Private Client Head Of Department

Clayton Legal; Rishton; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Competitive salary

Holiday entitlement

Flexible working arrangements

Part-time / reduced hours considered

Strong client base and supportive team

Job summary

Clayton Legal is seeking an experienced Private Client solicitor to lead and develop its established Private Client department in North Shields. The Head of Private Client will oversee a team, manage a varied caseload, and play a key role in shaping future growth and client offering.

The role emphasizes leadership, mentoring, and departmental development within a supportive environment and a loyal client base. Flexible working arrangements and progression opportunities are available.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in private client and probate work.
• Proven ability to lead a team and develop departments.
• Strong client-care and business development skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Private Client department and team.
• Manage a varied private client caseload including probate, wills, LPAs, Court of Protection.
• Mentor junior colleagues and shape department strategy.
• Grow the existing client base and contribute to strategic objectives.
• Maintain high standards of client service and professional conduct.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Client care

Communication

Business development

Education

Solicitor with Private Client experience

Job description

An opportunity to lead and develop an established Private Client department

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Private Client Solicitor to take on a leadership role as Head of Private Client with an established and highly regarded law firm in North Shields.

The role offers the opportunity to take ownership of an established department, develop its existing client base and play a key role in shaping its future direction and continued growth.

The firm offers a supportive and collaborative working environment, an established and loyal client base, experienced colleagues and a strong support structure. The role would suit an ambitious Private Client lawyer who is ready to take the next step in their career and would enjoy combining high-quality client work with leadership, mentoring and departmental development.

What's on offer:

• Annual bonus
• Competitive salary, commensurate with experience
• days' annual holiday, plus Christmas closure and bank holidays
• Flexible working arrangements
• Reduced hours and part-time working can be considered
• Established and loyal client base
• Supportive and collaborative working environment
• Genuine opportunity to lead and develop the Private Client department
• Autonomy and scope to influence the future direction of the team
• Career progression and professional development
• Experienced colleagues and established secretarial/administrative support

The successful candidate will lead an established Private Client team comprising two senior members of the department, a trainee and two secretarial/administrative support staff.

The department already has a strong foundation, with an established client base and a varied caseload. The Head of Private Client will have the opportunity to build on this platform, supporting and developing colleagues while helping to grow the department and its client offering.

The Role

The Head of Private Client will have responsibility for a varied Private Client caseload, alongside the leadership and development of the department.

The work will include:

• Applications for Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration
• Wills and estate planning
• Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Court of Protection matters
• Inheritance Tax and succession planning advice
• Trust advice and drafting

Alongside fee-earning responsibilities, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to:

• Provide leadership and direction to the Private Client team
• Support, mentor and develop junior members of the department
• Help develop and grow the existing client base
• Identify opportunities to further develop the department
• Contribute to the firm's wider strategic objectives
• Maintain and build strong, long-term client relationships
• Drive high standards of client care and service delivery

The ideal candidate will be an experienced Private Client lawyer with a strong technical background and a genuine interest in leading and developing a team, and will be confident with the following:

• Have substantial experience across Private Client and probate work
• Have the confidence and ability to lead an established team
• Demonstrate excellent client care and communication skills
• Be commercially aware and able to identify opportunities for growth
• Be organised, proactive and capable of managing their own caseload effectively
• Have the ability to mentor and develop colleagues
• Work confidently both independently and collaboratively
• Be committed to providing high-quality legal services and building lasting client relationships
• Be keen to take an active role in the continued growth and development of the department

For the right individual, this represents an exciting opportunity to step into a genuine leadership position within an established Private Client department.

The successful candidate will inherit an existing team, client base and support structure, whilst having the autonomy to put their own stamp on the department and help shape its future.

It would particularly suit an experienced Private Client lawyer who is looking for greater responsibility, leadership opportunities and the ability to influence departmental growth, without sacrificing the quality of their client work.

Location: North Shields

Position: Head of Private Client

Salary: Competitive, commensurate with experience

Working arrangements: Flexible, reduced hours and part-time considered