, and prioritise colleague wellbeing. Your health and happiness are important to us. In addition to great technical work within a friendly and collaborative working environment, we offer:

• Competitive salaries
• Agile Working
• Enhanced Family Friendly Benefits
• Generous holiday entitlement and holiday purchase scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Pension scheme
• Life Assurance scheme
• Group Income Protection
• Employee Wellness Initiatives
• Cash Plan Scheme
• Private Medical Insurance
• 1200 chargeable hours

About the role: Working within a fantastic team, you will have the opportunity to engage with great clients, many of whom we have acted for over many years as a ‘trusted advisor’. General responsibilities for the role will include, but are not limited to:

• Dealing with all aspects of estate administration, including complex estates of high value, estates which include agricultural and/or business property, estates with cross-border assets and intestate estates.
• Attending meetings with the personal representatives and third parties, collating information on the assets and liabilities and verifying that information, arranging the valuation of assets, preparing applications for grants of representation, including both online submissions and paper applications, drafting full Inheritance Tax accounts and returns of estate information, dealing with HMRC enquiries.
• Drafting full estate accounts.
• Calculating inheritance tax liabilities on death and assessing and advising on methods of reduction.
• Advising on deeds of variation, deeds of disclaimer and other post-death tax planning.
• Dealing with high value and technical private client work revolving around capital tax planning, the use of trusts, asset protection and succession issues generally.
• Advising on the maximisation of capital tax reliefs and opportunities for capital tax mitigation or deferral, particularly in relation to agricultural and/or business assets.
• Considering and advising on the creation of new trusts as well as altering existing trusts.
• Compliance requirements for trusts and other entities, including the Trust Registration Service.
• Drafting wills and letters of wishes, powers of attorney and trusts.
• The use of life insurance with trusts in estate planning.

The ideal candidate: You will be a qualified Private Client Solicitor with 5 years+ PQE. A STEP Membership would be advantageous, although not essential. You should have the ability to prioritise and manage a varied caseload, a strong academic background, excellent communication and collaborative skills, and keen attention to detail.

Application Process: Our selection process for the Solicitor position is transparent. We prioritise keeping all candidates informed at every step, ensuring there is no uncertainty. We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long-term condition and need us to make adjustments to give you the best possible recruitment process, please do let us know by contacting our recruitment team.

Equality and Diversity: Individual differences are embraced at Wrigleys, and by putting people at the centre of what we do, we strive to create an inclusive working environment in which colleagues feel supported and can be themselves.