Private Client Associate

Realm Recruit; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

2 days from home

28 days annual leave

Study leave

STEP/CTA study support

Career progression

Job summary

Realm Recruit in Cheltenham is seeking a Private Client Associate to join a Tier-1 Private Client team. You will handle sophisticated Private Wealth matters for high-net-worth clients, working alongside Partners and dedicated tax and trust specialists.

Some tax knowledge is essential, with support to develop further. The role offers genuine flexibility, hybrid working with 2 days from home, and a clear path to Senior Associate.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor with Private Client grounding and 3+ PQE (ideally)
• Experience with trusts and basic private client tax matters
• Understanding of inheritance tax and estate planning principles

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload of private wealth matters
• Advise on wills, trusts and estate planning for high-net-worth clients
• Support wills, trusts and lifetime gifting arrangements
• Develop knowledge of more complex tax planning
• Collaborate with tax and trust colleagues to deliver integrated advice
• Build lasting relationships with clients and deliver excellent service

Skills

Private Client experience

Trusts experience

Private client tax awareness

Client care

Collaborative team player

Attention to detail

STEP/CTA readiness

Education

Solicitor qualification

STEP qualification

Job description

• Join a Legal 500 Tier 1 Private Client team handling complex, high-value Private Wealth work
• Enjoy 2 days working from home, agile working hours and a generous 28 days' holiday plus bank holidays
• Develop your technical expertise with tailored support and genuine opportunities to progress

Are you a Private Client Solicitor with a good grounding in trusts and tax, looking to develop your expertise within a highly regarded specialist team?

This established, employee-owned boutique law firm is seeking a Private Client Associate to join its team in Cheltenham.

You’ll work on sophisticated Private Wealth matters for high-net-worth clients, alongside experienced Partners and dedicated tax and trust specialists. While some tax knowledge is essential, the firm is happy to help you develop your understanding of more complex planning arrangements.

This is an opportunity to build your career around your individual strengths and ambitions. Whether you want to become a technical specialist, focus on exceptional client service or progress into a more senior role, you’ll receive tailored support without rigid career structures.

The firm combines challenging, high-quality work with genuinely manageable expectations. Targets are shared across the team, business development demands are modest, and Partners work closely alongside fee earners to create a supportive, non-hierarchical environment.

With strong staff retention and a commitment to maintaining its employee-owned culture, this is a firm where people are encouraged to develop without unnecessary pressure.

Who we’re looking for

• Qualified Solicitor with a solid grounding in Private Client work (E)
• Practical experience of trusts and basic private client tax matters (E)
• Understanding of inheritance tax and estate planning principles (E)
• Experience working with high-net-worth clients (E)
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail (E)
• Ability to consider wider client circumstances and planning needs (E)
• Excellent client care and communication skills (E)
• Collaborative approach and willingness to contribute to the wider team (E)
• Enthusiasm for developing technical knowledge (E)
• Ideally 3+ years' PQE (D)
• Experience within a reputable Private Client practice (D)
• STEP qualification or willingness to work towards it (D)
• Knowledge of lifetime gifting, CGT and income tax considerations (D)

What you’ll be doing

• Managing a varied caseload of Private Wealth matters
• Advising high-net-worth clients on wills, trusts and estate planning
• Supporting inheritance tax and lifetime gifting arrangements
• Developing knowledge of more complex tax planning
• Working alongside specialist tax and trust colleagues
• Building lasting relationships with clients
• Delivering exceptional client service
• Contributing to shared departmental targets
• Developing your own technical specialisms
• Supporting the firm's collaborative culture

Salary & Benefits

• £60,000–£72,000, depending on experience
• Annual discretionary bonus, historically paid regularly at meaningful levels, although not guaranteed
• Hybrid working – 2 days from home per week
• Agile working, including flexible start and finish times to accommodate commuting and personal commitments
• 28 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
• Employee‑owned, independent law firm
• Genuine team-based targets rather than individual billing pressures
• High-quality, complex Private Wealth work
• Supportive, non-hierarchical working environment
• Tailored personal development plans
• Clear opportunities to progress to Senior Associate and beyond
• No rigid promotion timescales or caps on senior positions
• Support for STEP and CTA qualifications
• Study leave for exams and professional development
• Opportunity to develop a technical specialism
• Strong staff retention and collaborative culture

This is an excellent opportunity for a Private Client Associate seeking high-quality work, genuine flexibility and the chance to develop into a technically accomplished Private Wealth specialist.

While this advert sets out the criteria applicable to each salary band, the salary guidance given is purely indicative. The precise salary offered within that band will ultimately be determined by the hirer, taking into account the individual candidate’s experience, qualifications and overall suitability for the role.