Contentious Probate Solicitor (3-5yrs PQE

Field Seymour Parkes LLP; Reading; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Field Seymour Parkes LLP in Reading is seeking a solicitor to join our Will Disputes & Contentious Probate team, handling exclusive contentious probate matters and working with colleagues on larger cases. The role offers supervision from the Head of the team and opportunities to develop in a growing practice.

The successful candidate will have 3–5 years of civil litigation experience including contentious probate, and may bring non-contentious private client exposure.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of civil litigation experience including contentious probate.
• Experience in contentious probate and non-contentious private client work preferred.
• Full-time or part-time considered; flexible working patterns.

Responsibilities

• Run your own cases within the Will Disputes & Contentious Probate team.
• Collaborate with colleagues on large cases and complex matters.
• Receive supervision and support from the Head of the Will Disputes & Contentious Probate team.
• Work with other teams across contentious and non-contentious matters as needed.

Job description

Field Seymour Parkes LLP is a full-service law firm based in Reading at the centre of the UK’s Thames Valley, providing pragmatic, solutions focused advice across both business and personal matters.

We are consistently recognised for the quality of our work, ranked as a Top Tier Firm by Legal 500 and a Top Ranked Law Firm by Chambers & Partners. We hold the Lexcel accreditation for excellence in legal practice management and client care, which we have maintained since 2001.

We have 25 consecutive years of Investors in People accreditation, this achievement places FSP among a select group of organisations recognised for a long‑term, consistent commitment to making work better. In 2021, we were awarded the Investors in People Gold Standard, an accolade held at the time by only 17% of accredited organisations (including just 14 law firms nationwide).

In April 2026, FSP joined Lawfront - a group of leading regional law firms who are dedicated to delivering comprehensive legal support to individuals and businesses nationwide. Lawfront's mission is to unite exceptional legal practices across the country in a single, supportive platform that drives accelerated growth, fosters innovation, and builds long-term value for all stakeholders. Lawfront is committed to ambitious growth and aspire to be a top 10 regional legal services business in the UK.

The Opportunity

Our Will Disputes & Contentious Probate team deals with a wide range of contentious probate matters with the team working closely with our Wills, Trusts and Estates team.

Rarely for this area the work will be exclusively contentious probate litigation.

The day to day caseload involves the full range of contentious probate matters including Inheritance Act claims for Claimants and Defendants, claims involving challenges to the validity of Wills, executor/administrator disputes (including removal of executor applications), estate administration disputes, Court of Protection disputes as well as the various types of trust disputes.

You will be expected to run your own cases, as well as work with colleagues on large cases all whilst benefitting from supervision and support from the Head of our Will Disputes & Contentious Probate team who is rated as one of a small number of Leading Individuals by Legal 500 for contentious probate in the South East. You’ll also work together with other colleagues within the contentious and non-contentious teams.

The candidate for this role will have 3-5 years of civil litigation experience including contentious probate work and ideally have had some experience of contentious probate and non-contentious private client work during their training contract or early career, but we welcome applications from any junior solicitor with litigation and contentious probate experience who is keen to work in a successful growing team in this specialist area.

Full-time or part-time considered. We are happy to discuss working patterns and flexibility to accommodate the successful candidate.