Associate - Tax, Trusts and Succession (NQ)

Michelmores LLP; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A distinguished law firm in Cheltenham is seeking a new associate to join its Private Client team. The role emphasizes supporting individuals in estate planning and wealth protection while providing tailored legal advice. Ideal candidates will have relevant paralegal experience or a trainee seat in private client. This position promises significant career progression in a flexible work environment that values personal development and professional excellence.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Supportive team environment

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Trainee seat or relevant Paralegal experience focusing on protecting wealth and estate planning.
• Ability to assume responsibility quickly.
• Experience meeting financial and non-financial targets.

Responsibilities

• Work on a variety of Private Wealth matters.
• Advise clients on estate planning and wealth protection.
• Collaborate with leading lawyers on various cases.

Skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Excellent organizational skills

Effective communicator

Commercial pro-active approach

Multi-tasking ability

Education

Relevant Paralegal experience or trainee seat in private client

Job description

Our Newly Qualified (NQ) training programme focuses on supporting colleagues transitioning to the role of Associate. The programme is designed to cover a range of topics including career development and financial training as well as building networks and facilitating collaboration, creating a real sense of togetherness across our NQ group to develop your career with the Firm. You will have the opportunity to further expand your knowledge and build on your experience in this friendly and supportive team. This opportunity also offers a real opportunity for career progression.

Examples of recent work include the following

• Advising the trustees of a family trust holding an estate on the transfer of land to the next generation while mitigating future inheritance tax and drafting the relevant documentation.
• Working with our strategic land team to advise a landowner on ways to structure the ownership of land before entering into a promotion agreement.
• Advising a family business owner on the transfer of the business and on the inheritance tax position on their death. Advising on options for improving the tax position and helping them navigate how best to divide the estate between the seven children.
• Advising an Italian non-UK domiciled client moving to the UK on secondment on pre-arrival planning and the use of overseas workday relief while working with his Italian advisers.
• Restructuring a Jersey trust and underlying company holding UK property which was created by a formerly domiciled resident now living in South Africa with a view to passing on the wealth to his Australian resident daughter and UK resident daughter.
• Advising a UK/US couple on their estate planning including reviewing their lifetime revocable grantor trust and advising on the UK tax position.
• Advising the executors of an estate holding significant farming-related assets on claims for APR and BPR, with a view to administering and arranging the estate for the benefit of the surviving spouse and long‑term benefit of the wider family.

Why this team?

Our Private Client team has a well‑established practice, has consistently been awarded the top accolade in the Chambers High Net Worth rankings and has also been awarded STEP Platinum Employer Partner accreditation. At this year's STEP awards we were shortlisted as mid‑size firm of the year – as we have been in numerous other years; we have won the award twice. The team works across all four of our main offices and advises on a full range of Private Client work including:

Key areas we advise on

• Tax advice for individuals and their wealth;
• The orderly succession of wealth from one generation to the next;
• The creation and administration of trust and other vehicles to hold and manage private wealth;
• The governance of family owned businesses;
• Will preparation; and
• The administration of estates, testate and intestate.

How do we work?

We take a flexible, agile approach to working patterns. As a team we agree together on the best working arrangements that will enable each of us to provide exceptional client service, to collaborate and connect with colleagues, and to achieve the right home/work balance. We pride ourselves on our high‑performance culture whilst offering a good work/life balance. As a Firm we are committed to supporting our people across all levels to achieve the balance they need. We are open to talk flexible working and to empower any candidate to put forward a flexible working pattern to meet their needs.

About the role

We are looking for somebody who will understand our values and can thrive in our culture. The role will be based at our Cheltenham office, where you will work alongside leading individuals and recommended lawyers on a variety of Private Wealth matters.

• Undertaken a trainee seat within private client (or have relevant Paralegal experience) with a focus on protecting wealth & estate planning and experience of estate administration work;
• Be able to assume responsibility quickly;
• Experience of meeting financial and non‑financial targets;
• Understand the importance of not just legal excellence but offering our advice in a way that reflects the client's commercial objectives; and
• Share our considerable ambitions.

Other skills required

• Strong interpersonal skills; effective communicator at all levels (written and verbal).
• A commercial, pro‑active and professional approach to work.
• Excellent organisational skills, demonstrable examples of multi‑tasking and an ability to juggle competing priorities.
• Must interact well with others in a sensitive and effective way - a team player.
• Must be self‑motivated, committed to working towards goals with strong enthusiasm and career commitment.
• Understand the importance of confidentiality and use of discretion. Must be flexible, successfully adapting to changing demands and conditions.
• Demonstrate self‑confidence, initiative and be an innovative thinker.

Please note, this role will commence in Spring 2026.

About Michelmores

Michelmores is the destination law firm for the ambitious, the imaginative and the distinctive. We help individuals, families and businesses navigate change to find a positive future. We are a flexible, friendly and inclusive organisation with a clear focus on fresh thinking as we have on growth and success. We value and nurture our people's potential and inspiration and give them a creative, open and collaborative environment in which to develop a career and succeed. Wherever you have begun your career in law, we think that you'll find Michelmores different. From day one, we encourage our solicitors to forge direct client relationships and expand their understanding and knowledge of areas that interest them – developing an understanding of commercial challenges and opportunities, rather than just knowing the law. We nurture creative and commercial thinking to help in your long‑term career success – it mirrors our approach to ensuring the very best outcomes for our clients too.