Family Senior Associate

Realm Recruit; Altrincham; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working (2 days from home)

Merit-based progression

Employee-owned business

No individual billing targets

Flexible start and finish times

Job summary

Realm Recruit is recruiting a qualified family solicitor in Altrincham to handle high-value, privately funded matters and enjoy a merit-based path to Legal Director and Partner. The role offers a premium caseload with senior specialists and a strong emphasis on client service within a collaborative team.

You will inherit established files, mentor juniors, and participate in business development, with promotions based on merit rather than vacancies.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with substantial privately funded family law experience.
• Strong track record advising on divorce and financial remedies.
• Experience in private children work and HNW matters.
• Collaborative, client-focused approach with leadership potential.

Responsibilities

• Managing a caseload of complex privately funded family matters.
• Advising on HNW divorce, financial remedy and some private children work.
• Mentoring junior lawyers and trainees.
• Supporting business development activities.
• Building long-term client and referrer relationships.
• Contributing to the continued success of the department.

Skills

Leader potential

Business development

Client care

Collaborative approach

HNW matters

Private family law

Divorce & financial remedy

Education

Qualified Solicitor

Privately funded family law experience

Job description

• Low-volume, high-value private family work rarely found outside the city centre
• Clear progression to Legal Director and Partner in a team that promotes on merit
• No individual billing targets, no client following required and genuine work-life balance

Senior family lawyers often find themselves choosing between high-quality work and a sustainable working environment. This role offers both.

Based in Altrincham, you'll join one of the region's most respected private family teams, handling complex divorce, financial remedy and modern family matters alongside nationally recognised specialists. You'll inherit an established caseload from day one, giving you immediate access to the sort of HNW work many lawyers spend years trying to build.

Initially, your focus will be on settling into the team, building relationships and taking ownership of your files. As your profile grows, you'll mentor junior colleagues, become more involved in business development and continue progressing within a firm where promotions are based on merit rather than waiting for vacancies to appear.

Unlike many larger firms, success isn't measured through aggressive individual targets. The emphasis is on delivering exceptional client service within a collaborative team where people genuinely support one another, and where many senior leaders have progressed internally.

Who we're looking for

• Qualified Family Solicitor with significant privately funded family law experience (E)
• Strong experience advising on divorce and financial remedy matters (E)
• Experience of private children work (E)
• Comfortable managing complex HNW matters (E)
• Strong technical ability and excellent client care (E)
• Collaborative and supportive approach (E)
• Interest in business development and networking (D)
• Someone with leadership potential and ambition to progress (D)

What you'll be doing

• Managing a caseload of complex privately funded family matters
• Advising on HNW divorce, financial remedy and some private children work
• Working alongside highly regarded senior specialists
• Mentoring junior lawyers and trainees
• Supporting business development activities
• Building long-term client and referrer relationships
• Contributing to the continued success of the department

Salary & Benefits

• £65,000+ depending on experience
• Firm-wide bonus scheme (recently c.£2,500)
• Hybrid working (2 days from home)
• Flexible start and finish times
• No individual billing targets
• Employee-owned business
• Merit-based progression with clear route to Legal Director and Partner
• High-quality HNW caseload
• Financially strong independent firm with sustained double-digit growth
• Supportive leadership and outstanding long-term career prospects